Getting That Interior Showroom Ready: A Pro's Guide to Deep Cleaning

Clear out everything. Every loose coin, old servo receipt, and those sunnies in the centre console. A show judge shouldn't see anything that didn't come with the car.

Chuck the floor mats out on the grass or a clean workbench. They need to be cleaned separately and dried completely before they go back in.

Before you touch a vacuum, use compressed air to blow out under the seats and inside the side pockets. You'll be amazed at the amount of red dust that hides in the seat rails.

Start from the top and work down. Vacuum the headliner (carefully!), then the parcel shelf, seats, and finally the floors. Use your brush to agitate the carpet fibres as you go. This lifts the sand that's buried deep down.

Spray your APC onto your brush, not the dash. Work it into the grain of the plastic in circular motions. I once saw a bloke spray cleaner directly into a head unit and fry the screen, don't be that guy. Wipe it off with a clean microfibre immediately.

Use a small, dry detailing brush and a vacuum nozzle held right next to it. Flick the dust out of the vents and let the vac catch it. If they're really grimy, a slightly damp foam swab works wonders.

Apply leather cleaner to your horsehair brush and work it into a lather on the seat. Work one panel at a time. You'll see the lather turn grey/brown, that's the body oils and grime coming out. Wipe it dry with a fresh towel.

If you've got a coffee stain or something nasty, use a dedicated carpet cleaner. Blot, don't scrub. Scrubbing just ruins the carpet pile and makes it look fuzzy.

Don't forget the pedals! Use an old toothbrush and some APC to get the dirt out of the rubber grooves. If you've got metal pedals, a bit of aluminium polish makes 'em pop.

Clean the inside glass twice. Use a dedicated glass cleaner and two towels, one for spreading/cleaning, one for the final buff. Reach right into the corners of the windscreen. It's a pain in the neck, but streaky glass kills a show entry.

Open every door and the boot. Clean the metal jams with APC and a rag. Wipe down the rubber seals with a damp cloth. A lot of people forget the 'invisible' parts, but judges love checking these.

Apply your interior dressing to the dash and door cards. Use a product that leaves a matte or satin finish. High-gloss finishes look cheap and reflect too much sun into your eyes while driving.

Get a torch (your phone light is fine) and look under the seats and in the footwells. If you find a stray hair or a speck of dust, get it now.