Content provided by AAA’s Discount Partner: NAPA Auto Parts

Keeping the inside of your car clean any time of the year is tough. During the summer, beach sand, dripping ice cream cones and muddy sneakers can make it nearly impossible to keep your interior spotless. The following tips and tricks will help with interior car detailing and maintenance during the hot summer months.

1. THOROUGHLY VACUUM AND STEAM CLEAN

Using the same vacuum as the one you clean the floors of your house with won’t cut it when it comes to your car. You’ll need a stronger piece of equipment with a hose and various attachments for those hard-to-reach places — most any wet/dry vacuum will work. Regularly cleaning soft surfaces will prevent debris from becoming embedded in your mats.

Another method that will really help keep those carpets looking like new is steam cleaning. Although it’s often thought of as a means to clean area rugs in your house, it can really help freshen the look and smell of your carpet floor mats.

2. CONSIDER HEAVY-DUTY FLOOR MATS

In addition to vacuuming, another idea is getting a set of heavy-duty rubber floor mats to protect your freshly cleaned carpet mats. Not only do rubber mats help catch any debris from your shoes, but in the case of a liquid spill, it’s much easier to wash off than slave over carpet mats with cleaner. Just make sure they fit the inside of the foot-well properly, as ill-fitting mats can become lodged under the pedals.

Another method that will really help keep those carpets looking like new is steam cleaning. Although it’s often thought of as a means to clean area rugs in your house, it can really help freshen the look and smell of your carpet floor mats.

3. APPLY AN INTERIOR CLEANER

You should always keep a quality interior cleaner handy to clean up spills or just as an interior car detailing maintenance measure. There are several companies that sell multi-purpose cleaners for both leather and vinyl, and possibly even some plastics. If you’re looking to detail your vehicle with high-end cleaners, there are products specifically made for each surface in your car. If keeping it simple is your style, seek out an all-in-one cleaner to get the job done.

Over time, the inside of your car’s windows can become hazy, especially from the gasses leather and plastic materials naturally emit. Treat those surfaces as suggested above, but also take extra care when cleaning the inside of the windows to avoid clouding the glass. Use a chamois with water or a non-streaking glass cleaner, just remember to use one towel for your car’s windows and another for the exterior.

AAA Can Help!

Maintaining the cleanliness of your car’s interior can seem like an impossible task, especially in the harshest of seasons. However, vacuuming, steam cleaning and springing for a set of heavy-duty mats will help keep some of the dirtiest parts of your car’s interior clean.

Use your AAA Discounts to find savings on cleaning products you can use available on NAPA Online and trust our local AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities for routine maintenance and repairs.

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