Interior Cleaning

[mjtech12]

Hi Guy's

What is the best products to clean interiors, Dash, Cloth Ect.
any suggestions would be appreciated.

[ArmyAviation]

I use the micro fiber cloths with some warm water and mild dish soap. Go to Target and pick some up in the automotive section. this is the best way to clean your interior without damaging it.

[mjtech12]

Hey thanks for the advise i'll go to target tommorrow

[Buildwonder]

Actually, the best place for microfiber towels is Sam's Club. They're $10 for 20 of them! That's the best deal out there. At that price, you can afford to use them half a dozen times and throw them away.

I use them for everything. The ones I use for waxing and polishing I keep separate from the rest as to not contaminate them with oily residue from vinyl dressings or whatever.

Also, use the minimum amount of LIQUID detergent and NEVER use fabric softener when you wash them.

I agree with the above about using a mild soapy water to clean the interior. I hate the look of Armor-All on interiors. Not to mention that it attracts dirt and dust and leaves a film on the inside of all the glass.

Be careful with cleaning the gauge cluster "glass" as it scratches very easily. Use a clean, dry microfiber and glass cleaner and use slight pressure to avoid damage.

[ArmyAviation]

glass cleaner will haze the plastic, us a plastic polish or plastic window cleaner, we use this on our aircraft windows.

[Buildwonder]

What kind and where can we get it?

[Skyboi]

Round 2... What to get to detail interiors right.

When planning to detail your vehicle remember to do the interior first...Trust me. Or you'll be rewaxing and doing exterior windows a second time.

1. A good Shop Vac - I prefer Craftsman -I've put down several "Shopvacs" in my time and the Craftsman never seemed to die. Even after repeatedly soaking the crap out of them. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&sbv=Craftsman

2. 2 or 3 horsehair brushes with various bristle lengths to get in tight "delicate" areas. http://www.goestores.com/catalog.asp...54205&detail=1

3. A few detailing type tooth brushes. they have bristles on each end http://www.goestores.com/image.aspx?...ItemID=6502207 Take one and tape it to a longer dowel to get between seats and center consoles. spots where you cut your fingers.

4. Larger stiff bristles with handles. http://www.goestores.com/catalog.asp...56822&detail=1

5. Compressed air works great for cleaning carpeting...Really lifts out dirt without getting it wet. Only get it wet if you have too. Blow the air on the carpet with the vacum hose right in front.

6. Plastic panels and trim pieces need special care. Any types of harsh cleaners (butyl) may cause them turn color so use mild cleaners and when in doubt...test in an area you wont see. Also make sure you go over the piece with mild soap/water to take off any residue. Wipe dry.

7. A light mist of a detailing spray works great to brighten up the leather and vinyl but you must remember that as mentioned above in a previous post, it is a dust magnet. You must wipe it down really well

8. Always do windows last. I still love good paper towels (truckstop kind) instead of cloths for getting windows streak free. Learn this though...You'll never truly get them streak free so just do them often. One great way to get them close is to do 2 things. 1. Wash the window first to get all dirt off and the glass clean then 2. follow up and use a lighter spray to remove streaks and even it out.

Here's what I do:
1. Remove floormats.

2. loosen the bolts and remove the front seats...they lift right out (unplug any harnesses). Put them on the side.

3. Power vac the floor...bulk it out quick

4. Break out the compressed air and work with the vac to deep clean the rugs. Spot clean with a foam rug cleaner and a flat brush any difficult spots. You may need a little tar remover to get some things off... just follow up with foam and vac. Clean seat tracks and pedals along with kickplates.

5. Next, I start working from the top down with my horsehair brushes and vac and compressed air. Dash, vents, stereo, knobs, buttons. All the places that hold road dust.

6.Now the cleaning begins. Again top down. Posts and pillars get cleaned. I Wipe down everything with a mild cleaning solution and a microfiber towel. Be careful cleaning buttons with white writing and labels on them as this ink has a tendency to wipe off. Just lightly clean the finger gunk off of them.

WARNING!!!!! NEVER-EVER GET THE HEADLINER WET OR YOU WILL BE REPLACING IT!!!

7.Now that the cleaning is done, spray down the interior with detail spray and wipe it down good with a microfiber towel till it's very dry.

8. Go clean your seats...Same way. Vac then comp.air. If needed, foaming spray cleaner, flat brush, and rub dry with an absorbant towel to "blend in" any stains with clean areas. DON'T soak your seats. Very important to do the entire seat to aviod clean spots and have a more uniform look.

9. Clean your floor mats...If very dirty...Pressure wash them, Scrub with a flat brush, Vac and dry.

10. Assembly: RE-Vac where your seats will go, replace them

11. Revac rest of floor.

12. Do the windows twice...First time, cleans the class, second time works on streakfree.

13. Insert dry floor mats

14. Consume Beer and get ready for the exterior.

P.S. if you had to get anything wet....Leave your windows open and let it dry out or your truck will smell like a wet dog.

[Just-in]

I like that step 14

[Buildwonder]

Outstanding write-up, Skyboi! I think if I'm ever in the market for a used vehicle, I'm coming to you first. Your vehicles must be impeccable! Good job. More thorough than me.......I've never pulled the seats!

[mjtech12]

Thanks Skyboi now i have a detail list thats killer by the way i like craftsman stuff as the next guy but i also like my rigid vac from home depot never had any problems and like craftsman they will replace it lifetime. Laterz

[Just-in]

yeah craftsman does sell some good tools.
I personally use a small 5 gallon I believe Shop Vac brand vaccum but they all do the same job. probably would have a craftsman if this one wadn't on sale at lowes.

[Skyboi]

I never used the Rigid Vac but always wanted to. I've gone through a dozen shop vacs but only 2 Craftsman.

I got into pulling the seats out cause I hated trying to get in between them with tooth brushes on sticks. Plus when you're fully detailing 5-6 vehicles a day, I didn't have the time to mess with them.

Think about it. Daily =
20 tires + spare
20 mags + spare
20 wheel wells
5-6 motors
20 door jambs
10 hood/trunk jambs
20 door panels
5-6 interiors
20 floor mats
30 windows twice
5-6 de-tars
5-6 clay-bars
10 washes
5-6 buffs times 2
5-6 wax jobs
20 tires dressed + spare

Clients picking up at 5pm. I'm beat

[LittleRam]

Originally Posted by Skyboi

I never used the Rigid Vac but always wanted to. I've gone through a dozen shop vacs but only 2 Craftsman.

I got into pulling the seats out cause I hated trying to get in between them with tooth brushes on sticks. Plus when you're fully detailing 5-6 vehicles a day, I did have the time to mess with them.

Think about it. Daily =
20 tires + spare
20 mags + spare
20 wheel wells
5-6 motors
20 door jambs
10 hood/trunk jambs
20 door panels
5-6 interiors
20 floor mats
30 windows twice
5-6 de-tars
5-6 clay-bars
10 washes
5-6 buffs times 2
5-6 wax jobs
20 tires dressed + spare

Clients picking up at 5pm. I'm beat

I'm tired already just reading your post.

[Skyboi]

hehe...I don't know how we used to do it....Now I'm shot after doing my truck.

[Irish125]

I have always found that regular old newspaper and your favorite cleaner is excellent for washing windows and has been the best thing I have found to end up with a streak free finish.