You may have wondered what the best method is for cleaning your car dashboard if you’ve ever cleaned the interior of your vehicle only to discover a dirty and grimy dash.
Many people don’t consider cleaning the inside of their car as frequently as they might wash the outside. The inside isn’t exposed to the same elements as the outside, but your dashboard is arguably the first part of the interior you and your passengers see.
Vacuum it first, then use a microfiber cloth to clean the dashboard of your car. Any large particles will be picked up by the vacuum, and microfiber cloths work well for gentle, quick cleaning. When cleaning your car, you might forget to clean the dashboard.
This article will discuss the value of cleaning as well as how to clean your car’s dashboard. Let’s start!
Importance Of Cleaning Car Dashboard
Even if you usually travel alone in your car, it’s a good idea to keep the interior spotless, especially if you ever intend to sell or trade it in. Higher trade-in values and personal sale values are associated with clean interiors that are free of stains, scratches, and persistent odors. Regular dashboard cleaning will help prevent future difficult-to-clean stains and permanent damage. Cleaning gets easier the more often you do it.
As opposed to a cabin that hasn’t been cleaned in a while, a clean one has better interior air quality and a fresher scent. Do yourself a favor and regularly clean the inside of your car. According to experts, you should try to clean your car’s interior once a month. Aim for once a month, but don’t worry if you fall behind—you’re probably doing better than the majority of drivers—who only clean their windshields once a year. Utilize a dryer sheet to quickly wipe away any dust to keep the dash looking good between cleanings.
Steps To Clean Your Car Dashboard
Before cleaning your dashboard, make sure to spot test it if you’re not sure how Simple Green will affect it.
- Vacuum. Utilizing a soft brush attachment, vacuum the whole dashboard.
- Prepare your Simple Green mixture. Mix about one ounce of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner with one cup of water in a spray bottle.
- Apply to your cloth. Apply your solution by spraying it onto a fresh microfiber cloth. To avoid the product drying on the surface before being damply wiped with water to rinse, work in small sections.
- Clean the dashboard knobs with a tiny brush. You can make use of an old toothbrush or a vent and dash brush. Run this brush over the radio, air vents, dashboard knobs, and any other areas where dirt and dust may have managed to hide.
- Clean up the surroundings. Don’t forget your steering wheel, dash cover, gear shift and center console. Spray your Simple Green solution directly into soiled cup holders and let it sit for a few minutes. Then soak up the cleaning product with a towel and wipe out any gunk.
- Use clean water to rinse. Rinse each cleaned area by wiping with a clean, damp microfiber or non-abrasive cloth.
- Dry. Wipe the entire surface once more using a clean cloth or paper towels.
- Repeat if necessary. Reapply Simple Green and wipe the area down once more to remove any particularly sticky stains or spots.
Useful Tips For Cleaning A Car Dashboard
From your house, you can also use a shop vac or a handheld vacuum. To remove the dirt and dust that can so easily become lodged in small spaces on the dashboard, be sure to reach into all the corners and cracks. Before cleaning the surface with a cloth or cleaner, it is crucial to ensure that it is free of debris. The hard surface may become scratched if you attempt to wipe without first picking up the larger pieces.
Once you’re certain the dash is clear of debris, use a microfiber cloth, rag, or some paper towels to clean it with a cleaning solution or some soap and water. Different people have different ideas about the best method for cleaning the dash, but whatever you choose to use, a thorough wipe-down is required. Make sure you understand what materials your dash is made of and always perform a spot check before wiping the entire dash with a new product. Different surfaces call for different solutions.
Don’t forget to clean the hard-to-reach, tiny areas like air vents. Get into these areas and give them a light scrub using a small paintbrush or a brand-new toothbrush. You can clean the area around any knobs or buttons you may have by using a toothbrush with soft bristles. Buttons can become useless if they aren’t cleaned frequently because dust, oil, and dirt can get stuck on them and under them.
This guide will go over how to wash a car at home and some frequently asked questions about best practices for washing cars in order to assist you in keeping your car clean.
Different Types Of Dashboard Cleaning Brushes
Before you start wiping your dashboard with a rag because you’re feeling enthusiastic, it’s important to know that there are many brushes available that were made specifically to do this. The issue with using a regular cloth is that it is frequently coarse and could cause accidental damage or scratches on the delicate surfaces of the dashboard, especially if you apply too much force.
You should invest in a special dashboard cleaning brush if you want to avoid this. These are gentle, light, and adaptable enough to help you reach places that are difficult to get to.
You may come across the following brush types:
- Soft brush – this is a general, all-purpose brush that resembles the kind a makeup artist uses. It typically has a short handle and soft, rounded bristles made of animal hair, like horse or boar, that allow you to clean grimy surfaces and squeeze into small crevices without running the risk of abrasions.
- AC brush – this brush is specifically designed to get inside the narrow vents of your air conditioner. Its flat bristles and very long handle make it ideal for cleaning small spaces.
- Thick brush – this is similar in size and shape to the soft brush, but the bristles are thicker and normally made of nylon. It exerts more force and enables you to remove materials like wax and food items that have tenaciously adhered to the dashboard.
