How to Keep Your Car Really Clean

What you’ll need: Carpet cleaning spray, water, microfiber cloths, and a vacuum with an upholstery brush and a crevice tool.

How to clean: Remove the floor mats, and use the vacuum’s crevice tool to clean under the seats. Then use the upholstery brush to get pet hair, crumbs, sand, and dirt out of the mats and carpet. If you find any stains, spray them lightly with carpet cleaner—any major brand works here.

Gently rub the stain away with a damp microfiber cloth dipped in water. “Don’t soak the carpet, or you’ll risk mold and musty smells,” Crossen says. Let everything dry with the windows open.

What you’ll need: Microfiber cloths, automotive interior cleaner, isopropyl alcohol, and a detailing brush from an auto parts store—a clean paintbrush, soft toothbrush, or cotton swab also works.

How to clean: Wipe up dust with a cloth, and get into crevices with the brush or swab. Spray with an interior cleaner—$10 at most auto parts stores—and wipe with another microfiber cloth. Skip paper towels (they can leave streaks), household cleaners (they can damage surfaces), and dirty cloths (they can drag dirt that scratches surfaces). For sticky residue, dampen a microfiber cloth with isopropyl alcohol and wipe it away.

What you’ll need: A vacuum, a soft cloth, saddle soap, and leather conditioner from an auto parts store.

How to clean: Vacuum any dirt or crumbs out of the seat’s crevices. Wipe the upholstery with a soft, damp cloth and saddle soap—less than $10 online or in hardware or auto parts stores. “Scrub gently, so you don’t rub the protective coating off the leather or vinyl,” Crossen says. Follow up with leather conditioner, which will keep both leather and vinyl from drying out. If your car has vinyl trim on the dashboard, avoid detailing sprays that advertise a glossy finish, which can cause windshield glare.

What you’ll need: A chamois, a microfiber cloth or an eyeglass cloth, and an ammonia-free automotive glass cleaner.

How to clean: Spray the windshield with an alcohol-based, ammonia-free glass cleaner such as Invisible Glass or Sprayway, sold at most auto parts stores for around $5. Wipe with a chamois—a highly absorbent leather or synthetic cloth that won’t streak. Don’t spray screens or displays with any kind of cleaner, which could damage the screen’s anti-glare or anti-fingerprint coating. Wipe gently with a clean, dry microfiber cloth—an eyeglass cleaning cloth is best.