Taking Your Interior Detailing to the Next Level (Mar 2026)

Chuck everything out. Coins, old maccas bags, the lot. Empty the glovebox and centre console too. If it's not bolted down, get it out of there so you've got a clear run.

Pull the mats out and hit them with the high-pressure hose at the local car wash if they're rubber, or give them a good thrashing with a brush if they're carpet.

Use your air compressor or a leaf blower (don't laugh, it works) to blast dust out from under the seats and inside the side pockets. You'll be amazed at the amount of sand that hides under those seat rails.

Spend more time here than you think you need. Use the crevice tool for the gaps between the seats and the console. A customer once brought in a Ranger that looked clean, but after 20 minutes of vacuuming, I'd pulled half a kilo of beach sand out of the rear carpet pile.

Spray a little APC on the carpet, then hit it with the drill brush. This brings the deeply embedded dirt to the surface. Don't go too hard or you'll fray the fibres.

Be bloody careful here. Use a damp microfibre with a tiny bit of cleaner. Never soak the headliner or the glue will fail and it'll sag like a wet tent. Just a light wipe for any scuffs.

Spray your cleaner into the brush, not onto the dash. Work it into a lather in the textured plastics, then wipe off with a clean cloth. This gets the skin oils and dust out of the grain.

Use your small brushes and a bit of air to get into the AC vents. If you've got a steam cleaner, a quick blast of steam kills any funky smells hiding in there.

Most modern leather is actually coated in a thin plastic layer. You aren't 'feeding' the leather as much as cleaning that top coat. Use a dedicated brush to get into the creases.

These are the filthiest parts of the car. Use a bit more elbow grease here. If the leather looks shiny, that's actually grease and oils from your hands. It should look matte when it's truly clean.

If there's dried coffee or sticky soft drink, steam is your best friend. If you don't have a steamer, let a wet rag sit on the gunk for 5 minutes to soften it up before scrubbing.

Don't forget the pedals. A stiff brush and some APC will get the mud off. Just make sure you dry them properly so your foot doesn't slip off the brake later.

Clean the inside of the windscreen last. Use two cloths, one to apply and scrub, and a second, bone-dry waffle weave cloth to buff off the streaks. This is the secret to no haze at night.

If you've got kids or a dog, spray some fabric protector on the seats now that they're clean. It makes the next spill much easier to mop up.

Apply a non-greasy UV protectant to all vinyl and plastic surfaces. I reckon 303 Aerospace Protectant is the gold standard here. It's like SPF 40 for your car's interior.