The driver experience is crucial during long trips, the daily commute, or even if you’re just going for a joy ride. To make time behind the wheel more enjoyable, you might roll down the windows and drive with the radio blaring, but one thing you don’t want to drive with is a damaged car interior. Whether it’s scratches on the dash or rips in the seats, damage like that can lower both the driver experience and the resale value of your vehicle. Thankfully, there are steps that you can take right now to protect your car’s interior, and even repair light damage that may have already happened.
Before you even touch the keys, you can minimize some risk by setting guidelines for you and your passengers. For instance, if you make it a habit to never eat or drink in the car, you’ll avoid any resulting spills that could stain seats and flooring. Removable seat covers and floor mats offer additional protection with full or partial coverage. Plus, since they come in a range of colors and materials, you can take this as an opportunity to personalize your car’s interior!
Even with these protections, upholstery will need attention from time to time. As debris builds up in the cloth fibers, it compromises the quality of the material. To prevent degradation, periodically wash any seat/floor covers that you use before vacuuming and lightly scrubbing the car’s interior. It’s best to use a gentle hand for this job, since excessive force could wear cloth surfaces down. Once this is done, make sure you let everything dry completely to avoid water damage.
Debris will also find its way onto your vehicle’s windows. Even after a stop at the car wash, grime can stick to the inside of the glass indefinitely. This accumulates and steadily clouds your view of the road, so you’ll need to wash away that residue periodically. You can do this with window cleaner and a terrycloth towel that won’t streak or scratch the glass typically. For tinted windows, however, use warm water with just a drop or two of dish soap and a soft, microfiber towel.
While you’re there, don’t forget your dashboard and other vinyl surfaces. These are hot spots for wear and tear that can become a visual nuisance. Start reversing the surface damage by first clearing away dust with a cool, damp towel. Once that’s done, you can use rubbing alcohol to erase ink stains and a melamine cleaning sponge to rub off scuff marks. To finish, make sure you apply a vinyl protectant to keep everything in mint condition.
Both vinyl and leather surfaces are vulnerable to rising temperatures, and each will become brittle and start to rip or crack if left alone to summer conditions. Dash covers and/or a windshield shade offer a simple solution, and you can also lower the temperature inside your car by leaving the windows cracked. In addition, you can treat leather with conditioners and cleaners to maintain its quality and restore patches that have begun to fade.
In the end, car ownership isn’t just a monetary investment. It’s an investment of your time and attention as well. The best driver experience is well worth it. Besides, it’s not too hard to make caring for your vehicle a fun activity instead of a chore. Find a friend or family member who’s willing to help, turn up your favorite music, and the job will be done before you’re ready to stop.
