How to start washing your car? Regardless of whether the car is very dirty or…
How to clean and care for your car's cockpit?
(photo Moje Auto)
A meal is a very important part of our day and, as we all know, it is best eaten sitting at the table. Let's add that it's clean and I can't imagine using dirty dishes and cutlery. Let's look at... the cockpit in a car. No, it's not a mistake, after all, we also spend a large part of our day behind the wheel. So let's make sure that these are pleasant moments, and we will be able to endure standing in a traffic jam better.
First, I will define my cockpit boundaries
Of course, it extends from the left to the right A-pillar, has space for the steering wheel, a set of clocks, a center panel with climate controls and on-board radio, and a storage compartment in front of the passenger. But for me it is also the casing under the steering column, the gear lever and the center tunnel with the armrest, as well as the inside of the windshield, sun visors and the rear-view mirror. Why? Because it is easier to clean it comprehensively, especially since we will use the same car cosmetics.
Before we move on to their selection, a quick review of the cockpits in our cars. In the past, they were made of simple, varnished sheet metal, today virtually all elements are cast from plastic. In a light or dark color, or combined, or contrasting with the upholstery or matching the body color. Thanks to this, each of us can choose a set that suits our tastes.
Accents imitating chrome or wooden elements are increasingly appearing in the cockpit. Recently, inserts and even entire panels have been promoted in the so-called piano color. It looks impressive, especially when the lights of street lamps and shop windows reflect in them, but keeping it in perfect condition is not easy.
For me, leather and authentically chrome-plated or natural wood elements provide much more charm - but it has its price. Typically, it consists of several layers of veneer protected with a colorless varnish. And what works of art can be created from it are shown by artists from Rolls-Royce. But let's get back to earth...
How to clean your car inside?
Caring for the exterior of your car is definitely easier than cleaning the interior. There are so many different components made from different materials that the question often arises: how do you clean your car's interior ? It's common knowledge that each material reacts differently to different detergents, so how do you go about it? As they say, "the devil is not as black as he is painted"! It turns out that the procedure isn't that complicated, requiring only the use of proven and safe products. All you need are a few basic cleaning products, a soft cloth, and a desire to keep your car's interior looking and smelling beautiful.
How to clean the cockpit with what?
The choice of car care products for your dashboard depends primarily on the materials it's made of. Regardless, I recommend starting with a thorough cleaning. One of those colorful microfiber cloths will come in handy for this . I gently soak it in warm water, to which you can add a drop of car shampoo. With it, I wipe the inside of the windshield (or use a dedicated product; try the one with ammonia), and then the elements mentioned above that I consider part of the dashboard. Unfortunately, dust hides in the numerous creases and narrow air vents. A small brush can help with a thorough cleaning, or in extreme cases, an ear bud.
(photo: My Car)
My car undergoes this type of dashboard cleaning once a month. Of course, it's not perfectly clean every day, but let's not go to extremes. In the meantime – probably once a week – I reach for my chosen cleaning product. I also finish a thorough clean with it. Cleaning your car's plastics with a microfiber cloth is the safest way to care for them. Combined with the right product, it works wonders!
Cockpit cleaning products are available in aerosol, atomizer, liquid lotion, and pre-moistened wipes . What's more, most of them leave behind a scent—usually vanilla, strawberry, lemon (I like it!), apple, or some other unidentified freshness.
How to achieve the best effect?
The final effect is equally important - gloss or the matte I use. Another feature of this product should be antistatic properties, which will delay the re-deposition of dust. I do not mention the neutral, solvent-free composition or wax additives that delay the aging process. I assume that each of us reads the label before purchasing a product.
Generally, "cockpit cleaners" are suitable for cleaning all components, including the boot, gear shift, and handbrake. However, they should not be used on pedal surfaces or rubber floor mats.
How to clean plastics in the car - home methods or dedicated preparations?
Many people wonder how to clean their car's dashboard . Unfortunately, home remedies, which are plentiful online, aren't very effective. Furthermore, they don't protect the surface, causing plastics to fade and lose their aesthetic appeal over time. Some tips are even harmful to the surfaces being cleaned. By using dedicated products, you'll not only effectively clean your car's dashboard but also preserve it! This will ensure your car's safety and great appearance, and that's what it's all about! Furthermore, dashboard cleaners have antistatic properties, preventing dust from settling on the dashboard. This keeps it clean longer.
In turn, I use the preparation used for the windshield to wipe the rear-view mirror, the clock set, the air conditioning display and the radio. It can also be used to clean the multifunction touch screen that increasingly dominates the center of the cockpit. Every fingerprint can be seen on it!
The last step will probably be to restore the settings of the radio or air conditioning control knobs and the buttons of various systems and systems. Did we forget something? In fact, during thorough cleaning, we were able to clean the door panels, headliner, upholstery and other windows. I will come back to this in the next blog post.
