Keeping Your Dash and Vinyl Alive in the Aussie Sun

Never, ever clean your interior while the dash is hot to the touch. The cleaner will just evaporate and leave streaks that are a nightmare to get off. Find a shady spot or do it in the garage after the car has cooled down for an hour.

Chuck all the junk out. Empty the glovebox, take the dash mat off (if you use one), and remove any phone mounts. You want a clear run at the whole surface.

If you've been near the red dirt, this is the most important step. Use the brush attachment and go over every square inch. If you wet red dust without vacuuming first, you're basically making mud, and that'll stain your light-coloured plastics real quick.

Start from the top. Use your air compressor or canned air to blow the dust out of the AC vents. It's satisfying but messy, which is why we do it before the wet work.

Don't try to do the whole dash at once. Focus on the driver's side, then the centre console, then the passenger side. It keeps you focused and prevents the cleaner from drying on the surface.

This is a pro tip I tell everyone. If you spray the dash directly, you get overspray on the inside of the windscreen. That's a pain to clean later. Spray your detailing brush instead.

Work the cleaner into the vinyl in small, circular motions. You'll see the lather start to turn brown or orange if the car's been out bush. That's the dirt being lifted out of the texture.

Use a clean, damp microfibre to wipe away the lifted dirt. Don't scrub, just wipe.

Follow up immediately with a dry microfibre. This ensures no residue is left behind to streaking. If the cloth comes away dirty, do it again. (Trust me on this one, if you don't get it all off now, the protectant won't stick.)

Repeat the process on the door cards and those plastic A-pillars. These areas get a lot of salt spray if you've been driving with the windows down near the beach.

Once the surface is totally dry, apply your protectant. I reckon 303 Aerospace is the gold standard for Aussie conditions. Use a microfibre applicator pad and apply it thinly and evenly.

Give the protectant about 5 minutes to bond. Then, take a clean, dry cloth and buff off the excess. You want a 'satin' finish, not a greasy 'used car lot' shine.

Be careful here. Clean them well, but don't put slippery protectant on the steering wheel or gear stick. I once did that on my own car and nearly ended up in a ditch when my hand slipped around a corner. Stick to a dedicated leather cleaner or just a damp cloth for these.