Restoring Your Interior Like a Pro (Mar 2026)

Chuck everything out. And I mean everything. Empty the glovebox, the centre console, and the door pockets. Check under the seats for loose change or old chips. If it's not bolted down, it goes.

Take the mats out and put them on the driveway. Bang them against a wall first to get the heavy grit out. If they're rubber, hit them with a hose and some APC now so they can dry while you work.

Flip your visors down and check the mirrors. People always forget to clean the top of the visor where it meets the roof.

Before you vacuum, use compressed air (or the 'blow' setting on your vac) to blast dust out of the tight spots, seat rails, between the seats, and the accordion-bits in the steering column.

Park in the shade. Never, ever detail an interior in direct Aussie sun. The chemicals will dry too fast and leave nasty streaks or even 'burn' the plastics.

Start from the top and work down. Vacuum the seats first, then the floors. Use the brush attachment for the dash and the crevice tool for the gaps.

Be gentle here. Dampen a microfibre with a little bit of interior cleaner and lightly wipe. Do not soak the headliner or the glue will fail and it'll sag like an old tent.

Use a dry boar's hair brush in one hand and the vacuum in the other. Agitate the dust out of the vents and buttons while sucking it up instantly.

Spray your cleaner onto your brush or towel, not the dash. Scrub the textured plastics to get the skin oils and dust out of the grain.

Fire up the steamer. Use it on cup holders and door bins to melt away dried coffee or sticky lolly residue. Wipe immediately with a fresh towel.

Apply leather cleaner to a soft brush and work in circular motions until it foams. This foam pulls the dirt out of the 'pores'. Wipe off with a damp towel, then a dry one.

If you have cloth seats, spray a fabric cleaner, let it dwell for 2 mins, then use a medium-stiff brush or drill brush to lift the dirt. (Learned this the expensive way: don't use a drill brush on delicate Alcantara!)

If the seats are filthy, use a spot cleaner machine (like a Bissell) to suck the dirty water out. You'll be disgusted by the colour of the water, trust me.

This is the grossest part of any car. Use a dedicated cleaner and a soft brush. If it's leather, you'll notice it goes from 'shiny' (grease) back to a nice 'matte' factory finish.

Don't forget the pedals! Use a stiff brush and APC. Muddy boots make these filthy, and it's the first thing you see when you get in.

Wipe down the painted areas inside the doors. Use a spray wax or quick detailer here to make them pop and prevent the grease from sticking.

Clean the inside of the windows using the 'two-towel' method. One towel to apply the cleaner and scrub, the second bone-dry towel to buff off the streaks.

Apply 303 Protectant to all vinyl and plastic. Let it sit for a minute, then buff it dry. You want a satin finish, not a greasy 'used car lot' shine.

Apply a thin layer of conditioner to the leather. This keeps it supple and prevents the Aussie sun from cracking it.

Now that you've knocked more dust loose during the cleaning, do one final quick vacuum of the carpets. Use the brush to get those nice 'stripes' if you're feeling fancy.