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Do-it-yourself car interior dry cleaning

Dry cleaning

There is no car that does not need care. Timely maintenance is a concern for the "health" of the transport, and cleaning it is a concern for oneself. It is pleasant to be in the cleaned interior, but cleaning is carried out not only for aesthetic reasons.

Dust is the most common allergen. It accumulates in small crevices and in carpet. And even if the driver or passengers are not allergic to dust, it can quickly develop.

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Such a procedure will be required after buying a used car, especially if the previous owner was a heavy smoker or did not differ in cleanliness (how to quickly eliminate an unpleasant odor, it is told here).

Typically, car washes only carry out surface cleaning of the interior, so periodically you need to perform deep processing using chemicals. Comprehensive cleaning will return the interior of the car to its original beauty and freshness.

Consider what means you can clean the elements of the car interior and how to do dry cleaning yourself.

What types of dry cleaning are there and their difference

Car interior dry cleaning can be done in several ways. Firstly, you can simply treat the fabric elements with an appropriate product without dismantling. The advantage of this method is that it will take a little time to process the interior of the car compared to other methods.

Secondly, dry cleaning can be performed with partial dismantling of some elements of the car interior. For example, in this case, you will need to remove the chairs in order to gain access to the entire floor covering.

Thirdly, dry cleaning can be performed with complete dismantling of all elements of the vehicle interior. Compared to previous methods, this method provides a more thorough cleaning. But this is the most costly method, both in terms of time and materials.

Other types of dry cleaning are divided into dry and wet. The first category includes those products that imply only partial use of water, and after processing the materials, they do not need to be dried. The second type of dry cleaning involves wet cleaning using foaming substances. The disadvantage of this method is that it cannot be used on surfaces that absorb moisture well. Otherwise, they will need to be dried well.

Tools and equipment for cleaning

The first thing to prepare before starting the procedure is a suitable inventory. To do the dry cleaning of the car interior with your own hands, you will need the following tools.

  • Spray gun. Capacity with a spray bottle into which the liquid diluted in the required proportion is collected. Some detergents are sold in containers that are already equipped with a spray bottle. This tool will ensure even distribution of the substance on the surface being cleaned. High-quality products are not cheap, and the use of a spray gun will allow you to economically use this liquid.
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  • Rags. To remove the sprayed product, you need a rag that can absorb moisture and remove dust well. Normal cotton fabric (or a simple “hebeshka”) has good absorbent properties, but microfiber is ideal for high-quality cleaning of hard surfaces. The fibers of this fabric are several times thinner than human hair. It effectively removes dust during both dry and wet cleaning. After her, there are no stains.
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  • Foam sponge. With its help, it is easy to foam the detergent and apply it on the treated surface.
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  • Brushes for clothes. A stiff brush will qualitatively clean a rough carpet, but it can damage a soft textile upholstery, so it is better to have tools with different degrees of hardness.
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  • A vacuum cleaner. It is better to use a household vacuum device instead of a car analog. It is more powerful, therefore it is better to remove dust and dirt. It is used for cleaning the interior before being treated with chemicals.
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  • Protective equipment. Gloves and respirators will protect the human skin and respiratory tract from the effects of auto chemical goods.
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In addition to suitable tools, you will need to purchase auto chemicals. These are liquid or pasty products designed specifically for cleaning the interior.

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They should not include abrasives (especially when used for cleaning plastic surfaces and leather upholstery). Here are the tools that should be in the kit:

  • glass cleaner (sold already in a spray bottle, any option, for example, Mr Muscle, will do);
  • foam cleaner (even conventional carpet cleaners, such as Vanish, will do);
  • stain removers (often available in aerosol cans and have a foam structure, for example, one of the effective stain removers - LIQUI MOLY 7586);
  • a solution for cleaning leather products (they include impregnation to prevent cracking of the material). Among these tools are Hi-Gear 5217;
  • pastes or plastic cleaning solutions (e.g. LIQUI MOLY Kunststoff-Tiefen-PFleger).

When choosing a detergent, you should not start from its cost, thinking that the most expensive will be the most effective option. See a short overview of effective remedies:

Cleaning products. Car Interior Cleaner Test. Which is better? Overview of avtozvuk.ua

When purchasing car chemistry, it is important to pay attention to its composition. Too aggressive detergents can change the color of the treated surface. If concentrate is purchased, it is important that you follow the dosage instructions clearly. Before processing the cabin with an unknown reagent, it is worth testing it in a closed area (for example, behind the back of the rear seat).

Preparing the machine for the procedure

Before proceeding with the procedure, you need to prepare a car. First of all, it is necessary to remove all foreign objects from the passenger compartment and trunk, including removing the floor mats and removing the seat covers.

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If cleaning is done outdoors, then the street should not be damp. This will increase the drying time of the car. In the case of work in the garage, it is important to ensure good ventilation of the room, otherwise the one who does the work runs the risk of poisoning with fumes of chemicals.

