Have you ever noticed how a dirty car interior just sneaks up on you? I know that it sure does sneak up on us with 4 boys en route from here to there! It usually happens when I’m sitting at a stoplight and sunlight is gloriously streaming through the windshield…highlighting the dust on the dash, the fingerprints on the glovebox, the mysterious car smog on the inside of the windshield. It all seems to leap at the chance to be in the spotlight!
As summer shifts into Fall, now is a great time to clean and refresh the vehicle interior. With Norwex, it’s easy to wipe away those dashboard dust bunnies, along with stains, smudges, and spills. Whether I’m going to do quick spiff or a full interior detail, I only need a handful of supplies and zero toxic chemicals.
In general, it’s a great idea to clean from top to bottom, but I tend to take a slightly different approach with our vehicle. Here’s how I’ll be getting my car interior cleaned up this fall.
Cleaning the Floor & Seats
The first thing I like to do is use the Rubber Brush to brush down the seats (if fabric) and brush the carpets. The Rubber Brush is especially amazing for removing pet hair from upholstery and carpet, and brushing the carpets helps loosen the dirt and gravel before the next step: vacuuming.
I’ll vacuum the carpets thoroughly and while I have the vacuum going, I like to run it through the drink holders, console, and crevices that accumulate grime as well. This will pick up the bulk of the grit. My Norwex EnviroCloth® could handle it, but for efficiency, I like to minimize how often I rinse my cloths while cleaning.
By vacuuming now, my carpets will be ready for me to go right into stain treatment later when I already have my EnviroCloth® in hand.
Interior Windows, Doors, and Dash
After vacuuming I’ll grab my 3-in-1 Car Mitt. I just LOVE this mitt! It combines the agility of the Norwex Dusting Mitt with a tight weave microfiber similar to the Norwex Window Cloth. Plus, it provides layers of microfiber, multiplying the microfiber surface area and multiplying cleaning power! I use a damp EnviroCloth® to wipe the inside windows and then dry them to a streak-free shine with the 3-in-1 Car Mitt. Once the windows are sparkling clean, I use the mitt to dust the door interiors, air vents and crevices. I’ll work from the top of the car to the bottom with this step.
I like to have my water spray bottle handy to lightly spritz any other areas that need to be shined to a streak-free shine with the 3-in-1 Mitt. Simply flip my car mitt to reveal a clean layer of microfiber, getting everything clean without any smudging, fingerprints or bug spots from the summer.
I flip the mitt one more time for a clean surface and use the damp mitt on any surface with any remaining grime….
Remember the steering wheel! A study conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University of London showed that, on average, 700 different kinds of bacteria can be found inside cars. Only 60 types are found in the average public toilet. 1
Spots & Stains
By now the car is looking pretty good! I like to use a damp EnviroCloth® to wipe down leather seats and then focus on high-grime areas, like the gas and brake pedals and stains on cloth seats and carpets. The really persistent carpet stains get treated with my Carpet Stain Remover.
Add the Shine
Fall is a great time to do a full interior detail, and it is a really great time to condition leather seats that may have dried up in the heat of the summer. This will also moisturize the leather before the dry air of winter sets in. I use Norwex’s Leather Shine not only on leather seats but also anywhere I would use a car protectant and plastic restorer. The Leather Shine leaves a classic shine without an oily residue (or the dangerous toxins that come with leading brands!) Note: Your car will smell a bit like honey for a bit, as the Leather Shine is made from beeswax.
Fresh Air
I still like getting into a car that smells clean, even though I know that common “clean” smells are actually synthetic chemicals. The ceramic Norwex Car Vent Clips with Purifying or Energizing Essential Oil Blend are the perfect natural solution to keeping a nice, fresh scent in the vehicle. For especially tough odors that can’t be masked, use Norwex’s enzyme-based Odour Eliminator. The enzymes in Odour Eliminator work to eat up the organic matter causing the odor.
I know it will just be a matter of time until the dashboard dust bunnies sneak up on me again, but with just a few Norwex items, it’s EASY to get the car in tip-top shape in no time! Interested in learning more about Norwex? Get started here.
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