This post shows you the best interior car cleaning tips and tricks that’ll help you keep your car clean.
Keeping your car clean can feel nearly impossible, especially when you have kids. Trust me, I know exactly how hard it is! I have two teens, and let’s say they like to use my car as their personal on-the-go closet, haha! But even if you don’t have kids, I know it’s hard. I contribute my share to the mess that can accumulate in my car, so I definitely can’t blame it all on the kids! With that said, over the years, I have tried so many interior car cleaning tips and tricks, and though many have been complete fails, many have also been complete wins.
I used them every day/week to keep my car as clean as possible (although I can try harder in some weeks, haha), so I have rounded them all up in this post to share them with you! So, if you’re in the same boat as me and can benefit from some practical tips and ideas for interior car cleaning, you will want to read this post! There are so many great tips and tricks you will want to try as soon as possible!
This post is all about interior car cleaning tips and tricks.
Must-Try Interior Car Cleaning Tips And Tricks
1. Empty Your car Daily
One of my top interior car cleaning tips is to empty your car daily of miscellaneous items that accumulate in there during the day. I don’t know about you, but by the end of the day, my car looks like a bomb went off in it, and if I don’t empty my car at least every other day, it gets pretty bad quickly. So, I always do my best to ensure we take things back inside the house every time we get out of the car. Do this; trust me, maintaining a clean car will make a huge difference.
2. Have a Bag For Trash At All Times
What’s the best way to keep your car free of trash? Always carry a small trash can or trash bag in your car. Make sure to empty the bag or trash can daily or every other day. I prefer a bag because it doesn’t take up as much space, and I can pull it out when I’m going to collect the trash. I dump it out and can typically reuse the bag several times before replacing it.
3. Keep A Microfiber Cloth And Spray Bottle In Your Car
Does your car get dusty? Mine does! But here’s a simple car cleaning hack that’s a breeze to follow. All you need is a microfiber cloth and a mist spray bottle. Just spray the rag and wipe the surfaces every other day. It’s that easy! This routine keeps the car dashboard and other surfaces clean between deep cleans. I prefer this over having to buy and rebuy car wipes.
4. Take Off Muddy Shoes Before Entering the Car
If you have kids in sports or little kids in general, you know they track in dirt and mud like it’s their job, haha! A super easy solution is to switch out of their sports shoes into slides before entering the car to minimize the mud and dirt that gets tracked in.
And if you have pets, a simple wipe of their paws before getting them in the car can work wonders in keeping your car clean. Also, it doesn’t hurt to carry extra slides in your car for times you may end up with dirty shoes yourself.
5. Use Seat Covers For Pets
If you’re looking for interior car cleaning tips and are someone who has pet/s, you need to try seat covers if you have already. The pet seat cover helps minimize the pet hair and mud that pets track in and makes cleaning pet hair and dirt out of your car much easier and less time-consuming,
6. Keep A Portable Vacuum Under Your Seat
Keep your car carpet seats vacuumed between deep cleaning by keeping a portable vacuum under your seat. Vacuum every other day or as needed, and this will help keep your car interior pretty clean between deep cleans.
7. Use a Lilly Brush and/or Pumice Stone To Clean Upholstery
If you have ever tried removing pet hair from your car seats or carpet, you know it’s nearly impossible to get it out with just a vacuum, especially if you let it set in for a long time. I have these two products in my car to keep the pet hair under control between more detailed cleans. And they are both great tools to have in general, whether you use them to maintain your car or detail it.
8. Use a Lint Roller Before Entering The Car
You NEED a lint roller in your car if you have pets. I use mine daily. I use it every time I get in my car because I’m almost always full of hair from my dog. If I didn’t lint roll myself, I would have so much hair in my car. Lint rolling reduces the hair by A LOT! So if you dont have a lint roller in your car yet, start keeping your car stocked with them.
9. Organize Your Car
If you are going to follow through with any of these interior car cleaning tips and tricks, let it be this one. Nothing will help you keep a clutter-free car more than organizing your car. TRUST me! A car can become a holder of the most random things if you dont organize it with a purpose. I have this post all about car organization. You can check out for more tips on organizing your car so that it will be clean and functional.