The car interior and trunk must be vacuumed. If the vacuum cleaner is equipped with a steam generator, this will only facilitate subsequent cleaning. Dust is removed from all hard surfaces with moist microfiber. Then the plastic is wiped dry.

How to dry clean the car: step by step instructions

The machine is now ready for dry cleaning. Of course, you can take her to the sink, where the procedure will be performed by professionals. But deep cleaning of the cabin is not such a difficult procedure, so you can do it yourself.

It is more practical to carry out dry cleaning in the following sequence:

  • ceiling;
  • window;
  • torpedo;
  • seats;
  • floor;
  • doors;
  • the trunk.

Due to this sequence, the cleaned areas will not be re-dirty during the cleaning of other surfaces.

Dry Cleaning Ceiling

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Detergent is applied to the entire surface of the ceiling upholstery. For convenience, many manufacturers sell such substances with a foam structure. The spray evenly distributes the foam on the surface. Then, depending on the manufacturer's recommendations, the substance is left for several minutes.

Foam does not need to be rubbed. It penetrates deep into the pores of the upholstery and draws out the ingrained dirt from them. At the end of the procedure, the remaining funds are removed with a rag. This should be done with light movements, periodically rinsing the rag.

Glass washing

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To save detergent, some motorists use regular soapy water. After washing, the windows are wiped dry. Then a glass cleaner is sprayed and wiped with a dry cloth.

If the car stands on the street for a long time and during this period it rains several times, stains from dried water will appear on the windows. They are easily removed with an alcohol-based product. It quickly erodes, so the windows will not need to be wiped for a long time.

Front panel dry cleaning

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To wash the front panel, you will need substances created specifically for treating plastic surfaces. They can be implemented in the form of foam, liquid or paste. They are applied with a foam sponge or sprayed with an aerosol (sold in spray cans).

To protect electrical elements from the effects of aggressive substances, they are pre-covered with masking tape (it will not leave sticky traces after itself). After treatment with a detergent, the surface is carefully wiped. If the substance has polishing properties, finishing work is best done with dry microfiber.

If cracks, chips or scratches on the plastic were revealed during cleaning, you can fix them by following the tips, published in a separate article.

Dry cleaning

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The most difficult thing is to clean the car seats, as their upholstery is made from different materials. Depending on this, detergents are also selected. Their packaging indicates which type of tissue (or skin) they are intended for.

  • Velours. To clean it, it is enough to use a foam stain remover, as is the case with the processing of the ceiling. The product is applied to the surface, the right time is expected, then with light movements the remaining foam is removed with a rag. If old stains remain on the fabric, they must be additionally treated with a stain remover and rubbed with a brush of suitable stiffness.
  • Leather. This type of material is processed by special means, which in addition to cleaning reagents include impregnations that increase the service life of products. Leather chairs should not be brushed off - the surface will be scratched.
  • Faux leather or faux leather. In this case, more gentle means should be used than when cleaning natural material. In the process of removing stains, you should not make efforts so that the upholstery does not tear.

Dry cleaning seats has certain nuances that can be read about here.

Floor cleaning

It will be a little more difficult to clean the floor, as it is difficult to get to some areas (for example, under armchairs). Also, due to constant contact with shoes, the flooring is very dirty.

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To clean the floor, you can use a household carpet stain remover. It is added to the basin with water. Foam is whipped using a foam sponge (the washcloth is lowered into water and squeezed / unclenched intensively in the solution to the maximum foam formation). Only foam should be applied to the surface of the carpet (do not rub the liquid).

The product is left for several minutes until most of the foam disappears by itself. The dirt that appears on the surface should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. After that, the remaining spots are treated locally. In this case, you can use a stiff brush.

Dry cleaning of doors

Door cards are cleaned according to the same principle as seats. Detergent is selected based on the material with which the doors are upholstered.

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If the system of electric windows is installed in the car, then the detergent should be applied without the use of a spray (preferably with a sponge or rags). So the fluid does not leak onto the control contacts of the mechanism.

Similar care should be taken when processing cards near the window seal. This is necessary so that the substance does not fall on the mechanisms located inside the door. Otherwise, the movable metal components of the windows will rust, which may damage the drive.

Dry cleaning

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The easiest way to clean the trunk, as it has no hard-to-reach spots. On some car models, the boot carpet is removable. In this case, it is removed from the car and cleaned on the floor according to the same principle as any carpet.

How to prepare the most budgetary product for cleaning a polluted cabin is shown in the following video:

Experiment: do-it-yourself dry cleaning of a car interior, soda and citric acid, how to clean the interior

Drying

Even if the owner of the car used the most dry rags to remove the remnants of detergents, after washing, moisture will still remain in the cabin. So that subsequently the car body does not begin to rust or, even worse, mold does not appear in the passenger compartment, the passenger compartment must be dried.

