This 30-Minute Weekly Car Reset Will Prevent Deep Cleaning Later

Cars are a necessity for many people, and a clean and organized vehicle is especially important for those who spend hours in their car during daily work commutes or driving their kids around to football, dance, school, and other activities. But it’s not always reasonable to find the time in your busy life to open up the car, pull all the mats out, vacuum the entire interior, wipe down every surface, clean the windows, wash the exterior, and the list goes on.

So, if you don’t have the time to devote to deep-cleaning the car every other week, what can you do to keep the car looking good until the next time you get a free afternoon to devote to a full clean? We spoke to a car detailing pro to discover these quick car-cleaning tips that can give your car a 30-minute weekly reset so you aren’t stuck with hazy mirrors and a grimy steering wheel.

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Targeted Vacuuming

Instead of vacuuming every surface in the car, you can stick to the high-traffic areas for this car hack. Parham Koukia, lead car detailer and operations manager at Panda Hub in Toronto, Canada, says you should “vacuum carpet and mats using a soft brush attachment and use compressed air to dislodge debris stuck in vent openings and seat tracks.”

Simply remove the mats from the vehicle, vacuum the driver side floor and passenger side floor. You can skip the rear floor if you haven’t had anyone in the backseat recently. Make sure to vacuum or use compressed air to clean out the seat tracks, then vacuum your floor mats before returning them to the car to give your car floor a quick refresh. 

Glass and Mirror Wipe

Cleaning the car windows and mirrors does more than give your car a well-maintained appearance. The task also makes it safer to drive, since you won’t be struggling with hazy glass or smudges when you are trying to see your surroundings. Grab a microfiber cloth and use a store-bought cleaner or make a vinegar and water solution, depending on personal preference and convenience. 

“Wipe down all glass, inside and out, to remove haze, beginning with vertical strokes and ending with horizontal strokes to remove any remaining streaks,” explains Koukia. It’s also worth it to spend a few minutes cleaning off your headlights and tail lights to ensure that they are clean and clear enough to help you see and to help others see your car when driving at night.

High-Touch Surface Dusting

Since you won’t be breaking out the pressure washer for this quick clean, focus instead on which parts of your car get dirty the fastest due to daily use. In most cases, that’s the interior driver side of the car. Target high-touch areas, like the dashboard, steering wheel, shifter, door handles, and cup holder to remove oil and grime that might have built up over the week.

“Use a damp microfiber cloth to gently wipe the dashboard and other surfaces with an interior cleaner. Never spray any cleaning solution directly onto the interior surfaces, since that will oversaturate and potentially damage the materials,” Koukia says. You can also use a compressed air canister to blast dust out of the air vents, followed by a quick swipe over the dash and steering wheel to remove any dust particles.

Organizing Compartments

Organization is just as important as cleaning, but one area car owners often overlook is keeping the various compartments inside the car tidy. You might have a tendency similar to your approach to closets: simply stuff things inside the glove box, console, or door pockets, then forget about them entirely.

To keep your car clean and organized, Koukia says to “empty and clear all compartments, including consoles, glove boxes, and door pockets. Wipe each compartment with a damp microfiber cloth. Put back only the items you need for daily operation of the vehicle, like the registration, owner’s manual, and insurance cards.” If you do have other items you need, like gloves for winter driving, make sure the compartments are organized enough so that these items are easily accessible.

Removing Clutter and Tidying Loose Items

Cleaning out the trash inside your car on a weekly basis is quick, easy, and necessary. Take time to clear out the coffee cup that’s been sitting in the cup holder, packaging from a snack your kids were eating in the back seat, or even a receipt that found its way to the floor of the car.

For items that you use regularly, Koukia notes that you should “give each item a spot in the vehicle to make it easier to stay organized. Once organized and cleared of clutter, keep up with routine maintenance: remove trash at each stop for gas, and do a quick search of the vehicle every week for new or misplaced items.”

 

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