Keeping Your Dash and Vinyl From Cracking Under the Aussie Sun

Never, ever clean your dash while it's hot to the touch. The chemicals will flash off (dry instantly) and leave nasty streaks that are a nightmare to get off. Find a spot in the carport or under a tree.

Chuck the sunglasses, coins, and old receipts into a bin or the glovebox. You want a clear run at the whole surface.

If you've got a compressor, blow some air into the vents and gaps first. If not, just give the dash a quick once-over with the vacuum brush to get the loose grit off.

I learned this the hard way on a black Commodore, if you spray liquid onto red dust, you just make mud. Use your soft brush and vacuum together to get 90% of the dry dirt off before you touch a bottle of cleaner.

Avoid spraying cleaner directly onto the dashboard. It ends up in the vents, behind the stereo, and on the glass. Spray your microfibre until it's damp, then wipe.

Most modern dashes have a faux-leather grain. Dirt loves to hide in those valleys. Use your detailing brush in circular motions to lift the grime out, then wipe it away immediately with a clean cloth.

The steering wheel and door armrests get 'shiny' because of skin oils. Spend a bit more time here with your cleaner. If it's still shiny after wiping, it's still dirty.

If you've got kick marks on the lower door plastics, try a damp microfibre first. If it won't budge, a very light touch with a Magic Eraser works, but be careful, it's basically very fine sandpaper.

To get right down where the dash meets the glass, wrap a microfibre around a ruler or a plastic spatula. It's the only way to get the dust out of that crevice.

Now the surface is clean, it's time for the UV sealant. I reckon Aerospace 303 is the gold standard here. Again, apply to an applicator pad or cloth, not the dash.

This is the most important step. After letting the protectant sit for a minute, take a fresh, dry microfibre and buff the whole surface. This removes the 'greasy' look and leaves a nice, factory-satin finish.

Use a clean, dry detailing brush to flick out any remaining dust from the air vents. If they're really greasy, a damp cotton bud works wonders.

You definitely got some product on the inside of the windscreen. Clean it now with glass cleaner, otherwise, you'll see a nasty haze next time you're driving into the sun.