What can we say? Sometimes it’s just easier to toss a wrapper or empty soda can on the floor of the car rather than to root around for the always elusive trash bag in order to get it “properly” disposed of. Hey, it can even be a safety issue to try to find the proper disposal bag while driving, so having a dirty car can actually be safer! In any case, we wanted to use today’s blog as an opportunity to help shed some light on best practices for cleaning up your car after it has been used all summer long for road trips, rides to family gatherings, and hauling the kids to various summer camps. 

Gather Your Cleaning Supplies

First off, you will need to gather your supplies before embarking on your cleaning journey. You will need the following at a minimum, and some items are marked optional if you want to gather them to help the process go a little faster. 

• 1 to 2 large trash bags
• A shop vac or a house vacuum with a long cleaning tube and a brush extension
• Microfiber cloth x 2 
• A small bucket of warm soapy water
• Disinfecting wipes

Start With The Basics: Clean Trash And Detritus From Interior

The first thing you will want to do is to take one of your trash bags and just go through every section of your car’s interior and toss out the trash and bits of junk that have accumulated over the last few weeks and months. Take out your floor mats and set them aside. Once your interior is junk free, then it is time to vacuum! Thoroughly vacuum the interior of your car making sure to get the foot areas and under each seat. Don’t forget the trunk!

Once the trash has been removed and the interior vacuumed, then it’s time to beat your rugs and replace them.

Wipe Down The Interior And Disinfect

Now it’s time to take your microfiber rags and use them to wipe down all of the hard surfaces of the car’s inside starting from the top and working your way to the bottom. Make sure to get all of the little crevices and areas in and around the buttons and knobs of your car. You can go the extra mile here and use special wipes that leave a thin layer of polish on your dashboard and steering wheel, but typically wiping it down with a clean cloth will do wonders. 

Once everything has been wiped down, then it is time to use your disinfecting wipes to wipe down your dashboard, steering wheel, and center console top. You can even wipe down the door handles and armrests as well, especially if they are a harder material like leather or plastic. Finished with that? Great, because you are officially done with cleaning out your car. It’s time to celebrate! Road Trip anyone? 

For The Road

Making sure your car is cleaned out after a summer of traveling is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!