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Interior Cleaning beginner 4 min read

Quick Guide to a Pro Interior Detail

Your car's interior cops more abuse than you realise—UV damage, spills, body oils, and the occasional fast food disaster. Here's how to fight back.

Is the inside of your rig looking a bit sad after a summer of beach trips and dust? Here is the exact checklist I use to get interiors back to showroom standard without wasting the whole weekend.

B"W
Barry "Bazza" Williams Product Reviewer
| Updated: 1 May 2026
Quick Guide to a Pro Interior Detail

Aussie Conditions

Australian UV is 15% stronger than Europe. Your dash and leather need proper UV protection, not just cleaning, especially if you park outside.
Quick Summary

Look, I've spent 15 years cleaning everything from dust-caked LandCruisers to my missus' hatchback, and I've learned that a solid plan saves you hours. This is about getting the red dust out and protecting your plastics from that brutal Aussie UV. Grab a cold one, chuck on some tunes, and let's get into it.

01

The Essential Gear

What You'll Need

0/8
A decent vacuum — Needs a crevice tool. I've used cheap ones before and they just don't have the suck for Aussie sand.
All-Purpose Cleaner (APC) — Diluted 10:1. Something like Bowden’s Own Agent Orange is a cracker for greasy marks.
Detailing Brushes — Soft ones for vents and a stiff one for the carpets.
Microfibre Cloths — At least 5-8. Don't use the old rags from the kitchen; you'll just move the dirt around.
Interior UV Protectant — Aerospace 303 is my go-to. Don't use those greasy 'shiny' sprays, they're dust magnets.
Glass Cleaner — Ammonia-free so you don't ruin your tint.
Leather Cleaner/Conditioner — If you've got cows on your seats, use a dedicated kit like Autoglym.
Compression Sprayer — Way easier on your hands than a trigger bottle for the big jobs.
02

Pre-Start Checklist

What You'll Need

0/4
Park in the shade — Doing an interior in 40-degree heat is a nightmare and products dry too fast.
Clear out the rubbish — Empty the door pockets and glovey. You'd be amazed what I've found in tradey utes.
Take the mats out — Chuck them on the driveway and give them a good whack with a broom first.
Roll the windows down halfway — So you can clean that greasy 'ledge' at the top of the glass.
03

The Process

Tap each step to mark complete
01

The Big Blowout

Use a brush or compressed air to flick dust out of the tight spots while vacuuming. This is the only way to get red dust out of seams.

02

Top-Down Clean

Start with the headliner (be gentle!) and work down to the dash. Spray APC on your cloth, not the dash, to avoid 'overspray' on the glass.

03

Scrub the High-Touch Points

Steering wheels and door handles get filthy with skin oils and sunscreen. Use a soft brush and APC to lift the grime, then wipe dry immediately.

04

The UV Shield

Apply your protectant to all plastics. I learned this the hard way on a black Commodore, if you skip this, our sun will crack that dash in no time.

05

Glass and Tech

Use a clean microfibre for the glass. For touchscreens, stick to a dry cloth or a dedicated screen cleaner so you don't delaminate the coating.

06

The Final Floor Pass

One last vacuum once the dust has settled. This is when you put the mats back in. No dramas if you missed a spot earlier, just grab it now.

04

Final Inspection

What You'll Need

0/4
Check the pedals — Make sure they aren't slippery from dressing (huge safety risk!).
Look for streaks — Check the windscreen from the passenger side; you'll always find a spot you missed.
Seat tracks — Slide the seats forward. Did you miss that Macca's chip from 2022?
Scent check — Smells fresh? Good. If it still smells like wet dog, you might need an ozone machine.

Watch Out

Look, whatever you do, don't use silicone-based 'tyre shine' style products on your dash. It reflects the sun right into your eyes and honestly looks cheap. Also, be careful with the headliner, if you get it too wet, the glue will fail and it'll sag like an old tent. I've seen it happen on plenty of Falcons and it's an expensive fix.
05

Quick Questions

How do I get rid of that 'coastal' salt smell?
A light mist of white vinegar and water (20:80) on the carpets can help neutralise it, but a proper steam clean is usually the best bet.
The red dust is stuck in my leather grains!
Get a soft horsehair brush. Use a dedicated leather cleaner and work it in circles. The bristles are the only things that'll reach deep enough.

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