Homemade Car Interior Cleaner Recipes: 12 Tips for Cleaning... (2024)

I love keeping my car’s interior spotless and welcoming and using homemade car interior cleaner makes it easy, affordable, and effective.

• Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle.
• Vacuum the seats to remove loose dirt before application.
• Spray the mixture onto a microfiber cloth and wipe surfaces.
• For tougher stains, let the solution sit for a moment before wiping.
• Use circular motions to avoid streaks and ensure thorough cleaning.

To use the homemade interior cleaner, start by mixing equal parts of water and vinegar in a large spray bottle. Then, I always make sure to vacuum my car’s seats to remove any loose dirt before spraying. This prepares the surface for a more effective cleaning.

Next, I spray the mixture onto a microfiber cloth rather than directly onto surfaces, which helps me control the amount of liquid and prevents oversaturation. When I encounter tougher stains, I let the solution sit for a moment to break down the dirt before wiping. Finally, I use circular motions as I wipe to avoid leaving streaks, ensuring that every nook and cranny is left sparkling clean.

Vehicles take a real beating from grime and dirt, not only on the exterior but on the car’s interior, as well. Dust and mud are carried inside, especially during winter or spring when the ice melts from footwear, which spreads on the carpeted area and floor mats. “I always emphasize the importance of using the right ingredients to ensure the best clean without damaging your car’s interior,” suggests Alice Gilbert, a seasoned authority in home improvement.

However, there are many ways to get rid of the dirt, dust, and grime on car surfaces. Car cleaners and custom car cleaning companies are popular and are available at numerous locations. You can also clean your car at home with a simple yet powerful homemade car interior cleaner.

Making DIY car cleaning solutions isn’t tricky. Many people find the process rewarding. You only need to use the right supplies and easy-to-follow recipes.

I Clean and Freshen My Vehicle Interior Using a Homemade Car Interior Cleaner

Here are some tips to properly make a DIY car interior cleaner and deodorizer. By understanding the recipes, their ingredients, and methods, you can clean the interior of your car more efficiently and with excellent results.

Using Vinegar Solution with Oil to Clean and Shine My Dashboards

Dashboards are prone to having small white specks and dust. If left for extended periods, the dirt and grime will leave permanent marks and stains on the surface. If you don’t want to harm your vehicle’s dashboard, make sure it is clean by wiping the surface with a homemade dashboard cleaner.

Combine water, vinegar, dishwashing liquid, and oil in a spray bottle. Shake well but don’t let the solution get too foamy. To use this dashboard cleaner and polisher, put a small amount on a cloth.

Avoid using paper towels because they leave tiny bits of paper on the dashboard’s surface. Wipe your dash in one direction. You can also use this recipe to clean steering wheel, handbrake, and other plastic interior parts of the car.

I Combine Borax, Grated Soap, and Water to Make My Homemade Car Upholstery Cleaner

Car seats are prominent collectors of food crumbs, liquid spills, gunk, specks of dust, and other debris. For this reason, it is essential to maintain its cleanliness regularly.

If you have upholstered seats and you feel that vacuuming is not enough to make them sparkly clean, you can make your DIY car upholstery cleaner. It won’t just make your upholstered car seats clean, but it will leave a fresh scent, as well.

Mix all the ingredients in a container and stir to dissolve the grated soap. The solution will look foamy, but this is normal. Dip the brush into your upholstery cleaner.

The way to clean a car seat is to scrub the surfaces of your upholstered seats that need serious cleaning. Wipe with a wet cloth or rag after cleaning. Stubborn stains may need a repeat treatment.

Using Lemon Juice to Clean My Car Windows

If you have dirty and grimy windows, you won’t be able to see through the glass correctly. So, it makes sense to keep them squeaky clean. Here is a practical way of cleaning car windows.

Mix the vinegar, lemon juice, and hot water in the glass spray bottle. Be careful when pouring the hot water. You can use a funnel for added safety.

Shake the solution. Spray a small amount on the microfiber cloth. Wipe off the spots and window stains in vertical-then-horizontal motions to reduce the streaking.

Using Borax and Soap to Remove Stains on My Car Carpet

Car carpets can get filthy and dirty as a result of frequent use. Sometimes, drinks spill onto the surface and leave stains on the car carpet. Instead of buying specialty cleaning products, try this DIY car interior cleaner for carpets.

