7 QUICK TIPS FOR RESTORING YOUR CAR INTERIOR AFTER WINTER

The sun is out, the snow is melting, and there are smiles all around! Before you know it, there will be more salt and sand on the floor of your car than on the streets. Perhaps it’s time you eliminated the final traces of another Canadian winter and freshened up the inside of your car. Here are a few handy tips that will make cleanup a breeze.

1. How to clean your fabric car seats?

   Spray a cleaning solution on a microfibre cloth and gently rub the stained area. For stubborn stains, delicately clean with an upholstery brush in a circular motion to dislodge the dirt trapped in the fabric. Wipe with a towel or use a wet-dry vac to speed up the drying process. For maximum protection, finish with a waterproof fabric protector spray to keep your seats spotless all season long.

2. How to clean and protect your leather seats?

   Apply a cleaning product for leather to a microfibre cloth and gently wipe the seats. Be sure to test the product on a non-visible area before use. For stubborn stains, use an upholstery brush to dislodge the dirt encrusted in the grain of the leather. Finish by wiping the seats with a clean, damp microfibre cloth to prevent streaks. For long¬ term protection and easier maintenance, apply a leather protectant using a microfibre polishing pad.

3. How to remove salt stains from the carpet and floor mats on your car?

   Start by loosening any salt buildup by scrubbing the carpet and floor mats with a stiff brush. After carefully going over them with a vacuum, soak the surfaces with a specially formulated salt stain remover. Allow the product to sit before scrubbing vigorously with an all¬ purpose brush. If you have one on hand, use a vacuum to suck up the stain remover. If not, use a towel to soak up the product and dry the floor of your car.

4. How to remove chewing gum from the carpet or floor mats?

   Sick of staring at that piece of chewing gum smushed into the floor of your car? Rather than wasting your time with “grandma approved” home remedies, make your life easier by dowsing the gum in an all purpose solvent. Allow to soak for a few minutes, and you’ll be able to remove most of the gum by hand. Gently scrub away the rest using a cloth saturated with the solvent.

5. How to get rid of pet hair?

   The fur on man’s best friend can be a car owner’s worst nightmare. Once embedded in the carpet or seats, pet hair can stymie even a vacuum cleaner. Here’s a quick, easy, and inexpensive solution: slip on a pair of nitrile gloves and rub your hands over the fabric surfaces of your car interior. The hair will come off in a ball in your hands! Give everything a final once¬ over with the vacuum cleaner to remove particularly clingy hairs.

6. How to remove car smells from your car?

   Is there anything worse than getting into a car that reeks of mildew, cold tobacco, or wet dog? Sometimes, hanging up a pine scented air freshener only makes things worse. Don’t cover up odours—eliminate them! There are some great odour neutralizing products out there that are specially designed for those smells that linger longest. Spray your product of choice on the areas most likely to absorb odours, such as the headliner, fabric seats, and carpets. If you’re short on time, use an odour absorber. Place it in your car and close all doors and windows. Twenty four hours later, your car will be odour free!

7. How to restore plastic dashboard parts?

   It’s important to look after the plastic elements of your dashboard. Directly exposed to sunlight, dust, and hot and cold temperatures, these parts can eventually crack. That’s why you should give them a little TLC before summer rolls around. After dusting your dashboard with a microfibre cloth, spray some cleaning product onto a second cloth and wipe down all plastic components. Use a third, clean microfibre cloth to dry things off. Lastly, apply a protectant spray for vinyl and rubber onto an applicator pad and wipe it over the dashboard. Air¬ dry for maximum shine, or polish with a microfibre cloth if you prefer a matte finish.