How to keep your car interior clean

A clean interior of a car gives an impression that you are a serious minded person.

If you are the kind of person whose work schedule takes much of your time, it is probably true that you pay less attention to the cleanliness of your car. It is even worse if you do not trust washing bay attendants to do justice to your car. However, there are some easy habits you can adopt to help you have a clean car for the longest time possible.

Create child friendly material in your car
Every weekday, Emmanuel Bugembe’s itinerary involves picking his children from school. On the drive back home, it is a habit for the children to eat snacks. Initially, he was comfortable with cleaning the car every day, but then, he got fed up because it was wearing him out.
“The car seats were always stained and it was not easy cleaning off the stains so I decided to buy leather seats covers. Whenever the children spill soda or yoghurt, all I have to do is to wipe off the dirt and spills instead of washin the seat covers.”

Use the air conditioner
At least one or two out of 10 vehicles you will see on the road have their windows up and rarely put them down. It is not just a trend: some drivers, such as, Antony Katabazi, a resident of Kyanja, a suburb in Kampala, do not like the idea of having dust in their cars.
“When I go home, I use that time to rest, not to dust my car. For this reason, I removed the switch boards from the car doors to prevent passengers from lowering the windows. I only use air conditioner in my car.”

Use cup or bottle holders
When driving out of town, probably for a family getaway, buying snacks for the children is not optional. The problem is, after they have finished eating, they are likely to throw the empty containers and bottles out through the window or in the car.
“Position cup or bottle holders in the car and show the children how they should use them, whether the containers are half-full or empty,” Katabazi says, addding, “They will soon learn the discipline of putting rubbish in the right place. If they do not, punish them so that they can learn the hard way.

Have a trash bin
Just like your kitchen at home, your car interior should also have a simple small trash bin. The car trash bin, Bugembe opines, can be a recyclable polythene bag, paper bag or an average sizeable container that does not occupy a lot of space. Do not throw the rubbish along the way, though, take it home with you.

Constant cleaning or dusting
Shiba Nassuna, a driver, recommends the cleanliness of exterior of the car must be in tandem with that of the interior. She believes that this is not only to keep the car clean but that it is also for your health and that of other passengers.
“When you drive a dirty car with a dirty interior, it creates an impression that your body is also dirty. The easiest way to maintain a clean car is to take time off time to clean it as often as you can.”

Vacuum carpets and seats
Overtime, your car seats and carpets, especially those made from thick cloth, attract, absorb and store dust from either your shoes or from the outside. This can only be noticed when you take the carpet out of the car. This dust is easy to brush off if you take the carpets and seat covers to a washing bay or an auto spa.

Cleaning the interior of different cars

TOYOTA RAV4
Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty surfaces with a cloth dampened with lukewarm water. Clean seat belts with with mild soap and lukewarm water using a cloth or sponge. Also check the belts periodically for excessive wear, fraying or cuts. Do not wash the vehicle floor with water

MERCEDES BENZ
Before washing, rinse the entire vehicle with a strong spray of water. Starting at the top, wash one section of the vehicle at a time using a soft sponge or towel.
After a final overall rinse, wipe your vehicle dry with a natural chamois or 100 percent terry towel. Never wash the vehicle unless it is cool and in the shade. Avoid using dishwashing detergents, which may cause paint to fade and oxidize..

TOYOTA TUNDRA
Dirty floor mats can be clean again–it is possible! Spray your stain-ridden floor mats with stain remover, scrub it in, and throw them into the washing machine. Let them dry in the sun, and be amazed! Although it may not be obvious, dirt has likely made its way into the vinyl texture cracks. You can take care of this problem by diluting dish soap, scrubbing with a tooth brush, and wiping the dirt away.

BMW
Before using any product on your car’s fabric upholstery, carpet, leather or vinyl, test for color fading by cleaning a small, inconspicuous area. Do not use the product if it adversely changes your fabric’s color or texture. Most automotive carpets are very durable and will withstand repeated shampooing without signs of damage or wear.