How to Clean Vinyl Car Interior
You might never recapture that new car smell, but you can replicate a new car shine.
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You Will Need
- Two clean sponges
- A bottle of vinyl cleaner
- A bottle of vinyl protectant
- A cotton cloth
- A vacuum
Steps
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Step 1
Dust off vinyl areas
With a damp sponge, dust off all of the vinyl areas in your car, typically the dashboard, glove compartment and sides of the doors, and, if you have an old car, possibly the seats.
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If your vacuum has a brush attachment, use it for a thorough dry dusting.
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Step 2
Spray cleaner on spots
Remove any stains or spots by spraying a vinyl cleaner on the dirty areas.
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Step 3
Wipe away with sponge
Wipe away the sprayed spots with a sponge.
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Step 4
Pour vinyl protectant on cloth
Pour a small amount of vinyl protectant onto a clean cotton cloth. Do not apply the vinyl protectant directly on the surface since this could lead to an uneven or blotchy finish.
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There are two types of vinyl protectants: shiny and matte. Test yours in a hidden area, like under the dashboard, to decide which look you prefer.
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Step 5
Allow protectant to sit
Allow the protectant to sit on the vinyl sections for at least 10 minutes.
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Don't apply vinyl protectant to the steering wheel or the pedals -- you don't want either of those parts to be slippery!
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Step 6
Wipe away excess residue
Wipe away the excess residue using another clean cotton cloth.
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Step 7
Continue apply protectant
Continue applying coats of protectant until you reach shine capacity. Then bask in the glow!
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In Starsky & Hutch, the detectives' Ford Torino featured cloth seats in the first season -- the next year they were vinyl.
