How to Clean Your Car Interior Using Household Items

A tidy and well-maintained car offers many benefits: It boosts its resale value, enhances air quality inside the vehicle, prevents your clothes from gathering lint or crushed snacks from the seats, and helps eliminate germs and bacteria from surfaces.

If you can draw your name on the dashboard, spot remnants of yesterday's coffee in the cup holder, or have trouble remembering the original color of the carpet because it's buried under trash, it's time for a thorough cleaning. Here’s how you can clean your car interior using items you already have at home.

How Often Should You Clean Your Car’s Interior?

Much like your home, the frequency of cleaning your car's interior depends on how carefully it’s maintained and used by you and your passengers (or how often it’s neglected).

• Clean spills immediately from carpets and upholstery to prevent stains.
• After every drive, clear out any trash—especially from the driver’s floorboard or dashboard, where debris could affect safety.
• Daily, quickly wipe down the steering wheel and other frequently touched handles and controls with a disinfecting wipe to kill bacteria.
• At least once a month, wash the windows to ensure clear visibility of traffic.
• Twice a year, deep clean the carpets and upholstery to maintain their condition.

What You Will Need

Tools and Equipment

Cleaning Supplies

Instructions

How to Clean Your Steering Wheel and Dashboard

It's essential to clean your dashboard. Not only does wiping it down help prevent the spread of germs, but decluttering also improves road safety. You should never drive with objects obstructing your view through the windshield or loose items that could roll around—these distractions can be hazardous.

Using a Disinfecting Wipe

Since your hands touch the steering wheel and controls frequently, clean them every day using a disinfecting wipe. Allow the surface to remain wet for at least 5 minutes before wiping it down with a lint-free microfiber towel.

Eliminate Dust

An electrostatic disposable duster is effective for removing dust from the dashboard. For hard-to-reach spots, such as in vents, use cotton swabs to trap any lingering dust and lint.

Remove Smudges

To get rid of fingerprints and smudges, moisten a microfiber cloth with water and gently wipe down the dashboard.

Condition and Protect

Once everything is cleaned, apply a protectant to the dashboard to help prevent cracking and fading over time.

How to Clean the Center Console

The center console tends to get dirty quickly. It’s an easy place for dust to accumulate, and if you place coffee cups in the cupholders, you risk leaving behind sticky stains. It’s also common to stash random items here—old gum, keys, crinkled receipts, candy wrappers, and more. It’s essential to regularly clean and disinfect this area since it gets so much use.

Remove the Cupholder

If possible, take out the cupholder parts and place them in a small bowl or bucket with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Let them soak while you clean the rest of the console. Afterward, wipe them down with a dishcloth, rinse, and dry using a microfiber cloth before putting everything back together.

Wipe With a Microfiber Cloth

Lightly dampen a microfiber cloth (be sure it’s not too wet, as excess moisture could affect the console mechanics) and use it to wipe down the gearstick and other controls.

Clean Crevices

Use an old toothbrush or a damp cotton swab to clean out tight corners and crevices, then either wipe them with a microfiber cloth or vacuum the debris using the crevice tool on your vacuum.

How to Clean Car Windows

Car windows also require cleaning. You need a clear view through them to drive safely. Windows collect everything from dust and dirt to pollen and crushed bugs. Cleaning and sanitizing your windows not only helps with visibility but also reduces germs.

Select a Window Cleaner

If you’re using a commercial window cleaner, make sure it’s ammonia-free (to avoid damaging interior finishes) and that the label confirms it’s safe for tinted windows.

Lower the Window

Lower the window just enough to clean the top edge. Begin at the top, lightly spray the glass, and then use a lint-free microfiber cloth to wipe away any grime and smudges.

Prevent Streaks

To prevent streaks when cleaning the windows, try to work in a shaded area so the cleaner doesn’t dry too quickly, which can leave marks behind.

• As you clean, continue using a fresh area of the cloth for better results.
• For the outside of the windows, clean with vertical strokes, and for the interior, use horizontal motions. This makes it easier to spot and fix any streaks or imperfections.

How to Clean Leather Car Seats

Leather seats are a common feature in many vehicles, but they require special care with the right products and techniques. Cleaning them is a step-by-step process, and it's important to ensure they don’t become damp, which can lead to bacteria buildup.

Start with Vacuuming

Begin by using the vacuum’s crevice tool to extract dust and debris from the seams and the areas where the seat back meets the seat bottom.

