How to Clean Red Dust and Salt Out of Your 4x4 Interior

Chuck everything out. And I mean everything. Floor mats, recovery gear, the stray chips under the seat, and that half-empty bottle of water that's been rolling around the footwell. If it's not bolted down, it comes out.

If you've got rubber mats (which you should for 4WDing), hose them off first so they have time to dry in the sun while you work on the inside.

Open all the doors and the tailgate. If you've got a breeze, let it work for you. Just watch where the dust goes, you don't want it blowing back into the garage or onto the clean exterior.

Before you touch a vacuum, use compressed air to blow out the dash, the vents, the centre console, and between the seats. It'll get messy, but you want that dust airborne and out of the cracks rather than just pushing it deeper.

Vacuum everything. Use the brush attachment for the dash and the crevice tool for the sides of the seats. Don't be shy, really get in there.

This is where most people fail. Red dust loves carpet. Take your stiff brush and 'beat' the carpet while vacuuming. This vibrates the sand and dust to the surface. I learned this the hard way on a black Commodore, if you don't agitate, the dust just stays in the backing and comes back a week later.

Take a slightly damp microfibre (just water) and wipe down all hard surfaces. This picks up the loose dust layer without turning it into red mud.

Now use your APC. Spray it onto your brush, not the dash (to avoid overspray on the glass), and work it into the textures of the plastic. Wipe off immediately with a clean cloth.

If you've got cloth seats, give them a good vacuum and maybe a hit with a fabric cleaner. If it's leather, use a dedicated leather cleaner. Sweat and salt from beach swims will ruin leather if left to sit.

Pull your seatbelts all the way out. Wipe them down with a damp cloth and a bit of mild soap. Dust in the weave makes them stiff and eventually they won't retract.

Don't forget the jams! Red dust loves to hide in the rubber seals. Wipe these down and maybe apply a bit of silicone spray to keep the rubber from perishing in the heat.

Clean the inside of the windows last. Use a dedicated glass cleaner. I reckon Autoglym Fast Glass is top shelf for removing that greasy film that builds up from the AC and dust.

Apply your protectant to the dash and door cards. In Australia, the sun is your biggest enemy. A good UV blocker stops the plastic from cracking and fading. Honestly, I wouldn't bother with the cheap 'shiny' sprays, they just attract more dust.