Saving Your Dash From the Aussie Sun (Mar 2026)

Never, ever clean your dash while it's hot or sitting in direct sun. The products will dry instantly and leave nasty streaks that are a nightmare to get off. Get it under a carport or in the garage.

Chuck everything off the dash, the sunglasses, the old receipts, and the GPS. Open all your doors to get some airflow so you aren't breathing in fumes.

Give the whole dash a quick vacuum using the soft brush head. This gets the loose grit off so you don't rub it into the grain and scratch the surface when you start wiping.

Before you spray anything, use a dry detailing brush to flick dust out of the air vents while holding the vacuum nozzle nearby. If you spray first, you just turn that dust into mud.

Always spray your cleaner onto the microfibre towel, not directly onto the dashboard. You don't want overspray getting inside your electronics or behind the instrument cluster glass.

Work in small sections (about the size of a dinner plate). Use moderate pressure to wipe the vinyl. If you've got red dust in the texture, use your brush to agitate the cleaner in a circular motion.

Follow up immediately with a second, dry microfibre towel to pick up the emulsified dirt. If the towel comes away red or brown, go again. I learned this the hard way on a black Commodore, if you don't dry it off, the dirt just settles back into the grain.

These are the grimiest parts. Use a slightly stronger dilution of cleaner here to get rid of the oils from your hands. (Trust me, it's pretty gross what comes off a steering wheel after a year).

Be incredibly gentle here. These plastics scratch if you even look at them funny. Use a fresh, clean towel and almost no pressure.

Once the surface is clean and bone dry, apply your UV protectant to a foam applicator. Wipe it on evenly. I personally prefer a matte or satin finish, high gloss looks cheap and reflects the sun back into your eyes while driving.

Give the protectant about 3-5 minutes to actually bond with the surface. This is the part most people skip, but it's where the actual protection happens.

Take a clean microfibre and lightly buff the entire surface. This removes any excess 'greasiness' and ensures an even, factory-look finish. If it's still sticky, you've used too much product.

Cleaning the dash usually leaves a bit of 'gas-off' or overspray on the glass. Give the inside of your windscreen a proper clean now or you'll see every smear the next time you're driving into the sun.