Streamlining the "Full Interior Detail"

[Ted S.]

Ok, so a few of the members were discussing the time it takes to do a full interior in a thread. That being said, the member that started this thread posting his process, here is the link:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/35411-how-long-full-interior-detail.html

The idea of this thread is to compile the best info from the best minds and come up with a standardized process to do full interiors with the tools available to the detailer(because not everyone has every tool).

I, too, take forever to do interior details, but I am new to this stuff. If we can all come up with a fail proof method of addressing a full interior detail, we may all learn something valuable.

Lets not concentrate on the products used but the basic process itsself. For example:
1. Clean up trash
2. Vacuum headliner>seats>carpet.
3. Clean headliner>seats>dash>console(s)>doors>carpet.
4. Clean mats.
5. Dress all trim from the top down.
6. Spot vacuum once more.
7. Windows
8. Threshholds(door jambs).

4

[Ted S.]

[JonMiles]

Ok, so a few of the members were discussing the time it takes to do a full interior in a thread. That being said, the member that started this thread posting his process, here is the link:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/35411-how-long-full-interior-detail.html

The idea of this thread is to compile the best info from the best minds and come up with a standardized process to do full interiors with the tools available to the detailer(because not everyone has every tool).

I, too, take forever to do interior details, but I am new to this stuff. If we can all come up with a fail proof method of addressing a full interior detail, we may all learn something valuable.

Lets not concentrate on the products used but the basic process itsself. For example:
1. Clean up trash
2. Vacuum headliner>seats>carpet.
3. Clean headliner>seats>dash>console(s)>doors>carpet.
4. Clean mats.
5. Dress all trim from the top down.
6. Spot vacuum once more.
7. Windows
8. Threshholds(door jambs).

4

That process isn't bad.

My process uses 3 different vacuum attachments for working.
1)Pick up all the stuff in the car and box it for the customer to do what they please with it.
2)Put on the soft dusting brush attachment and pick up the loose stuff from the dash, doors, seats, trim etc.
3)Grab the crevice tool and hit all the crevices.
4)Claw attachment for larger areas.
5)APC+ wipedown of everything hard (vinyls,leather,plastics), folex on everything fabric/carpet.
6)Scrub carpets, extract
7)Dress everything with UIGP
8)Windows

I probably missed something, but my interior details hardly ever take longer than about an hour and come out very nicely. If necessary due to heavy crud, I'll replace the APC wipedown with a deep clean with tornador or by steam. I just feel that an APC wipedown is sufficient for most cars as long as they are not too nasty.
2

[Kristopher1129]

I have a definite system for interiors.

-Air gun between, under, and around seats and tracks. Also in tight spaces to bring most the debris to the floor
- vac
- clean seats
- prep carpet, scrub and extract carpet, and mats
- magic sponge all trouble spots, and APC all vinyl
- Tornador for dressing
- Leather conditioner (if needed)
- inside windows
- final vac

Works every time.

[D_Nyholm]

Well, my process goes like this:
1.) Clean up loose trash and remove floormats from the car
2.) vacuum carpets (and removed floormats), seats, cracks, rubber on door jambs
3.) spray cleaner on carpets (and floormats) to treat stains and dirt.
4.) scrub dirty areas to release dirt with a wet brush
5.) vacuum to remove all released dirt
6.) starting on drivers side, scrub leather seats, door panels, and dash
7.) work my way around to drivers rear, passenger front, passenger rear.
8.) dress vinyl and leather and clean up excess water and dirt that may come to the surface
9.) return mats to car at end up detail (after the polishing of the outside) to give them extra time to dry if they were extremely dirty).
10.) clean windows and polish any wood/carbon fiber/painted areas.

It usually takes me about 2 hours to do this process by myself.

[Flash Gordon]

Well, my process goes like this:
1.) Clean up loose trash and remove floormats from the car
2.) vacuum carpets (and removed floormats), seats, cracks, rubber on door jambs
3.) spray cleaner on carpets (and floormats) to treat stains and dirt.
4.) scrub dirty areas to release dirt with a wet brush
5.) vacuum to remove all released dirt
6.) starting on drivers side, scrub leather seats, door panels, and dash
7.) work my way around to drivers rear, passenger front, passenger rear.
8.) dress vinyl and leather and clean up excess water and dirt that may come to the surface
9.) return mats to car at end up detail (after the polishing of the outside) to give them extra time to dry if they were extremely dirty).
10.) clean windows and polish any wood/carbon fiber/painted areas.

It usually takes me about 2 hours to do this process by myself.

This exactly ^ Accept I clean the windows before doing the dressing

[mcpp66]

I have a definite system for interiors.

-Air gun between, under, and around seats and tracks. Also in tight spaces to bring most the debris to the floor
- vac
- clean seats
- prep carpet, scrub and extract carpet, and mats
- magic sponge all trouble spots, and APC all vinyl
- Tornador for dressing
- Leather conditioner (if needed)
- inside windows
- final vac

Works every time.

Air gun? What are you using?

[Kristopher1129]

Air gun? What are you using?

Any kind of air gun attachment. I have two, the shorter "gun" style, and one with a much longer barrel for tight spaces or mainly the space between the seat and console.

I can't imagine doing an interior without them. Really cuts time in half.

[mcpp66]

But what does the attachment attach to? I wonder if I could safely use my metro master blaster in this fashion?

[C. Charles Hahn]

Any kind of air gun attachment. I have two, the shorter "gun" style, and one with a much longer barrel for tight spaces or mainly the space between the seat and console.

I can't imagine doing an interior without them. Really cuts time in half.

Agreed. Only two things I would add are:

1) Always look under the seat or between the seat and console before blowing stuff out. You don't want any sharp objects flying at you -- more than once I've found insulin syringes or sewing needles in those areas.

2) For the same reason, wear eye protection. Dirt and dust can fly around pretty good under the influence of compressed air.