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 outside of your car is much easier than cleaning the inside. Inside we have so many different elements made of different materials that the question often arises how to clean the inside of your car? It is known that each material reacts differently to particular detergents, so how to go about it? As they say, "the devil is not as scary as he is painted"! It turns out that the treatment is not that complicated and requires only the use of proven and safe products. All you need are a few basic preparations, a delicate cloth and the will to make the car look and smell beautiful inside.
How to clean the cockpit with what?
The selection of car cosmetics for cockpit care depends primarily on the materials from which it is made. Regardless, I suggest starting with a thorough cleaning. One of these colorful cloths will come in handy for this microfiber. I gently soak it in warm water, to which you can add literally a drop of car shampoo. With its help, I wipe the inside of the windshield (or use a dedicated preparation, try the one with the addition of ammonia), and then the elements mentioned above, which I include in the cockpit. Unfortunately, dust hides in the numerous creases and narrow air vents. A small brush can help with thorough cleaning, and in extreme cases, a stick used to clean the ears.
(photo: My Car)
My car undergoes such cockpit cosmetics once a month. Of course, everyday life is not sterile, but let's not go to extremes. In the meantime - probably once a week - I reach for the selected preparation. Before I finish thorough cleaning. Cleaning plastics in the car using microfiber is the safest way to care for them. When combined with the right preparation, it works wonders!
Products intended for cleaning the cockpit are available in the form of an aerosol, atomizer, liquid milk and soaked cloths. What's more, most of them leave a scent - usually vanilla, strawberry, lemon (I like it!), apple or some 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.
Usually "cockpits" suitable for cleaning all elements, including the protective bellows and the gear lever or handbrake. However, they must not be used to cover the surfaces of pedals or rubber mats.
How to clean plastics in the car - home methods or dedicated preparations?
Many people wonder what to clean dashboard in the car. Home remedies, many of which can be found online, are unfortunately not effective. Additionally, they do not protect the surface, which means that over time the plastics fade and lose their aesthetic appearance. Some tips are even harmful to the surfaces being cleaned. By using dedicated preparations, you will not only clean effectively cockpit in the car, but you can also preserve it! This will ensure the safety and great appearance of your car, which is what it's all about! Moreover, cleaning preparations car cockpit have antistatic properties, thanks to which dust in the car it does not settle on the board immediately. So it stays clean for 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.
