How to Clean Textured Plastic Car Interior in 4 Simple Steps

With the crevices present in a textured plastic interior, cleaning it would need a bit more elbow grease as compared to dusting a flat surface.

So how to clean textured plastic car interior? Basically, you’ll have to vacuum clean the plastic interior, wipe it with a damp microfiber towel, apply a cleaning solution and a plastic interior protectant. But the cleaning process would also require you to be gentle on the plastic and not use harsh tools on it to avoid scratches.

What to Prepare

Gentleness is key for textured plastic interior cleaning tools, like soft brushes and towels. You’ll also need a good cleaner, which you have different options for.

Here’s a list of the necessary items:

Step by Step Instructions

Now that you know the tools and products needed, let’s move on to the proper cleaning process. Carefully follow these steps to achieve a spotless, damage-free textured plastic interior.

Step 1: Vacuum Clean the Plastic Interior

Remove the things that can get in the way of cleaning the plastic interior like the floor mats, seat covers, etc.

When cleaning corners and all the nooks and crannies of your car, you can attach the soft brush attachment to the vacuum cleaner nozzle. This will allow you to remove all debris and things like food crumbs and help prevent scratching the plastic interior.

Step 2: Wipe the Plastic Interior Using a Damp Microfiber Towel

Dampen a microfiber towel and use it to wipe the plastic interior. It will help remove any contaminants the vacuum hasn’t picked up and allow the cleaning solution to work better.

Continue wiping until the fabric could absorb no more dirt. Use cotton buds to bring out grime from small corners; alternatively, use a brush with soft bristles.

It’s a bad idea to let the moisture from the towel sit on the car, so take a dry towel and wipe dry the areas you have already cleaned.

Step 3: Clean the Plastic Interior With Your Desired Cleaning Solution

If you choose to use an all-purpose detailing cleaner, the best way to clean car interior plastic would be to apply it with a microfiber towel or soft-bristled brush and not directly on the plastic surface to prevent any adverse reaction or damage.

This would also allow better control over the amount of solution used and prevent the cleaner from running down the electronics and vents.

After you scrubbed the surface of the plastic interior, take a microfiber towel, and wipe away the cleaner and all the contaminants it had lifted off the plastic interior.

If you’re looking for a cheap way to clean a car interior, you can use a mild soap or detergent. For this method, it would be advisable to test it on an inconspicuous spot first.

Testing it first will help check for adverse effects on your plastic interior. If no serious damage occurs, apply a quarter-sized amount of it on a microfiber towel.

Remember to work on one plastic part at a time and add detergent to the fabric only when necessary. Less is more in this case.

Then with the microfiber towel with the cleaning solution, rub the plastic interior to clean off the contaminants. Areas that are hard to reach can be scrubbed with a soft toothbrush.

Finally, dampen a microfiber towel and wipe off the solution and contaminants. Make sure to get rid of all the soapy water, for if not, it will leave spots that are hard to remove.

Also, you can use laundry detergent to clean car seats easily.

Tip: If There is Mud on the Plastic Interior

When you clean mud off car interior plastic, it would be best to let the mud dry first because working on wet mud would only cause it to spread. Once it’s dry, brush it off with a soft-bristled brush.

After brushing off the mud, wash the affected area using a towel and one of the solutions mentioned above.

Step 4: Apply a Plastic Interior Protectant

Maintain the cleanliness of your plastic interior with a plastic protectant. It will prevent dirt, dust, and oils from adhering to it and protect the plastic interior from UV damage. It can also add shine and make car interior plastic look new.

On a microfiber towel, apply a few sprays of the protectant and spread the protectant on the plastic interior sparingly and evenly. Let the protectant sit on the surface for about one to three minutes, then buff the surface with another microfiber towel.

Conclusion

A dirty car interior can be unsightly and disgusting, but cleaning it the wrong way can make it worse or even cause scratches. That’s why this article on how to clean textured plastic car interior has been posted. We hope to help car owners and their passengers enjoy a clean, comfortable ride.

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