Automotive Spring Cleaning: Detailing the Interior

Spring cleaning is all about reaching every inch of the area you're working on, whether you're scrubbing down your car or your kitchen. Just washing the exterior of the vehicle is not enough. You should also attack the interior, removing trash, vacuuming dirt and debris from the floors and between seat cushions and wiping down surfaces to remove dust and make the passenger area as fresh as the exterior.

After you've cleared out all the garbage and odds and ends you've collected over the winter months, use a vacuum to pick up the bits of dirt, sand, rock salt, crumbs and other debris that have likely collected under the seats, in the crevices of the cushions and on the floors. If you're dealing with stains on the fabric, you might want to get a deep-cleaning product or even rent an upholstery cleaning machine.

Then, you can wipe down the harder surfaces such as the dashboard and center console. Use a gentle cleaning product as anything too strong could degrade the material. For smaller cracks, crevices and hard-to-reach spaces, you can use cotton swabs or tightly rolled pieces of paper towels. Paying attention to these small details while cleaning will really help to make your car feel like new again.

Don't forget to use glass cleaner and a paper towel or lint-free rag to clean the interior sides of the windows. This will enhance visibility and get rid of any finger-drawn pictures your kids may have made when the windows fogged up during winter.

A car with a clean, well maintained interior is likely to have a higher resale value than one with stains, unpleasant odors and dirty dashboards. If you're thinking of trading in your vehicle at New Jersey State Auto Auction and replacing it with a used car, truck or SUV, you should take the time to clean up the current ride to give it a boost in value.