Ultimate Interior Car Cleaning Guide – Pro Tips for a Factory-Fresh Finish

Want your car interior to look, feel, and smell like new? Follow this proven step-by-step guide from professional detailers.

Your car interior takes a beating—dust, dirt, food spills, pet hair, and lingering odors can build up fast. The good news? With the right tools and techniques, you can deep clean your entire interior and restore that factory-fresh feel in just a few hours.

In this ultimate interior car cleaning guide, we’ll walk you through each area of your interior—from dashboard to carpets—so you can tackle dirt and grime the right way.

Step 1: Prep Your Interior

Remove all trash, floor mats, and personal items.
Move seats forward and backward to reach hidden areas.
Vacuum thoroughly, starting with the seats and working down to carpets.

Step 2: Clean Plastics, Vinyl, and Hard Surfaces

Start at the top of the interior and work your way down:

Use Complete Cabin Cleaner to clean dash, door panels, center console, cup holders, vents, and other hard surfaces.
Pair with a Scrub Buddy Pad for textured plastics and stubborn grime.
Wipe with a quality microfiber towel after scrubbing.

Step 3: Clean Seats

Leather Seats: Use a pH-balanced leather cleaner or Complete Cabin Cleaner. Wipe with a soft microfiber towel.
Cloth Seats: Lightly mist Complete Cabin Cleaner and agitate with a brush or microfiber. Blot dry with a towel. For deep stains, use an upholstery extractor if available.

Step 4: Clean Carpets and Floor Mats

Vacuum thoroughly.
Use Complete Cabin Cleaner for spot cleaning carpet stains.
For deep cleaning, use a carpet extractor if needed.
Rinse and dry floor mats completely before reinstalling.

Step 5: Clean Glass and Screens

Use a dedicated glass cleaner or Complete Cabin Cleaner on interior windows.
Wipe with a clean, lint-free microfiber towel.
For infotainment screens, use a screen-safe cleaner or lightly mist Complete Cabin Cleaner onto a towel (never spray directly).

Step 6: Final Touches

Apply All Dressed Up (diluted 4:1) to plastic and vinyl surfaces for a factory-fresh matte finish.
Add an Air Freshie if desired for a clean scent.
Reinstall floor mats and personal items.

Pro Tips for Success

Always work in sections—don’t try to clean the whole interior at once.
Use proper lighting to spot hidden dirt and smudges.
Use multiple clean microfiber towels throughout the process to avoid streaking.
Be gentle on sensitive surfaces like screens and soft plastics.

Products Used in This Guide:

Ready to clean your car interior the right way? Shop Jimbo’s Detailing for pro-grade products trusted by professional detailers.

All opinions expressed here are my own, based on real-world detailing experience and customer feedback.

Ultimate Interior Car Cleaning Guide – Step-by-Step Tips from Pro Detailers