The kids have finally gone back to school; the world feels normal again after a summer of chaos. All that’s there to remind you of the chaotic holidays is a souvenir fridge magnet and a phone full of photos – until you open the car door, that is.
Even the most car-proud of parents will struggle to keep an interior clean during the summer onslaught, meaning the carpets and trim will be coated in a grim layer of discarded food, greasy fingerprints and sand. And possibly much worse…
A new survey from car manufacturer Skoda says that more than five million drivers in the UK with children are too embarrassed to offer friends a lift because their car is too messy. What’s more, one in 10 said they have felt like scrapping their car because of the accumulated grime.
If you are one of the 15 per cent of parents who admitted to rarely cleaning a mess immediately then be warned – you could be causing permanent damage to your car.
Professional opinion
We asked Britain’s leading car cleaning experts for advice about how to revamp a car interior after the holidays, so you can be proud to let in passengers once again – and help preserve its resale value. Turn up to the dealership with a soiled interior at trade-in time and you can expect to be hit in the pocket.
Richard Tipper of Perfection Valet has been cleaning and “detailing” cars for more than 35 years and regularly prepares the most valuable cars in the world for prestigious concours events.
While he loves getting stuck into a truly filthy car, there are certain summery substances that make him twitch.
“The most problematic is sun cream – it has a bleaching effect on plastic. If it is left on too long on the trim or a steering wheel then you can be in a spot of bother, especially if sun has been beating down on it. So you need to catch it as soon as possible or you will be left with blotches.”
The heat from intense sun also makes the plastics expand, opening up the “pores” and allowing greasy marks to be absorbed further into the material, says Tipper. “You really want to get rid of these as soon as you can. Sun creams in particular are designed to be waterproof so are difficult to remove using a wet cloth. I’d suggest carrying a bottle of solvent-free glass cleaner in your door pocket along with a microfibre cloth so you can wipe them up before they cause any lasting damage.”
Spilled milk
The other mess you’ll need to tackle in a hurry is milk, in any of its forms. Skoda’s survey said drinks were the in-car spill parents fear most and it doesn’t need to be a big splash to wreak havoc. Toddlers dropping a bottle will inevitably release tiny droplets which will soon go mouldy and stain fabric. Larger spills of milky drinks and ice cream will soon seep through the carpet or seat fabric and soak into the foam layers below. In warm weather the smell will soon motivate you to do something about it.
Tipper says: “Mopping it up at the earliest opportunity is the best option, of course, but if that’s not possible then you are going to need to get busy with a fabric cleaner and try and rinse the area with as much water as possible, being careful of any electrical items nearby. If you can rent or borrow a wet-and-dry upholstery cleaner then it’s going to make life easier. Otherwise use a brush and plenty of cloths.”
It’s the same advice for seat upholstery, although Tipper warns against taking the easy option and only cleaning the spot containing the stain. “You’ll get a sort of dirty ring around that area when it’s dry, caused by a water mark. So do the entire seat – it will look much less blotchy and won’t take as long as you think. Then leave the windows open if you can so the interior dries out properly. Besides saving you from a soggy bottom when you next drive the car, it will make it smell better and prevent mildew.”
Choccy shock
It’s not only drinks that contain milk and grease. Inderjit Johl is head of development at Hertfordshire-based car care product maker Autoglym and explains: “Chocolate contains sugars and fats which, when dry, can be problematic to remove with a damp cloth and require some detergent. However, quality interior shampoos designed for automotive use will include surfactants specifically designed to tackle these ingredients.”
Dry dirt might not be as smelly, but it can still cause damage. Sand in particular can also be a right beach to deal with, says Tipper. “Get any removable bits of carpet such as the mat or boot floor, take them out and give them a good slap. This brings the grains which have found their way deeper into the pile to the surface, they will either fall out or you’ll then be able to get them with a vacuum.”
Carpet beater
The slap technique can also be used on the carpets which are fixed in the car. He says: “Just give them a bash with your hand or maybe a book and it makes the sand jump up to the surface.” Professionals will use a vibrating tool to achieve the same effect, while a DIYer could try it with a sander with the abrasive paper removed.
Be careful when removing sand or any other hard substance from interior trim, however. If you use a cloth or attack it with a vacuum cleaner nozzle you could inadvertently make tiny, swirled scratches on hard surfaces, which will soon be obvious on highly-polished finishes such as the “piano black” facias and aluminium-type trims which are used on many cars.
Tipper’s trick is to use the blow function rather than suck. “Open all the doors and boot and either use an airline or a vacuum cleaner with a blow function to blast out as much of the debris as possible without having to touch it. Obviously make sure you get rid of the litter first, though,” he says. The next best alternative is a soft brush to delicately shift the grains of sand and discarded biscuit crumbs.
Hide and sleek
Leather is much more resistant to stains, but scrubbing it too hard will remove the hide’s protective coating, says Tipper. “You need to be especially careful with microfibre cloths. When they are dry they feel very soft, but once they’re wet they become very abrasive.”
The same is true for the faux leather materials which are increasingly being used in newer cars. “Vegan leather is still coated with a polyurethane-based protective layer, just like real hide,” says Autoglym’s Johl. “I’d recommend using a pH-neutral cleaner. Then treating it with a specialist balm will create a barrier to prevent dirt getting in and it will also make future cleaning easier.”
If this all sounds like too much work, then a professional valet will be happy to do it for you, with prices starting at less than £50 for a thorough interior clean; a sum you should easily recoup at trade-in time.
There will be an extra cost however – you’ll no longer be able to use the shabby state of your car as an excuse to get out of being designated driver on a night out.
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