In a large bowl, mix the soap, Borax, water, and lavender essential oil. Stir the mixture to dissolve all the ingredients. It may look foamy, but that is normal for a car carpet cleaning solution.

Dip the brush in the jar with the solution and scrub the dirty parts of the carpet. Using a wet rag, wipe it clean and let the car carpet dry.

I Use Dryer Sheets as an Air Freshener

If you have extra dryer sheets in your laundry room, grab a few and tuck them under the seats and cup holders. It will keep your car smelling nice even if heavy smokers ride in your vehicle. It is cheaper than any other car fresheners and lasts for around one month.

I Remove Stains on Center Consoles using Rubbing Alcohol

Grab a microfiber cloth and put a small amount of rubbing alcohol on it. Lightly dab and blot the stains but be sure to test it first on an inconspicuous area. Remember, the more rubbing alcohol you use, the more potent it will be.

Cleaning My Leather Seats using Olive Oil and Vinegar Mix

Leather seats and vinyl surfaces add a luxurious look to a vehicle’s interior. However, as durable and as flexible the material is, it is also prone to collecting dust. If you want to clean leather car seats, a professional cleaning service may not be necessary.

Vacuum the upholstered seats thoroughly, especially the crevices and hidden areas. Next, prepare the solution. Pour the vinegar, olive oil, and lemon essential oil in the spray bottle. Shake well.

To use, put a small amount on a clean cloth and use it to wipe the seats clean. However, don’t oversaturate it so that excess liquid won’t pool in between cushions. Use a second damp cloth, followed by a dry cloth to avoid wet marks.

Using Hydrogen Peroxide and Water to Clean My Air Vents

Car interior cleaning isn’t complete without removing the dust blowing from the air vents. For you to be able to breathe in cleaner air while traveling on your car, make the following DIY cleaner.

Pour water and hydrogen peroxide into the spray bottle. Open all the doors and windows of your car. Turn on the car’s fans to the maximum level.

Spray the solution into the fresh-air intake. The air vent and duct cleaner will travel through the ducts and eradicate molds and mildew.

Cleaning Vomit off My Car Upholstery using Club Soda

If you have vomit stains on your car’s upholstered seats, use club soda as a cleaner. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray it on the vomit stains. Let it sit for thirty minutes and blot it up with a clean cloth.

Toothpaste Removes Dirt and Spots on My Windshield

There are times when streaks and marks remain on the windshield even after thoroughly cleaning the glass from the outside with an effective DIY car windshield cleaner. If this happens, it means that the dirt and grime are stuck on the inside and need some attention.

So, to clean a car windshield inside, get a non-gel toothpaste and squirt a small amount onto a clean microfiber cloth. Carefully wipe down the windshield. Use a clean cloth afterward to pick up any leftover residue.

Cleaning My Car Mats with Baking Soda

Use baking soda to clean floor mats. Removing them from the car first. Then sprinkle baking soda onto the floor mat. Wash them as you would typically do with a brush or scrub.

I Mix White Vinegar and Water for an All-purpose Car Interior Cleaner

If you want a handy spray bottle for cleaning car interiors, you can concoct an all-purpose cleaner that you can keep in your trunk for use at any time. This is also an easy-to-make RV cleaner that can clean grime from multiple surfaces.

Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Shake it well and use when necessary. Use it on any plastic, wood, and vinyl surfaces to clean grease stains and dust marks.

Why I Use Homemade Car Interior Cleaner

Store-bought car interior cleaning solutions are readily available, but they are also full of hazardous chemicals that have cancer-causing and life-threatening ingredients.

While you could rely on commercial car interior cleaners’ potency in cleaning, making your homemade car interior cleaner yourself is not as grueling as it may seem. They are just as effective, if not more so, and are a lot cheaper.

My Recipe for Homemade Car Interior Cleaner

Homemade Car Interior Cleaner

Yield: 1 cup

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Restore the shine to the inside of the car, too!

Materials

• 1 tsp dish soap
• 1 tsp baby oil
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 8 ounces water

Tools

• Tablespoon
• Teaspoon
• Measuring cup
• 16-ounce spray bottle
• Old cloth

Instructions

1. Add the liquid ingredients to the sprayer.
2. Shake gently - don't let it get too sudsy.
3. Spritz the cloth with the cleaning solution and wipe over the console, dash, steering wheel, doors, and other interior hard surfaces.

Notes

You can substitute mineral oil for baby oil.

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