Choose the Correct Cleaner

Use a suitable commercial leather cleaner or saddle soap along with a damp cloth to wipe down the seats.

Work from the Top Down

Follow the instructions provided with your leather cleaner, beginning at the top of the seat and moving downward to prevent dirty drips from ruining clean sections.

Condition the Leather

Once the seats are clean and dry, apply a commercial leather conditioner to maintain their flexibility and softness. Finish by buffing the seats dry with a soft cloth.

Cleaning Cloth Car Seats

Cloth seats are often simpler to clean than leather seats, especially when seat covers can be removed. Even without removable covers, you still have a wider range of cleaning products available for cloth than for leather.

Vacuum the Fabric

Use the upholstery and crevice vacuum attachments to lift dust and dirt from the fabric. Be sure to carefully vacuum in the space between the backrest and bottom cushions.

Treat Stains Before Cleaning

Use a commercial upholstery cleaner (following the label instructions) or a DIY stain remover to pretreat any stains.

Select or Prepare a Cleaner

Follow the instructions on a store-bought upholstery cleaner, or use a homemade solution to clean the entire fabric surface.

Apply the Cleaning Solution

Start at the top of the seat and lightly spray the cleaning mixture. Use a soft-bristled brush to gently work it into the fabric, making sure to clean all areas, including the sides and backs where kids might have left marks, and don't forget the seat belts.

Rinse the Upholstery

Eliminate loose dirt by wiping down the seats with a microfiber cloth that has been lightly dampened with clean water. Be sure to rinse and wring the cloth frequently, and replace the water when it starts to get too dirty.

Dry the Upholstery

Allow the upholstery to dry naturally with the windows open. To speed up the process, place a circulating fan near the seats.

How to Clean Car Carpet

Carpet can be one of the dirtiest parts of your car. Since you walk around outdoors and then step on the carpet, regular cleaning is essential for maintaining a fresh and debris-free interior. Clean carpets also help to eliminate odors, keeping your car smelling pleasant.

Take Out and Clean the Floor Mats

If you have floor mats, remove them for a more thorough cleaning. For rubber mats, rinse them with a hose, and for carpeted ones, clean them the same way you would the car’s carpet.

Vacuum the Carpet

The carpet should be the last part of the car to vacuum, as it collects dust and debris from other areas such as the dashboard and seats. Use the crevice and upholstery tools to work slowly and methodically across the carpeted area.

Treat Stains

Follow the instructions on the label to apply a commercial carpet stain remover for treating oil, food, and dirt stains.

Apply a Carpet Cleaner

For an overall carpet refresh, use a commercial carpet cleaner, either in powder or liquid form, or make your own cleaning solution using ½ cup distilled white vinegar, 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid, and 1 cup warm water.

Air-Dry

Open the windows to allow the carpet to air-dry naturally. Speed up drying with a circulating fan, and make sure the carpet is fully dry before replacing the car mats.

How to Maintain a Cleaner Car for Longer

Now that your car is sparkling clean and fresh-smelling, use these helpful tips to keep it that way.

• Keep a small trash bag in the car and make sure to empty it regularly, at least once a week. 
• Use silicone baking cups in your cupholders to catch any spills and toss them in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
• Keep a microfiber cloth, lint roller, and electrostatic duster in the glove compartment or console for quick touch-ups while you're parked.
• Use washable seat covers when traveling with pets or kids.
• Clean up spills and stains as soon as they happen.
• Wipe your shoes off before stepping into the car.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I eliminate odors in my car?

  If you have some time while your car is parked, sprinkle baking soda on the seats and carpet. Lightly mist with water and work the powder into the fibers. Let it sit for at least eight hours before vacuuming up the odor-trapping powder.

  If you're pressed for time, place some baking soda in a resealable plastic container, punch holes in the lid, and place it under a front seat to absorb odors. Be sure to replace the baking soda every month. Hanging a car air freshener can also help maintain fresh scents.

• How do I clean the trunk?

  Trunks can harbor odors, especially if food, gym bags, or other items are left behind. Start by emptying the trunk, removing any trash, vacuuming the interior with a car vacuum, and washing the trunk mat (if there is one).

• What’s the best way to clean the dashboard screen?

  While cleaning your dashboard, don’t forget to wipe down the screen. Be gentle with your touchscreen, as excess moisture can damage it. Use a damp, non-abrasive cloth with a mild disinfectant to clean the screen. Just make sure to wring out the cloth well to avoid drenching the screen.