- Rubber brush – this is a brush with rubber bristles that become magnetized when they encounter friction, thus pulling material toward it. The most frequent use of this brush is to remove pet hair, making it essential for car owners who frequently transport dogs or cats.
- Specialized brush – if none of the above brushes work, you can get specialized brushes that are custom-made to clean out grooves and cracks that are normally unreachable. However, since most dashboard designs are fairly simple and standardized, this is a rare instance.
Finally, you might be tempted to use an old toothbrush. To the extent that the toothbrush has gentle bristles, this is acceptable.
Best Cleaning Agent For A Car Dashboard
Typically, straightforward oil soap and water solutions work best for cleaning a car dashboard. You can use Castile soap, a fantastic oil soap with many applications. While still gentle enough for materials like leather, this kind of soap is robust enough to offer a thorough cleaning. You can also create a solution with vinegar, detergent, water, and oil-based soap to remove really tough stains from plastic, vinyl, or rubber dashboard.
There are a ton of options available for car owners who would prefer to use a commercial product than make their own cleaner. Both Car Guys and Chemical Guys produce excellent cleaners for your car. All interior surfaces can be cleaned with this multipurpose cleaner from Car Guys, which doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals that will make your car smell bad. The windows and touch screen can both be cleaned and protected with Chemical Guys’ all-purpose interior cleaner.
Consider using a leather-specific cleaner to protect the material from sun damage and bring back its shine if your cabin has leather surfaces all throughout. Blitz is an all-purpose cleaner that Nextzett sells that can be used with cold water and won’t leave any residue behind.
How To Clean Car Dashboard Screen?
Turn off your dashboard, then gently wipe the screen with a dry microfiber cloth to clean it. To prevent the screen from being harmed, make sure to press lightly while making small circular motions. You might need to saturate the cloth with some cleaning solution in order to remove particularly difficult smudges from the screen. The most effective choice is a screen cleaning solution designed for touch screens, like those on smartphones and tablets. Other mild cleaning agents can be used, but be sure to stay away from anything that contains alcohol or ammonia.
The same cleaning method should be used on any other delicate surfaces or screens throughout the car, such as wireless charging pads, screens for the rear entertainment system, or screens for the instrument cluster. On these screens, you can make use of the same cloth and cleaner that you would for glasses.
Read More: How to Clean Car Carpet?
Household Products For Dashboard Cleaning
No problem if you want to clean your dashboard with common items because you’re on a tight budget! There are many useful, affordable, biodegradable materials that can be used in a pinch. These are listed below in no particular order:
Baking Soda
Baking soda has the advantage of being both a surface cleaner and an odor absorber, allowing you to accomplish two tasks at once. Apply the wet paste you’ve made from the baking soda powder and water to a fresh microfiber towel. As soon as the stains appear, wipe your dashboard with a towel.
Olive Oil
Your dashboard can benefit greatly from the use of olive oil (or really any type of cooking oil). Because the oil is protected against UV rays, it won’t crack or fade. The natural sheen it has will also bring out the previous luster of the interior of your car. Brush off any dirt or debris before applying a small amount of oil to the dashboard and buffing it with a fresh microfiber towel to use this. Simply take care not to use too much because doing so will leave your dashboard with a slick and sticky coating.
Furniture Cleaner
Furniture polish is a good, affordable substitute. When finished, use a microfiber towel to remove it from the dashboard of your car. However, the glossy finish of the furniture cleaner might be too much of a shine, and this could result in a glare coming from your dashboard, so be sure to test out a small section first and determine whether this is right for you. Additionally, some brands have been known to make plastic brittle. For these reasons, you should always use caution when employing this technique.
Vaseline
Finally, petroleum jelly or Vaseline will once more save the day. Evidently, it works wonders for chapped lips and dashboards alike. Brush off any remaining dust and dirt, then use a clean microfiber towel and a small amount of Vaseline to wipe the interior of your car. Vaseline has even been compared to Armor All because of how well it removes scratches!
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Why Should You Clean Your Interior Dashboard?
A dashboard would look unattractive if it were soiled and cluttered. It might also result in accidents and obstruct your view of the road. Keeping your car’s dashboard clean is therefore crucial.
Not only will it avoid the aforementioned unfortunate incidents, but it would also be beneficial for sanitation and the respiratory health of the residents, especially for those with conditions like asthma.
Overall, it can enhance the comfort, safety, and enjoyment of driving. Additionally, because less dirt will accumulate, subsequent cleanings may be shorter.
Buyers would be happier to see a spotless, well-maintained vehicle rather than one that is dilapidated when you want to trade or sell your car.
Why Should You Polish Your Interior Dashboard?
A dashboard is kept in good shape by applying polish. It offers a layer of protection that renders the surface water- and dirt-resistant, as well as shields it from fading, early aging, and cracking.
Moreover, it can also aesthetically enhance a dashboard by restoring its color and shine as well as hiding scratches.
Read more How to Repair a Cracked Dashboard?
The Bottom Line
Focusing excessively on the outside while ignoring the inside is one of the telltale signs of superficiality. Both people and automobiles share this characteristic.
The pride you feel as a responsible owner can be preserved by maintaining a clean dashboard.
Your knowledge of how to clean a car’s dashboard should be complete by now. Get started now!
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