The Top 3 Mistakes People Make When Detailing the Inside of their Vehicle

At Make It Last Auto Detailing, we see vehicles at every stage of their life cycle. Some are maintained by their owners, while others have been cleaned by someone else. However, it’s common that mistakes are made. Whether you’re trying to keep your new vehicle looking new or just want to up your detailing game, here are the three most common mistakes we see with vehicle interiors and how to easily prevent them.

1. Scratching Navigation Screens with the Wrong Cloth

Damaged navigation screens— we see this all the time. It only takes one rough swipe with whatever rag happens to be lying around the garage, and your navigation screen is officially scratched. To prevent this, follow these steps:

A. Use a microfiber cloth. Most types will do, but the newer, the better.

B. Avoid applying unnecessary pressure to the screen while cleaning it. The softer you work with the right type of towel, the lower the risk of damage. This same principle applies to most plastic, shiny, or delicate vehicle surfaces.

Use the right tool and technique, and those delicate parts of your vehicle should remain looking good for many more miles.

2. Damaging Surfaces with Strong Cleaning Products

This is a common mistake, for professionals and vehicle owners alike, mostly because the damage isn’t immediately noticeable. Whether you’re a professional just trying to do the job as quickly as possible or a vehicle owner trying to be 'efficient' with what’s on hand, it’s important to remember the following: Cleaning products will slowly and gradually wear away vehicle surfaces, eat away at their protective coatings, and eventually make them look old and more prone to staining. The stronger the product, the faster this happens.

How do you know if a cleaning product is too strong? Generally, anything you might use to clean your kitchen or bathroom probably doesn’t belong inside your vehicle. Those products aren’t made for cars, and unless you’re showering inside your vehicle, they are probably overkill for most messes.

For dirty cars and trucks, a dedicated interior cleaner is often a much safer bet. For vehicles that are cleaned regularly, even these might be avoided. For dust, try a damp (with just water) microfiber cloth first. For bigger messes, try diluting your dedicated cleaner with more water before moving on to the full-strength version. The secret to making interior surfaces last is starting with the least powerful product first. In other words, don’t grab the bazooka if all you really need is the fly swatter.

3. Improperly Cleaning the Windshield

Cleaning windshields is hard on your shoulders and difficult to get right. No one enjoys cleaning them, not even detailers.

You may not care about having the cleanest windshield in the neighborhood, but if you’re going to go through the trouble, you deserve to have glass that’s clear. Plus, a clean windshield makes the rest of your vehicle feel cleaner (even if it’s not).

All too often, we see the results of owners' attempts at cleaning their windshields that look more like Vaseline was wiped around the glass with a damp ski glove. If this is you, no shame. We’ve all been there.

To get it right, first use a dedicated glass cleaner. When your windshield isn’t that dirty, you can just use water. However, the real secret to clear glass is to use clean towels—and probably more than one. Proper technique should look something like this:

A. Apply glass cleaner to a microfiber cloth and wipe the windshield to disperse the cleaner around the glass.

B. Flip your towel to a clean side, or use a new (clean) towel, and wipe the glass again to mop up most of the glass cleaner.

C. Grab a new (dry, clean) towel and wipe again.

D. If things still look wet or you see streaks, flip your towel over to a clean side and do it again.

E. If your glass was really dirty to begin with, you may need to repeat steps A-D one more time.

There are many ways to get clean glass, but using several clean, dry towels is a straightforward way to get better results.

In Closing

Avoid these three mistakes, and your vehicle’s interior will not only last longer but also look cleaner than most.

Still unsure about which towels to buy? Have a bad shoulder, or just don’t know where to begin when it comes to cleaning your vehicle? Contact us at Make It Last Auto Detailing. We’ll come directly to your residence in Hailey, Ketchum, Sun Valley, or Bellevue, Idaho, and give your vehicle a professional-level clean while you do something better with your day.