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To do this, in the car you need to open the doors, trunk, hood and leave it like this for several hours. It usually takes at least two hours. The resulting draft will remove residual moisture from the passenger compartment.

Do-it-yourself dry cleaning of the car interior

In addition to wet interior cleaning, there is another type of interior cleaning - dry.

Dry cleaning of the car is carried out in the same sequence as described above. Only for this procedure are special chemicals used.

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First you need to clean the interior of the dirt with a vacuum cleaner, and also wipe the dust from all surfaces. Then, using spraying, the product is applied and left for a while (this gap is indicated on the package). After that, the remaining dirt is removed with a vacuum cleaner or a dry cloth.

Compared with wet dry cleaning, this procedure has a significant advantage. Drying, the product does not evaporate condensate. Thanks to this, the car does not need long-term drying. It is ideal for any type of upholstery. Wet dry cleaners are only suitable for materials that do not absorb moisture well or poorly.

Among the means for dry cleaning the car, there are several, for example, Runway Dry Interior Cleaner, Turtle Wax Essential or Autoprofi. In addition to stain removal, such substances have an antibacterial effect.

Benefits of self-cleaning salon

Almost every motorist sooner or later wondered whether it was possible to perform high-quality dry cleaning of the car interior on his own. In short, it is possible. The main thing is to adhere to the instructions of the manufacturer of a particular cleaning agent.

The biggest advantage of self-cleaning is that the car owner saves money on labor costs. He does all the work himself. But if the car owner has little time to complete the task in stages or has no experience at all in performing such work, then there is a high probability of harming the interior upholstery.

Do-it-yourself car interior dry cleaning

Often, car owners carry out superficial dry cleaning, that is, without dismantling the interior elements. Depending on the contamination, this may only be a temporary measure (for example, if some strong-smelling substance is spilled, then without detailed dry cleaning it will be impossible to get rid of the unpleasant odor).

Also, with a lack of experience in dismantling work, it is possible to assemble the interior incorrectly after cleaning. Another danger when self-cleaning the interior is the likelihood of damaging electronic devices by flooding them with water. If the car owner is sure that he will be able to do the job scrupulously, that he will allocate enough time for this, and will correctly assemble the salon, then self-service dry cleaning can be budgetary, even when buying expensive funds.

The reason is that car cleaning technicians also charge additional fees for dismantling / assembling interior parts. The owner of the car can also personally make sure that all hard-to-reach places in the cabin have been cleaned when he himself performs this procedure.

Suitable car chemicals for interior treatment

In order for dry cleaning of the car interior to have its effect, it is necessary to use a product that will meet the following requirements:

  • Effectively remove dirt;
  • Simple to apply;
  • Does not require much effort when doing the job;
  • Make it possible to use the machine immediately after cleaning;
  • Leave a pleasant smell behind.

By category, all funds are divided into:

  • Universal product (cleans any surface);
  • Polishes for cleaning and subsequent polishing of plastic surfaces;
  • Glass cleaners (do not leave streaks after applying);
  • Means for cleaning and caring for leather goods.
Do-it-yourself car interior dry cleaning

Here is a small list of good tools that have been successfully used to perform dry cleaning of cars:

  • Universal Cleaner is a universal cleaner that can be used to clean fabric, velor, rubber, plastic and leather (both natural and artificial). It can be used for manual cleaning and can also be used with a washing vacuum cleaner;
  • Textile Cleaner is a fabric cleaner, but it can be used as a multi-purpose cleaner
  • Leather Cleaner - cleaner for leather products;
  • The Multipurpose Foam Cleaner is a pressurized fabric cleaner in aerosol cans. Its advantage is its ease of use.

Video - budget dry cleaning of the car

Since the procedure of complex cleaning of the interior requires a lot of time, professional auto repair shops will take a substantial amount for the work (of course, not as much as for deteyling). If you buy auto chemicals, then, following the above instructions, this procedure can be performed in your garage much cheaper.

This video shows how budget funds for cleaning the interior work:

Budget dry cleaning OWN HANDS

Questions and answers:

Car interior cleaning products at home. Car interior dry cleaning is carried out in two ways. The first is dry cleaning. For this, substances are used that, after drying, do not evaporate, forming condensation. This eliminates the need to dry the treated surfaces and remove condensation from the inside of the glass. Of the good options suitable for home use, the Runway Dry Interior Cleaner can be distinguished (no need for a gun - the product is applied from a can). The second method is wet dry cleaning. Means for this procedure form foam, which, after surface treatment, is removed with a rag or vacuum cleaner. These products are not suitable for materials that absorb moisture. A worthy option is Atas Vinet. Substance after surface treatment can not be washed off with water.

What equipment do you need for dry cleaning a car? Depending on the method chosen, you can use an ozonizer, ionizer, steam generator, belt compressor, tornador, or a washing vacuum cleaner.

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