Isn’t it amazing how messy the car can get. The inside of your car can be a dirty little secret. I know that I am embarrassed more times than not about the state of my car. From errant Cherrios to empty drink cups, from printed directions to magazines, the stuff tends to pile up, doesn’t it? When it is time to clean it all, such as when you are going to carpool, here are some tips to help you clean out that car quickly and efficiently.
The first thing you have to do is to get everything out and put it where it belongs. Grab a couple of bags or boxes and get going. Laundry baskets work really well, because you can carry them back into the house easily. As you pull things out of the car, place them in one of three containers. You’ll have stuff to go back into the house, stuff to go back into the car and stuff to get thrown out or recycled.
Start at one end of the car, front or back (front for standard cars, back for hatch backs, works well) and go through everything. Don’t forget to check under the seats and the spaces between the doors and seats.
Next, you’ll want to get rid of all of the dust and the crumbs. One fin trick is to use baby wipes for the inside of the car. They are effective and gentle, and they leave a pleasant scent.
Remove the car mats and shake them out or vacuum them outside of the car. For stubborn stains, you may have to apply a rug cleaner with a brush and then rinse the mats. Make sure the mats dry throughly before reinstalling them (usually a couple of hours in the sun or in the garage overnight), or you will have a bigger car problem on your hands.
Vacuum out the entire car. I find that using my regular vacuum and an extension cord works just fine. It is more powerful than those custom car vacs, and I don’t have to spend extra money.
Finally, replace everything that needs to go back into the car and include a garbage bag or bin that is made for the car.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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