How to Deep Clean Your Interior Like a Pro

Empty everything out. I mean everything. Check the door pockets, under the seats, and the glovebox. Chuck the old servo receipts and the empty Macca's bags. You can't clean what you can't reach.

Take the floor mats out and give them a good shake and a blast with the vacuum while they're outside the car. If they're rubber, hit them with the hose and some APC.

If you're working in a garage, open all the doors to let the air circulate. If you're outside, just do one side at a time so you don't get too much dust blowing in while you work.

Start from the top and work down. Vacuum the seats first, then the floors. Use the crevice tool to get deep into the gaps where the crumbs live. A customer once brought in a Ranger that had so much sand in the rails I reckon I could've built a beach. Take your time here.

Use a dry detailing brush to flick dust out of the vents, buttons, and steering column. Keep the vacuum nozzle right next to the brush to suck up the dust as it flies out. (Your partner will thank you for not just spreading it around).

Spray your APC onto a microfibre cloth, not directly onto the dash. If you spray the dash, you'll get overspray on the glass and it's a nightmare to get off. Wipe down every hard surface. For textured plastics, use a soft brush to agitate the cleaner into the grain.

This is the grossest part. Most steering wheels are coated in a layer of dead skin and hand cream. Use a bit more elbow grease here. If the cloth comes away black, keep going until it stays clean.

If you have leather, use a dedicated leather cleaner. Don't use harsh APC on leather as it can strip the natural oils. I personally love the Gtechniq Tri-Clean for this. Apply, agitate gently, and wipe off.

If that red dust is really stuck in the carpet, spray a little cleaner, let it sit for a minute, then scrub with a stiff brush. Vacuum again once it's dry. You'll be amazed at what still comes out.

Don't forget the bits you only see when the door is open. Use your dirty microfibre and some APC to wipe away the grease and road grime from the sills.

Now that it's clean, you need to protect it. Apply your 303 or similar protectant. It should look matte or satin, not greasy. If it's shiny like a mirror, you've used too much. Buff it off with a clean cloth.

Save the glass for last. Use two cloths, one for the initial wipe with cleaner, and a dry one to buff away the streaks. Pro tip: Wipe the inside glass horizontally and the outside glass vertically. That way, if there's a streak, you know which side it's on.

Put the mats back in and do one final sweep. Check the 'unseen' spots like the back of the rear-view mirror and the sun visors.