Deep Cleaning and Protecting Interior Door Panels (Jan 2026)

Park the vehicle in a fully shaded area or garage. The door panels must be cool to the touch (below 30°C). If the panels are hot, the cleaning chemicals will flash (evaporate) too quickly, leaving behind concentrated chemical residues that can streak or stain the plastic permanently.

Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to remove loose red dust and sand from map pockets and speaker grilles. Do not skip this; adding liquid to dry red dust creates a 'mud' that is significantly harder to extract from the grain of the plastic.

If using a concentrated cleaner, dilute it with distilled water according to the level of soil. For regular maintenance, a 10:1 ratio is sufficient. For heavy outback dust or greasy armrests, use a 4:1 ratio. Using distilled water prevents the white calcium spots often found in regional water supplies.

Select an inconspicuous area, such as the very bottom of the door card near the sill. Apply your cleaner and protectant to ensure there is no adverse reaction, discolouration, or unexpected change in gloss level, especially on older vehicles with sun-damaged pigments.

Divide the door panel into four zones: Top (window sill), Middle (controls and handle), Armrest, and Bottom (map pockets/kick plate). Work one zone at a time to ensure the cleaner does not dry on the surface, which is a high risk in low-humidity Australian summers.

Spray your PH-neutral cleaner directly onto a microfibre pad or soft brush rather than the panel itself. This prevents 'over-spray' from landing on the glass or getting behind electronic window switches where it could cause a short circuit or corrosion over time.

Using a soft detailing brush or scrub pad, work the cleaner in small, overlapping circular motions. The goal is to lift the red dust and body oils out of the 'valleys' of the plastic grain. You should see the foam turn a light brown or orange as the dust is suspended.

Use a dry boar's hair brush to agitate around window switches. If the area is particularly dusty, use a 'dry-to-wet' technique: brush dry first, then lightly dampen the tips of the brush with cleaner for a second pass. Never spray liquid directly into electronics.

Immediately wipe the agitated area with a clean, dry microfibre towel. Use a 'flip and wipe' technique—using a fresh side of the towel for every pass—to ensure you are actually removing the dirt rather than just spreading it around the panel.

Armrests accumulate the highest concentration of sweat, sunscreen, and oils. Use a slightly stronger dilution here and a scrub pad. If the material is leather, use a dedicated leather cleaner and a very soft brush to avoid abrading the top coat (clear coat) of the hide.

Map pockets often harbor old food crumbs or spilled drinks. Use a long-reach brush to get into the corners. If there is sticky residue, a steam cleaner is the most effective tool, as it melts the sugars without requiring harsh solvents that could bleach the plastic.

Open the door fully and clean the rubber weather stripping and the painted metal door jamb. Salt and dust accumulate here, leading to 'creaking' doors. Clean the rubber with a damp cloth and apply a water-based dressing to keep the seals supple and airtight.

Wipe the entire panel down with a fresh microfibre towel lightly dampened with plain distilled water. This removes any remaining surfactants from the cleaner, ensuring the UV protectant can bond directly to the clean plastic substrate for maximum longevity.

Apply a premium UV protectant (like 303 Aerospace) to a foam applicator. Wipe it onto the panel in even, thin coats. Ensure full coverage on the top edge of the door, as this area receives the most direct 'hit' from the sun through the side glass.

Allow the protectant to dwell for 3-5 minutes. This allows the polymers to bond. In high temperatures, this may happen faster. Look for the surface to appear slightly wet before the next step.

Using a completely dry, clean microfibre, buff the entire panel. This removes excess product and levels the finish to a matte/satin appearance. This 'dry-buffing' is crucial in Australia to ensure the surface isn't tacky, which would cause red dust to stick instantly on your next drive.