Wet or dry car wax - From the article you will learn: 1 - How to understand...
The interior of the car is shiny, although I choose... matte
(photo Moje Auto)
Hmm, shall we sit down to eat at a dirty table? Don't we wash our hands first? How often do we wipe dust from furniture at home? When was the last time we polished our leather shoes? And what does all this have to do with our car? Yes, it does - let me compare it to cleaning the car, in which we spend a large part of the day. It's definitely more pleasant - even when stuck in a traffic jam - to travel in a clean and well-kept car. Let's start with the dashboard!
From the article you will learn:
- Why is cleanliness in the interior of the car so important (to me)?
- What products do we use to clean the cockpit?
- What other surfaces are worth paying attention to?
At home in the car?
For me, it is more than just a vehicle that allows me to cover long distances quickly. I spend a lot of time in the car and I want it to be enjoyable. I never wanted to treat the car only as an acquired item that I can always replace. It must be a safe, convenient and comfortable place, just like home. Just like at home, it gets dirty, which means you have to clean the inside of your car. Otherwise, we will quickly become discouraged from driving, even if it was our dream car before. There is various dirt inside the car.
(photo: My Car)
We notice them on all surfaces. What bothers me the most, as a driver, is the dirty cockpit. I look at it all the time when I'm driving and the thick layer of dust doesn't fill me with optimism. There are also greasy stains, which are probably due to my bad habit - I eat in the car. So it's easy to guess where the dirt comes from. So you already know that I'm a moto pedant, although I wasn't before. However, I encourage all car owners to take a closer look at the cleanliness of their dashboard.
How do I clean the cockpit?
We have a wide range of products for cleaning car dashboards. First, decide what final effect we want to achieve - gloss or matte? I choose the second solution, but it's just the individual preference of each driver and that's all. Just like with the scent of the preparation. Producers offer us a really wide range - from fruit products such as apple, strawberry or lemon, through iconic vanilla, to freshness or sports products that are difficult to determine their composition. I choose lemon. Why? It reminds me of my first car, the interior of which was cleaned with such a preparation at the time of purchase. Everyone probably has this type of memories and associations.
While we choose the type of finish and scent of dashboard preparations according to our habits, the method of their application results from practical reasons. So I use the aerosol at least once a week for large surfaces. There is also foam, which I use very rarely.
(photo: My Car)
An alternative to them is a bottle with an atomizer. On the other hand milk it is a basic product for seasonal cosmetics, for me it is irreplaceable for general cleaning after holidays, autumn and spring. I believe that it perfectly regenerates cockpit elements, as well as door panels and leather-like materials - but we will come back to this later.
They are still there cockpit cleaning cloths. This is a very practical solution because you can use them to thoroughly remove dirt from the air vents, wipe narrow gaps and the steering wheel. They are disposable and end up in the trash after use. Additionally, the sachet packaging will fit in a glove compartment or door pocket.
Mat – my personal preference, but…
Everyone likes something different, and the interior of our cars also looks different. We want the surfaces to be stunningly shiny or elegantly matte. It depends. I chose matte because for me it has a better visual effect, but in your case it may be different. We won't discuss tastes. However, when choosing a finish, you must, or at least should, take into account the type of surface. The plastic can be shiny or matte and it is worth choosing preparations accordingly. The glossy ones will emphasize the gloss effect even more, so the surface will look as planned by the designer and manufacturer. Matte surfaces look better with an additional layer of matte. This is why, among other things, I chose the second option. However, it sometimes happens that drivers make a completely opposite decision. As I mentioned, it's a matter of taste.
Antistatic effect above all!
We have already talked about the wide range of these products on the store shelf, now another point that guides me when choosing - the composition, or rather the properties of the preparation. First of all, it must be neutral for the surface being cleaned, but this is probably completely understandable. Similarly to the antistatic effect, because we do not have to carefully remove the dust, only to have it settle back immediately. Equally important to me is protection against UV radiation, and these together with a heated car window can create a deadly duo. It is also good to include additions of natural waxes that will regenerate plastic surfaces.
(photo: My Car)
Well, when we think about cleaning the cockpit, we usually focus on plastic. And yet some of us have elements made of leather in our car - here I recommend the mentioned form milks, chrome - unless it is an imitation, it is worth using a dedicated preparation, or wood - and again, if it is not coated plastic, you definitely need to use impregnation agents.
One last, but very important thing when cleaning the cockpit. Cloth! Without a doubt, it must be soft, leave no threads behind, and be electrostatic. So my choice falls on microfiber cloths. They were already mentioned in the previous entry, as well as the colors assigned to the car's elements and washing from time to time.
A cockpit is not just... a cockpit
Cockpit cleaning products can be used, and even must be used, for other parts of the car. The first place is the bellows covering the gear stick, the handbrake lever, and the entire central tunnel. Next are plastic elements of the seats and sofas, door sill covers and finally door panels.
The cockpit, especially the shiny one, gives a great effect on rubber floor mats. With one caveat, I do not use it under my - the driver's - legs, just as I do not clean the pedal bases. For a very important reason, when riding on such a surface, your foot may slip and you will have a disaster on the road. All that's left is warm water and plain soap, and the easiest way is to take such rugs home and wash them thoroughly. There are many such places to clean in the trunk of a car.
Or also outside? In my opinion, definitely yes, because I use them to shine the plastic strips on the doors, bumper and mirrors. You have to be careful with the car's paint, as traces of the preparation applied with a spray or atomizer will remain visible on it. For these elements, I use the mentioned milk - preferably with the addition of natural waxes - and soak it in a microfiber cloth. Only then do I clean and wipe the plastic body elements.
When talking about a clean car interior, I do not forget about the ventilation and air conditioning system, but this is a topic for a separate activity, read the blog entry!
Summary
- The appearance of a car's interior is largely determined by cleanliness. The driver should pay special attention to the cockpit, which is the most visible surface to him.
- We have various agents for cleaning the cockpit, with a matte and glossy finish, with floral, sweet and more universal scents. We choose the variant with an atomizer every day because of its convenience, while the milk is perfect for more comprehensive cleaning.
- Use cockpit cleaning cloths every day - they are irreplaceable when traveling.
- Choose agents with antistatic properties that provide effective protection against dust accumulation. We clean and avoid further contamination.
- To clean plastic elements in your car, you will also need a soft cloth, e.g. microfiber.
