The maintenance of your car is important, both for its aesthetics and for your health, because dust and dirt accumulate in it over time. To benefit from a healthier environment within your vehicle, discover our simple and natural tips for cleaning and shining interior plastics, elements that are not always easy to maintain.
How to clean the interior plastics of the car?
Cleaning interior plastics: instructions for use
To clean the interior plastics of your car, it is recommended to follow several steps:
- Using a microfiber cloth dampened with warm water, dust the plastic surfaces of the car. If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, use a clean cloth cloth, as long as it’s lint-free and absorbent enough.
- If you notice the presence of stains on your plastics, rub them with a microfiber cloth previously soaked in a mixture of hot water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Wipe and dry well.
- In case of waste and residues, use your vacuum cleaner to remove them more efficiently and not to dirty your cloth too quickly. Adapt the nozzles of the vacuum cleaner to reach all corners of the plastic parts.
Products for cleaning interior plastics
If you do not want to clean your plastics only with water, especially if they are dirty and stained, other simple and effective tips are possible. Be sure to always do a little test beforehand in an inconspicuous part.
- Black soap: using a soft sponge soaked in a mixture of hot water and black soap, wash your interior plastics in circular motions. Rinse with clean water and dry immediately with a clean cloth to avoid streaks.
- For dirtier corners and ventilation grilles, use a soft brush or a toothbrush moistened with hot water and a few drops of black soap.
- Glass product: spray a little glass product on your vehicle interior plastics and wipe with a clean microfiber cloth. This product is practical and effective for dusting and degreasing surfaces.
- For quick cleaning, crumple a damp newspaper and pass it over your plastic surfaces in a figure 8.
- White vinegar: it is ideal for cleaning and disinfecting plastic surfaces. Apply a few drops to a damp cloth and rub then dry.
How to make car interior plastics shine?
Restoring shine to interior plastics: instructions for use
You can buy a special product for cars and scrub plastic surfaces. To do this, spray a little product on your microfiber cloth (rather than on the plastic) and rub in circular movements, this will allow you to avoid marks.
Always do a small test beforehand on an inconspicuous surface to prevent the product from leaving unsightly marks on the plastic.
Nourishing products are the most effective of those sold commercially to shine the interior plastics of the car. They also form a protective layer that preserves their shine and delays the appearance of spots. Waxes and oils are most often recommended.
Products to shine interior plastics
If you do not want to buy this type of product to shine the interior plastics of your vehicle, there are other very effective tips. Always remember to carry out a small preliminary test in an inconspicuous place.
- Fabric softener: on a clean microfiber cloth, place a few drops of fabric softener. Gently rub your plastics in circles. Let dry well. Your interior plastics will be as shiny as new and your car will also be pleasantly scented.
- Olive oil and linseed oil: place a few drops of oil on a clean microfiber cloth and rub your interior plastics in circular motions. Finish by wiping with absorbent paper (like a paper towel) to remove excess oil.
Our tips for an optimal result
To successfully clean and shine your car interior plastics, here are some additional tips:
- Always work in the shade, in a car at room temperature. This will prevent the products from drying too quickly and leaving unsightly marks.
- Spray or drop the cleaner and/or shine product onto the cloth and not directly onto the surface. Some products must be used in small quantities, which allows them to be better dosed. In addition, you avoid the fallout on other elements such as the counters, the windshield, the steering wheel or the screens.
- Always immediately wipe off the cleaning product and the shine product with a clean cloth and form circles on your surfaces. This will avoid unsightly drying marks.