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It can be a lot of work and attention to detail to get your car really clean…especially if it’s pretty dirty to start with…but here are some ideas for truly thorough cleaning that you may not have thought of!

• A cheap foam paintbrush can get into crevices (like A/C vents) that might be impossible otherwise. As you loosen up dust from these spots, keep a vacuum cleaner nozzle at work in your other hand to suck up the dust and prevent it from settling other places.
• A soft-bristled brush is perfect for cleaning around radio knobs and other buttons.
• While you’re cleaning, don’t forget to locate your cabin air filter and replace it. A dirty cabin air filter can lead to a lot of odd smells and stinks. Check your owner’s manual; cabin air filter locations can vary a lot from one make/model to another.
• Get all the junk out. That means checking under the seats and far up in the front foot wells, even under the dash.
• A Magic Eraser, with some light rubbing, can be great for getting drips, stains, and gunk out of both leather and fabric.
• Armrests and door panels tend to get pretty grimy with embedded dirt. A mild soap and water solution will do the trick; scrub with a toothbrush to dislodge this grime. The toothbrush is also really handy for getting dirt and fine crumbs out of the seams of seat cushions.
• If your dashboard or seats have started to dry out or crack, you can condition and polish them with olive oil.
• Dog hair on cloth upholstery? Try a spray bottle of water and a squeegee, then vacuum up what’s left. If there’s any left after that, try doubling a length of duct tape into a loop and picking up the remains.
• Stains in upholstery or carpeting can come out surprisingly well with diluted all-purpose cleaner, a sponge or scrub brush and washcloths.

With a little time and elbow grease, you’ll be driving around in a nice clean car again. Hope this helps!