In what order do you clean the interior?

[Dane Guy]

Someone mentioned doing the carpet first. Is there any reason for this?

[matt@autogeek.net]

Usually people like to shampoo carpets/seats first, so that they are dried by the time the rest of the car is finished.

[Jimmie]

Originally Posted by matt@autogeek.net

Usually people like to shampoo carpets/seats first, so that they are dried by the time the rest of the car is finished.

plus shampooing carpets will splatter (hand brush or PC brushes) on vinyl to be cleaned later. That may not be an issue for those with extractors.

[trhland]

i use a soft paint brush . and dust crevices and dash while im vacuming. getting most of the surface dirt. and a good vacume i use an all purpose cleaner and an air gun spraying down each area at a time. and blowing out dirt with air gun. then shampoo rugs after that. and then dress interior. then windows..............

[HHIslander]

I vacuum first, then I clean the carpets.
I clean the door jams, trim and anything else next, followed by treating the trim.
Then I do the windows, outside first.
If the seats are leather, then I do them last so if I sit or lean on them I don't re-dirty them.
I finish by quickly vacuuming again to get any dirt or crap that I dropped while cleaning the dash/trim/etc.
Of course I give the carpets some pretty lines in them to put the final touch.

I think the only important thing in my order is cleaning the windows after dressing the trim b/c of how easy it is to get some on the glass.

[lecchilo]

Start with the hardest, messiest, dirtiest area to clean. Do glass last.

[Dane Guy]

Thanks all! Going to pick up a 5 Gallon 5.5 HP Shop-Vac today. Now I know when to use it!

[killrwheels@autogeek]

I start up and move down ... go glass after dash protection however, in case you slip. Vacuum and Mat cleaning last to make sure you did add anything while inside cleaning the top areas.

[langridge]

I typically take mats out and shampoo/steam them and set them in the sun to dry; then begin the Vinylex cleaning of all applicable interior parts; then clean inside of the windows, clean and condition leather (if car has it); vacuum all cracks and crevices, then steam clean remainder of carpeting. For some reason, I always seem to forget to clean the gauge plastic covers with foaming glass cleanser. I think thats it. Usually takes me about 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the severity of the job.

[Meghan]

I like to clean dash and controls first, so any dust or dirt can get vaccuumed up when I do the carpets. Its like cleaning house, you have to dust first so you can vac up whatever fell to the floor!