How to Detail Your Interior for a Quick Sale

Chuck everything that isn't nailed down into a box. Old Macca's bags, servo receipts, that spare thong under the seat, get rid of it. A buyer wants to imagine their own stuff in there, not see your life's debris.

Take the floor mats out and give them a good whack against a brick wall. It's therapeutic and gets the heavy grit out before you even touch the vacuum.

Open all the doors and the boot. If it's been a hot summer, that stale air needs to go. Plus, it makes it easier to move around while you're working.

Before you vacuum, use compressed air or a leaf blower to blast dust out of the vents, cracks, and under the seats. It'll look worse before it looks better, but trust me, it's the only way to get the hidden grit.

Start at the headliner (be gentle!) and work your way down. Use a soft brush for the dash and instrument cluster. For the vents, a brush dipped in a bit of APC works wonders.

Go over every inch of the carpet. Use the crevice tool for the gaps between the seats and the centre console. I once found $14 in change and a petrified chicken nugget in a Commodore doing this. Move the seats all the way forward and back.

Spray your APC onto a microfibre cloth, not directly onto the dash, and wipe everything down. Use a brush for textured plastics where that Aussie red dust likes to hide. If you've got scuffs on the door cards from people's boots, a Magic Eraser with a bit of water will usually lift them right off.

For fabric, use a dedicated foam cleaner and a medium-stiff brush. Work in circles. For leather, use a proper leather cleaner and a soft brush. I've seen guys use dish soap on leather and it just strips the oils out and leads to cracking in our harsh sun. Don't do it.

Don't ignore the pedals! A bit of APC and a stiff brush makes them look brand new. It's a small detail that pro detailers always do and amateurs always miss.

Clean the inside of the windscreen last. It's the hardest part. Use two cloths, one to apply the cleaner and one to buff it dry. If you see streaks when driving into the sun, you haven't buffed enough.

Give the carpets one last go to pick up any debris you knocked loose. Put the clean mats back in. If you want to be real fancy, use a brush to 'stripe' the carpet pile. It looks mint in photos.