Top tips for cleaning your car

No one likes spring cleaning. So why not make it easier with these 12 quick hacks?

It’s easy to tell yourself you don’t have the right products, equipment or even time to get stuck in to the inside of your car, but more often than not it boils down to simply not wanting to undertake the boring, laborious task of cleaning.

Not to worry as our car maintenance guide will make light work of the task, offering 12 shortcuts to keep your car clean and save you time and effort.

How to clean air vents

Your air-con vents have an uncanny talent for gathering dust, and as you’ve probably found, they’re frustrating to clean.

But rather than giving up – the build-up in these narrow, gated areas gets pretty gross – dig out an old paint brush, or buy a cheap foam art brush to get right in there.

You could even use a hoover to suck up the dust as you go.

Read more about how changing your air vents in addition to 13 other tips that can make your car last longer. 

Clean the crevices

Anyone who’s ever given up on an intensive interior car clean probably became exasperated by the sheer amount of narrow crevices – namely around gear sticks, window controls and radios.

The solution? Wrap a cloth or rag around a small screwdriver, using the head to move in on the offending crumbs, dust and grime.

A damp toothbrush or fine wire brush is also good for this (especially in seat linings).

In order to prevent build up of dirt in the future, you can buy crevice blockers for most vehicles. They are also useful for stopping your phone or wallet falling through gaps.

MORE ADVICE: Air-con regassing: everything you need to know

Have a bin

As simple as it sounds, having a bin that can attach to the back of a headrest can stop the build up of rubbish in the cabin. 

This can be removed and taken indoors or when you stop at a petrol station.

Regularly vacuum the floors and gaps

Vacuum the seats, floor mats, carpets, and upholstery regularly - using the right attachments to reach crevices and tight spots.

Pet hair today, gone tomorrow

Some of us don’t want to banish our furry friends from our vehicle, but we’d like to banish their lingering seat hairs.

Get a dog bed that can be pulled out easily to clean - meaning that there is minimal work to do in the car itself.

A leather makeover

Nooks, cracks and crannies are the bane of the car cleaner’s life, and nowhere does this cause more irritation than with those once-immaculate leather interiors.

Not for the first time, it’s trusty toothbrush to the rescue. Before you chuck out your next one (or disposable head) keep it in your car-cleaning armoury and use with a concoction of water and good old baking soda to really get those crevices clean.

Shine up those hubs

You’d be amazed what a difference clean, shiny hubcaps can make to the overall appearance of your pride and joy. The best bit, there’s no real hard work involved.

Buy a speciality wheel cleaner and a tough brush to remove any dirt.

MORE ADVICE: How to avoid a summer breakdown

Wipe the dirt off your windscreens

Very light rain and windscreen wipers can make for a smeary proposition.

If your wipers are consistently blearing your front and rear windscreen’s vision it could well be time to replace them – but try covering them in rubbing alcohol first. Next stop, smear-free driving.

As for the inside of the windscreen, applying shaving foam then wiping clean will help to stop them from steaming up as much on cold mornings (fingers crossed there won't be many of those over the next few months).

This does wear off, however, and will need to be repeated from time to time.

Windscreen repair

A dashboard that shines

A dust-free dashboard is one thing, but don’t you fancy one that sparkles?

Use a anti-bacterial wipe and a dry cloth to get them shining again.

Fizzle away battery corrosion

A proper spring clean of your car involves heading under the bonnet too. And this one’s got great novelty value too.

Corrosion on your car’s battery can spread inside the unit itself and ultimately lead to its demise, so it pays to keep what you can see clean. The answer? Good old cola.

Firstly, make sure your car engine is off. Next, loosen each terminal slightly with a wrench, being sure not to remove the cables entirely - it is important to disconnect the negative terminal before the positive terminal and we recommend wearing gloves and protective glasses too.

Carefully pour a small amount of cola over any gungy areas and watch it eat that corrosion alive. Allow it to soak in for a couple of minutes, then rinse with water, dry and re-tighten the terminals before re-starting the engine.

VIDEO: Regular under-the-bonnet checks to keep your car in good running order

Brush up those pearly lights

After a long dark winter, spring is a time to help us see the light – literally.

If your headlights appear dim to oncoming traffic or pedestrians it can lead to confusion and danger.

To make sure they’re looking as bright as can be get some toothpaste on a cloth and scrub up those cloudy lenses.

Yes, the baking soda found in the paste does wonders for the outer casing.

Get pristine floor mats

It’s easy to write off your floor mats as a bad job. Soil, leaves, oil… potentially worse, this upholstery takes some serious hammer.

But hope is not lost. Arrange them outside the car and spray with stain remover – the sort you might use on indoor carpets.

Let it start to soak in before tossing in the washing machine on a thorough cycle. You’ll love the difference.

READ NEXT: Cleaning the exterior - how to wash a car twice as well in half the time

Clean your windscreen wipers to prevent smearing

Most drivers forget wipers accumulate dirt and wax overspray.

Wipe the rubber blade with mild soap and water or a 50/50 vinegar mix to restore clean sweeps and improve visibility.

Don’t forget the fuel cap area

This trap door is usually filthy.

A quick blast with a hose, a brush and a wipe-down reduces grit that can fall into the tank when refuelling.

Air your car out after cleaning

Moisture from carpets and cloth seats lingers.

Open all doors for 10 minutes after vacuuming or shampooing to prevent damp smells and mould.

Personalised air freshener

The pièce de résistance. Reward yourself for all your (not so) hard work with a final flourish of DIY comfort – a homemade scent.

Simply near-fill a small mason jar with baking soda and add around five drops of an essential oil of your choice. Replace the lid with a cut-out of breathable fabric and voila!

You could even keep it in your cupcake-lined cup holder...

Are you experiencing a car fault, warning, or mechanical problem on your road trip? Find a local mechanic with the RAC.