Interior Detailing Masterclass—Professional Tools and Techniques
Keeping a Car, Truck, or SUVs interior clean is a tough task—from dirt, stains, and grime, to smells that just won’t go away. As a professional detailer, we’ve seen it all, that’s why we want to share our expertise and go through our entire interior detailing process that produces quality results, time and time again.
Why Interior Detailing?
Before we reveal our method for professional interior detailing, we want to explain the benefits of an interior detail. The most noticeable of these is the “New Car” feeling from a quality detail, where you can fall back in love with your vehicle, and be proud and confident in its appearance. The value of the vehicle also increases after a detail, often by much more than the cost of the detail itself.
Trash and Floor Mats
As a first, pre-step to the detail, we remove all floor mats and Weathertechs from the vehicle, as well as any large debris/trash that can be taken from the car. When taking out the floor mats, make sure to fold them in to keep all the dirt and debris on the mat inside of the mat, instead of spilling it onto the carpet in the vehicle.
Vacuum
After this step, we can begin the actual detail with the vacuum. Our vacuum of choice is the Rigid 4-gallon Shop Vac, but any Shop Vac works fine. We also use a small agitating brush, as well as a drill with assorted attachments to release dirt from the carpet. For the vacuum, we get all the carpets and seats, agitating and removing as much as possible with the dry vacuum. When cleaning the front, make sure to move the seats all the way back to get into below the seat and the nooks and crannys, and vice versa for the back. For certain spots, the vacuum may not be able to reach, which is where a small agitating drill bit or Tornador can be used to agitate and move the debris. Take many passes where needed and don’t be afraid to agitate where needed. The same process applies to the floor mats removed from the vehicle., as well as the trunk.
Pro Tip: When cleaning floor mats, shake and beat the mats until most debris is removed, and then, while holding it vertically, use a drill to agitate the rest of the debris. No vacuum needed!
Shampooing/Extraction
This next step requires an extractor vacuum, as well as a quality shampoo chemical (our choice is the P&S Carpet Cleaning System). Spray the shampoo, as well as wetting the surface to be cleaned, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, agitate the shampoo with a brush or drill, and extract the shampoo and water from the surface using the extractor vacuum. Take careful attention to any stains in the surface, and take multiple repetitions if needed. This process applied to any cloth seats, carpets, and the carpet floor mats. While most stains and smells will be removed by this point, there may be some that remain, meaning they are too deeply embedded in the surface to be removed.
Pro Tip: Watch out for Wicking, which is the spreading of a stain when the improper process or chemical is used. Instead of the stain being removed, it just gets larger!
Weathertechs/Plastic Floor Mats
These can be, and often are, the most difficult part of a detail to restore. Because of how they are made, they are very prone to staining that cannot be removed, and trapping in dirt that remains throughout the detail. For these, take a pressure washer, or a strong garden hose, and clean off these plastics away from the vehicle, getting as much dirt and debris off as possible. After drying, take a interior detailing chemical or APC, and clean the mats. For an extra shine, a protectant can be used, with our favorite being the “Supreme Shine” from Meguiar’s or Chemical Guys’ VRP.
Surface Cleaning
While this part is the most tedious, it’s what makes the difference between a low and high quality product. Using detailing brushes, microfiber towels, and an interior detailing chemical/apc (Our favorites are the P&S Interior Detailer/Meguiar’s APC), clean all of the plastic trim inside the vehicle, including the dashboard, doors, center console, and other areas, such as the door jambs, steering wheel, shifter, gas pedals, etc. There are many different spots and surfaces within any vehicle, so take time to go around the vehicle and find all of these hidden surfaces. Common missed areas include in between seats, seat belts, and inside the glove box.
Leather Cleaning/Conditioning
In any vehicle with leather surfaces/seats, it is important to properly treat these areas, or else risk the deterioration of the leather. Unlike the rest of the vehicle, leather is much more fragile if not cleaned and conditioned in a long time, which means that if this is the first time a vehicle has been detailed, being careful is required. When cleaning, use a leather cleaner, and a leather conditioner, as well as designated microfiber towels and brushes. Don’t forget to get behind each seat, and clean every piece of leather in the vehicle in order to ensure that it maintains its quality in the future.
Streak-Free Glass Cleaning
When cleaning the glass, it is easy to leave what are called “streaks” on the glass, or dried chemicals that remain on the glass and make it not crystal-clear. To avoid these, and properly clean the glass, use the “two rag” method—take two, new microfiber towels, and a designated, tint-safe glass cleaner, use one microfiber to clean using the glass cleaner, wait 15-30 seconds, and use the second towel to dry the surface. Make sure to only use microfiber towels, not an old rag, shirt, or paper towel. Make sure to get all windows and glass inside and out, including the windshield and mirrors.
Headliner
If you look up in your car, you’ll find the headliner, which may be stained. In order to spot clean this section of the car, it is vital that extreme care is used, as, if improperly cleaned, it will easily begin to sag and need replacing, as the glue holding it up is very weak. When cleaning, take a microfiber towel and a soft chemical of choice, and dab the surface to remove the stain. In the case of major staining, a new headliner may be needed.
Final Touches and Maintenance
To finalize the detail, place the mats back into the car, and double check for any missed areas. And Viola! Enjoy the “new car” feeling and confidence that the car was purchased for in the first place. In order to maintain the detail, different protectants for different surfaces can be used to keep the shine of the detail for longer. But, maintaining a detail comes down to good practices, such as keeping uncovered containers and food out of the car if possible, and frequent, quick vacuums.
Conclusion
While every situation found in every vehicle is impossible to cover, this interior detailing masterclass can get anyone on their way to a restored interior. Depending on prior experience, and how dirty the vehicle is, this process can take anywhere from 1-2 hours to 4-5 hours, so plan accordingly. Happy detailing!
CB Detailing
If you live on the South Shore or Cape Cod, and want this service done by the professionals, let us know using the number below, we’d be happy to help. And, to see results from this process, find our Instagram here, there’s plenty of transformations to see!
