How do you detail the inside of a car? What chemicals, brushes, and equipment do you need? In this segment of Detail King’s Auto Methods & Procedures Guide, the team breaks down the best interior detailing process that will allow your team to tackle even the dirtiest interiors.
Preparing the vehicle
Before starting a detail, the first step is always to remove all loose items. While the owner will hopefully have taken all of their belongings, small items are often left behind. Be vigilant when looking for unusual items such as knives, firearms, or even jewelry.
Use loose item bags to store anything left behind.
Remove mats and seat covers. These can be vacuumed and prepped to remove the loose dirt and grime.
Take out ashtrays and removable cup holders, which can be soaked in a bucket of soapy water while you carry out the rest of the interior detail.
First, using an air compressor to loosen dirt in the carpets, seats, door pockets and around the dashboard will allow you to work more efficiently once you begin. Start at the rear and push all of the dirt towards the front of the car for easier vacuuming.
Step-by-step guide to interior detailing
The key to an efficient interior detail is to work top to bottom and front to back. This prevents water or overspray from reaching areas that are already completed. Here’s how to detail a vehicle’s interior:
- Clean the Headliner:
Clean the headliner using a damp, but not soaked hydra sponge. Spray Detail King’s Extractor Soap onto the sponge and gently scrub the headliner. Avoid oversaturating it or working on a headliner that is already loose or sagging. Use a clean terry towel to wipe up excess soap and moisture. - Clean the Doors:
For door panels and plastics, spray Detail King’s Pink Power onto a clean microfiber towel and wipe down the panel, giving extra attention to touch points like handles and buttons. Use an interior detailing brush for grime that’s hard to reach. For a faster clean on areas that aren’t filthy, use the Tornador Classic. Wipe up moisture with a clean towel. - Do the Dashboard & Console:
Follow the same process as Step 2 to detail the dashboard and center console. If these surfaces are plastic, use the appropriate brushes to gently clean knobs, crevices, and vents. Remember to clean/wipe down the glove box and lower dashboard areas. If any of these components are leather, refer to Step 5 for instructions on cleaning leather. - Remove & Clean the Floor Mats:
Remove floor mats to vacuum and extract, if necessary. For plastic and rubber mats, pressure wash the mats and scrub clean with a high-strength interior cleaner such as Magic Cleaner Concentrate or Special Force. Use one of our drill brush attachments to speed up the process on rubber or carpeted mats. Use mat hangers to allow them to drip dry. - Clean & Treat Leather Surfaces:
Clean leather seats and other areas using Detail King’s one-step cleaner and conditioner, Leather Magic paired with a leather and vinyl brush. For leather with heavy dirt, use a vapor steamer to gently remove stubborn grime. - Remove Pet Hair:
When needed, remove pet hair from the carpet and upholstery using the FurzOff or a rubber pet hair brush. Add two ounces of fabric softener to a quart of water and mist the affected areas to eliminate static charge and dislodge the pet hair more easily. - Shampoo Carpets:
When shampooing fabric and carpet, start by spot-treating stains with Hot Shot or Magic Cleaner Concentrate. Scrub Extractor Soap into the carpet and upholstery. Once the surfaces have been thoroughly shampooed, use a carpet extractor to fully remove the soap and dirt. Repeat extraction as necessary. Remember to follow this process for carpeted floor mats as well.*If there is a lot of ground-in dirt, use our high-foaming Carpet Shampoo prior to the extractor soap to help loosen all of the dirt. Wipe away foam and dirt with a clean towel and then proceed to the extractor soap and carpet extractor. - Dress the Interior:
Use Pearl Gloss to shine and protect plastic and vinyl by spraying it onto an applicator and working it in. For rubber weather stripping, use Super Blue. If door jams have already been cleaned, now is a good time to wax them using an express detailer such as our Final Touch Ultra Express Wax or Gloss & Glide Detail Spray. Never dress the steering wheel, shifter, or pedals. For leather surfaces, use our Leather Magic. - Protect the Surfaces:
Once the fabric and upholstery have dried, it’s time to apply protection. Use our Spill Defender to halt potential stains from setting in. For enhanced protection with nano-technology, use Jade A65 Fabric Guard. - Clean Interior Glass:
Finally, clean all interior windows and glass with Ready-to-Use (RTU) Glass Cleaner. Make sure to use dedicated window cleaning towels that are free of oils or polishes. Black Diamond Glass Towels or Huck Towels make a great choice.
Finishing touches
Once the interior detail is complete, odor removal measures can be taken if necessary. Add interior fragrance under the seat to leave the car smelling fresh.
Reinstall anything that was removed in the beginning, such as the ashtray, and place the loose item bag on the passenger seat.
If the carpets are dry, floor mats can be reinstalled as well. Place plastic-coated paper floor mats on top in the front row. If the carpets are still damp, place the vehicle’s mats in the trunk.
Be sure that AC vents, headrests, seats, backrests, and mirrors are positioned correctly.
Finally, go over your inspection checklist to ensure that no area has been missed.
Disclaimer: This procedure has been prepared as an example and should be used to create your own Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). All vehicles are different and may require additional steps. It is your responsibility to develop procedures that work for your organization.
FAQs:
How long should detailing an interior take?
There are a variety of factors that will determine the time it takes, but expect to spend a minimum of two hours on the interior. The size of the vehicle and how it’s maintained between details are the main determining factors.
Additional services such as odor removal or re-extracting the carpets in order to fully remove dirt will quickly add additional labor time. In extreme cases, it could even take multiple days to bring life back to the interior.
How often should you clean the interior?
Everyone’s needs will be different depending on how they use and maintain their vehicles. Someone who frequently deals with spills will need their interior cleaned often to prevent permanent staining. A vehicle owner who never eats or drinks in their car and rarely has passengers won’t need to clean as frequently.
Regardless, regular cleaning is necessary to prolong the life of plastic, leather, fabric, and every surface inside the car. Dressing the interior will help prevent damage from the sun such as fading and cracking.
What’s the difference between a steamer and an extractor for interior detailing?
Steamers spray water vapor only. They are great for hard surface cleaning as well as breaking down stains and spills. Carpet extractors shoot out hot water with a decent bit of pressure and suck it back up along with dirt.
Carpet extractors are essential for deep cleaning carpets and upholstery in vehicles. Vapor steamers are great at cleaning plastic, leather, vinyl, and more, typically without the need to introduce any harsh chemicals. Both pieces of equipment use the power of hot water to loosen grime and provide the best possible clean.