The Best Ways to Clean Your Car

Carlos Kirby
· 4 min read
Life happens, and your car is usually an integral part of it, and it's messy sometimes. Kids, pets, road trips, and everyday commutes can stain your interior. 
Whether new or used, buying a car is a big deal. For many people, it's the culmination of researching different makes and models, and sometimes years of hard work.
A vehicle is something that you put a lot of money into, so protecting your investment with simple
car maintenance
just makes sense. One of the best ways to protect your investment is to keep the interior of the car clean. 
From daily care to stain removal, read on for car cleaning best practices.

What should you do daily to keep your interior clean?

That sounds like a lot. Who wants to clean every day? It's a lot simpler than that, though. When you get home after a day out, don't let trash sit. That means grabbing anything in cup holders or bags. 
It's even easier if you have a small designated trash container in your car. Several places sell small receptacles that you can even attach to the headrest of the seats. If you empty the car of trash every day, you'll lessen the chance of something staining.
Another thing you can do is keep a few cleaning supplies in your car to take care of quick spills. A small package of wipes can make all the difference when a mess happens. Keep a pack of tissues, or even napkins from a drive-thru meal that you didn't use to wipe up quick spills. 
For those hard-to-reach places, you can get a putty that picks up dirt from small crevices and inside cup holders. It's easily found on Amazon. That's certainly not something that you have to do every day, but it will help for those times when you want to deep clean. 
Whenever you take the car through a car wash, try to find one that also has vacuum cleaners. Just taking
quick steps to keep things clean
can help.
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There are some simple steps to remove stains from your interior

MORE: How to Make Your Car Last Longer
The
Chicago Tribune
has a comprehensive how-to list on removing stains from your interior. Be sure the area is dry and vacuumed before using any cleaners. Using a homemade cleaner made from olive oil and vinegar on leather will lift most stains. 
If you have cloth seats, they are a little easier to clean. The severity of the stain will determine what you use on it, but it's all still household materials. White vinegar will be your best friend in this case. 
Make a solution of one cup of vinegar and two cups of warm water, with a tablespoon of dish soap. Saturate the area and use a soft brush to gently scrub. Wipe away. That should take care of most stains.
And don't forget your headliner. It can get stained easily, too.
Autoblog
posted a video about how to clean the headliner. The headliner is more delicate, so it shouldn't be treated roughly. 
You'll need some fabric cleaner, white vinegar, a soft interior brush, a microfiber towel, and a steam machine. You should dab the stain with the fabric cleaner on the towel. Don't scrub. 
Follow that by spraying fabric cleaner on the brush and gently scrubbing. Hit it with the steam and then wipe it away with the towel. 
That should take care of most stains, but if they are stubborn, you can use a vinegar solution.

Pay for professional detailing occasionally

Pay a professional to clean your car sometimes, even if it's just once a year. They'll have the tool and know-how to tackle any problematic stains.
On top of that, they'll be able to lift any hidden dirt and lift smaller stains before they become a set-in problem. 
It's another way to protect your investment. Another way to do so is to make sure your vehicle is covered by the best insurance without breaking the bank. Check
Jerry
for the best rates.

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