How to Clean and Protect Your Door Panels Like a Pro

Empty out those door pockets. Chuck the old water bottles and receipts. If there's sticky gunk at the bottom, don't worry, we'll get to it.

Run the vacuum through the pockets and along the speaker grills. If you start spraying cleaner onto dry dust, you're just making mud, which is a nightmare to get out of the grain.

Don't do this if the car has been sitting in 40 degree heat. The cleaner will dry instantly and leave spots. Find some shade or do it in the shed.

Always start at the top of the door near the window and work your way down. Gravity is a thing, so any drips will fall onto stuff you haven't cleaned yet.

Spray your APC onto your brush or scrub pad, not directly onto the panel. This stops 'overspray' from landing on your clean windows or seats. (Trust me on this one, cleaning overspray off glass is a pain).

Work the brush in circular motions along the top rail. This is where most of the skin oils and salt spray build up. You'll see the foam turn slightly brown, that's the win.

If your armrest is vinyl or plastic, give it a good go with the scrub pad. If it's leather, be gentle and use a dedicated leather cleaner. Skin oils are acidic and will wreck the finish over time.

Use the soft brush for the window switches. Don't soak them, electronics and water aren't mates. Just enough moisture to lift the dirt.

These are dust magnets. Use a dry brush first to flick dust out, then a slightly damp brush. Don't poke anything sharp into the holes or you'll poke a hole in the speaker cone. (Made that mistake once on a customer's Lexus, cost me a fortune to fix).

This is usually where the real filth lives. If there's dried soft drink or coffee, let the APC sit for 30 seconds to soften it up before wiping.

For those black marks from shoes on the bottom of the door, try a damp microfibre first. If they won't budge, a Magic Eraser with very light pressure usually does the trick. Just don't go nuts or you'll sand away the texture.

Use a fresh, slightly damp microfibre to wipe away any leftover cleaner residue. If you leave APC on there, it can leave a white film when it dries.

Open the door wide and wipe the very bottom edge and the inner sills. This is where the red dust hides. A quick wipe here makes the whole job look professional.

Once the panel is Bone dry, apply your protectant. Use a microfibre applicator pad. I reckon Aerospace 303 is the king here because it doesn't leave that greasy '80s limo' shine. It just looks like new plastic.

After the protectant has sat for a minute, give it a final buff with a dry microfibre. This ensures an even finish with no streaks.