Interior Fall Cleanup

Now that fall is officially here, it’s time to talk about maintaining a clean vehicle during the busy fall and winter months. With kids’ activities, school pickup and drop off, fall and holiday travel and falling leaves and detritus getting tracked through your vehicle nonstop, your car’s interior takes plenty of wear and tear. And given how much time we spend in our cars from year to year, we think it’s worth the time it takes to keep it clean. A clean vehicle feels better to drive, contributes to your personal well-being AND will be worth more when it comes time to sell or trade for a newer vehicle. Maintain your vehicle’s overall value with these deep-cleaning tactics to keep your vehicle clean and well-preserved inside.

Take out the trash! Every time you leave your vehicle, grab the bits of trash and throw them away. Clearing out clutter feels almost cathartic in our fast-paced world. If you aren’t in the habit of routinely clearing out the trash, clutter and random items from your car, do a major clean out and evaluate what items truly need to be in your vehicle, especially if they aren’t put away in a compartment for occasional use. Throw away trash. Remove random junk and put it away. Replace worn out items like your sun shield and other vehicle accessories. Then systematically place the items you actually want and need in intentional places in your vehicle where you can find them easily.

Relentlessly clean the interior surfaces. Start with a simple vacuum crevice tool, concentrating on the most high-touch surfaces. Vacuum crumbs up from your seats. Remove floor mats and thoroughly vacuum the carpeting. If you have access to a power washer, thoroughly rinse the carpet mats and leave them out to dry thoroughly before replacing them in your vehicle. Use a microfiber dust cloth to wipe down your dashboard, consoles, cupholders, instrument panel, infotainment screen and door panels. Use a light spray cleaner to clean out the cup holders of any spills and stickiness.

Clean the upholstery. You can use a light spray cleaner on the backs of leather seats where kids may leave their dusty footprints. If you have cloth seats, you can use a steam cleaner. Use a carpet shampoo to deeply clean and remove stains. For leather seats, vacuum thoroughly and then apply a leather cleaner followed by a conditioner. You can use a cleaner and conditioner in one , as well. Much like automotive wax protects the exterior finish of your car, leather seats need a bit of care to keep them looking and feeling clean and comfortable.

Clear your view. Interior glass tends to get overlooked. A dirty windshield can be a safety hazard if it impedes visibility while driving. Using a light spray glass cleaner, clean your interior glass with a microfiber cloth to remove haze, dust and fingerprints. At Snap Clean, our interior spray cleaner is perfect for hard surfaces like glass, and we offer free towels for our customers.

Ready to enjoy a cleaner car this fall? A regular professional wash and wax helps maintain your vehicle’s value year after year. In the same way that a house for sale needs to be clean in order to attract a buyer, a clean and well-maintained vehicle will retain its value for sale or trade because cleanliness communicates care. When it’s clear your vehicle has been well cared for, it will be worth more to the next owner. Check out our Monthly Pass options for the best price on a consistently clean car inside and out.