7 Interior Car Cleaning Mistakes (And What to Do Instead)
Interior detailing might seem simple—grab a towel, spray something, and wipe it down. But there are a few common mistakes that can leave streaks, damage surfaces, or waste your time.
In this post, we’ll break down the 7 biggest interior cleaning mistakes we see, and more importantly, how to fix them with the right tools and techniques.
1. Using the Wrong Cleaner on Multiple Surfaces
All-purpose cleaners (APCs) are strong—but they’re often too aggressive for sensitive interior materials like touchscreens, soft plastics, and leather. They can leave streaks or even discolor materials over time.
✅ What to Do Instead: Use a purpose-built interior cleaner like Complete Cabin Cleaner. It’s safe on all interior surfaces and leaves a clean, OEM matte finish with zero shine or residue.
2. Spraying Directly Onto Electronics or Screens
This one’s risky. Spraying liquid directly onto your infotainment screen, buttons, or vents can lead to overspray getting behind the surface—causing fogging or even shorting out components.
✅ What to Do Instead: Always spray onto a microfiber towel first, then gently wipe the surface. Use low-lint towels like the Everyday Microfiber for streak-free screen cleaning.
3. Using Greasy or Glossy Dressings
Shiny dashboards might look nice in photos, but in real life they reflect glare onto your windshield, attract dust, and feel greasy to the touch. It also makes the interior look cheap and overdone.
✅ What to Do Instead: Use a cleaner that restores a natural matte look—like Complete Cabin Cleaner. No need to add fake gloss. Clean properly and restore that OEM feel.
4. Ignoring the Vents and Crevices
The dirtiest parts of your interior are often the ones you don’t see: inside air vents, seat rails, cup holder seams, and door buttons. These areas collect dust and grime over time and ruin an otherwise clean interior.
✅ What to Do Instead: Use a soft brush or detailer’s toothbrush with a light mist of cleaner to reach tight areas. Wrap a microfiber towel around the brush to extract grime without scratching.
5. Using the Same Towel for Everything
Cross-contamination is real. If you wipe dirty door sills, then go straight to your dashboard with the same towel, you’re just spreading grime around and increasing the chance of scratches.
✅ What to Do Instead: Use separate towels for dirty areas (like door jambs) and clean ones for sensitive surfaces. We recommend the Orange Wash Microfiber for general cleaning and the Everyday Microfiber for interior finishing.
6. Forgetting to Move the Seats
People clean around the seats instead of under them—missing half the interior. Food crumbs, dust bunnies, wrappers, and even mold can build up under there.
✅ What to Do Instead: Always move seats forward and backward when vacuuming. Remove floor mats completely to clean beneath them. It takes 60 extra seconds and makes a huge difference.
7. Scrubbing Too Aggressively
Using stiff brushes or scrubbing too hard on leather, soft plastics, or door panels can cause permanent wear, scuffing, or discoloration—especially on modern interiors.
✅ What to Do Instead: Use gentle, non-scratch tools like the Scrub Buddy Pad paired with a quality cleaner. Let the chemistry do the work so you don’t have to.
Watch our full video on this:
Final Thoughts
Interior cleaning isn’t about elbow grease—it’s about technique and the right products. Avoid these common mistakes, and you’ll get better results, faster—and without damaging anything in the process.
🧼 Products Featured in This Post:
- Complete Cabin Cleaner – Interior-safe cleaner for all surfaces
- Scrub Buddy Pad – Gentle interior scrubbing tool
- Orange Wash Microfiber Towel
- Everyday Microfiber Towel
Want a clean car that actually stays clean? Avoid shortcuts, stay consistent, and let the right tools do the heavy lifting.