10. Keep a Pack of Microfiber Cloths in Your Car
Keeping a pack of microfiber clothes in my car has saved me many times. Always keep at least a few in your trunk or center console. It’s always a matter of time before something is spilled and/or you need to wipe something. Instead of letting stains set in or spills absorb into your seats or carpet, clean them up on the spot. This will help keep your carpets and seats clean and stain-free.
11. Use a Steam Cleaner For Hard To Reach Places
Somehow, gunk ends up in the most random spots in a car. You’ll find gunk in the crevices of your car and between cracks that are nearly impossible to clean with just a rag and cleaner.
I got this steam cleaner a few years ago and use it all over my house, but I recently realized I can use it in my car, too, and my car has never been cleaner! With this, you can clean the surfaces of your car interior between cracks and loosen up gunk that is otherwise hard to remove. You can even clean your rims with it. Do this occasionally, and you will easily keep a pretty clean car.
This post was all about interior car cleaning tips and tricks.
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I feel you on the car chaos with teens! Emptying daily is key. I also like to keep a mini vacuum in my trunk for quick clean-ups. What’s your go-to method for getting rid of stubborn stains?
This is some great advice! I can totally relate to the “bomb went off” feeling in my car at the end of the day. Emptying it daily is a game-changer. And having a trash bag on hand is so simple yet effective. I once forgot and had a half-eaten snack festering for days – yuck! What’s your favorite tip for keeping the floors clean?
I feel you on the car chaos with teens! Emptying daily is key. I used to forget, and it was a nightmare. Also, having a trash bag is genius. I once had a spill and no bag – disaster! What’s your favorite tip from this list so far?
I feel you on the car chaos with teens! Emptying daily is key. I also like to keep a mini vacuum in my trunk for quick clean-ups. What’s your favorite non-trash item to keep in the car?
This article is a lifesaver! I’m constantly struggling to keep my car clean, especially with all the snacks and random stuff my friends and I accumulate. Emptying it daily is a game-changer, and I love the idea of always having a trash bag on hand. I’m curious, though – what’s your go-to method for cleaning up those pesky food stains? Any secret products or techniques? Can’t wait to try out these tips and see if they work as well for me as they have for you!
This article is a lifesaver! I’m constantly struggling to keep my car clean, especially with all the snacks and random stuff my friends and I accumulate. Emptying it daily is a game-changer. I’m definitely going to start doing that. And having a trash bag at all times? Genius! I can just imagine how much cleaner my car would be if I’d been doing these things all along. What’s your favorite tip from the article?
This is some great advice! I totally relate to the “bomb went off” feeling in my car at the end of the day. Emptying it daily is key. And having a trash bag on hand is so smart. I once forgot and had a half-eaten snack festering for days – yuck! What’s your favorite thing to use for a car trash bag? Do you have any other tips for keeping the floors clean when kids are involved?
This is some great advice! I’m guilty of letting random stuff pile up in my car too. Emptying it daily is a game-changer. And having a trash bag on hand? Genius! I once had a half-eaten snack roll under my seat for weeks. Never again! What’s your favorite tip so far?
Great tips! I’m in the same boat with a messy car, especially with all the sports gear my kids haul around. Emptying it daily is a game-changer. But what if you forget? Any tricks to jog the memory? And does anyone have a favorite no-fuss trash bag brand for the car?
This is some great advice! I totally relate to the “bomb went off” feeling at the end of the day. I used to be terrible about leaving random stuff in my car, but now I make a point to empty it daily. And having a trash bag on hand is a no-brainer. I once had a sticky soda spill that could’ve been avoided if I’d had a bag ready. What’s your favorite tip so far? Do you have any other unique ways to keep your car clean?
This is some great advice! I’m always struggling to keep my car clean, especially with all the snacks and random stuff my kids leave behind. I love the idea of emptying it daily and having a trash bag handy. Do you have any other tips for dealing with sticky messes? 😜