Advice on cleaning FILTHY, FILTHY interior!

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dropscience

New member
Just picked up a beater car for the winter! I've never seen a car this filthy before - ever! I know I have to vacuum and wipe down the interior but where would you experts start and what else would you do? :bawling:



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i agree with zeroculture . . . . i have seen way worse, but get the seats out . . . . hondas/acuras are easy as can be. Take off the 4 bolts (2) in front and (2) in back. That will create a nice full work area.



Then attack the carpets with some APC (All Purpose Cleaner) . . . . . meguiars apc,auto magic, you can even use simple green or folex. Grab a bucket with hot water and a stiff brush and attack the carpet. Should be fairly easy . . . . the vinyl and plastic pieces should clean up pretty easy as well.
 
that thing is almost spotless compared to the usual jobs I've done. should've seen the jeep I had to do today almost 2 hours alone on the dog hair removal.



just get some cleaner, an air tool, and a MF towel and you should have that back in shape in under an hour.
 
I'd vacuum, then break out the Folex and steamer. Then if needed follow up with Meguiars M40.



As mentioned, its not in the bad of a shape to start with.
 
remove seats

use a folex on the carpets

buy new floor mats

plastics/vinyl get a healthy hitting of APC/water mix and a nylon brush/toothbrush

vacuum the hell out of the seats/carpets

use a uv protectant of choice

steering wheel looks to be junk, so maybe replace that!



hot water extractor, steamer, and various brushes along with terry cloth towels will be your friends!
 
If this is a winter beater car like you state in your post, why spend a ton of time detailing the hell out of it if you're just going to be tracking snow/salt/ice in and out of it all winter? Give it a proper vacuuming, scotch guard the interior and call it a day.
 
If you want to go really crazy i would take removing the seats a step further. I would take anything out that would come out easily.



Seats, Console, trim, Vents (there actually really easy to get out in most cars)



that way you can soak all the small parts in a bucket of water. I typically do that with cup holders and ashtrays
 
ThrillHo said:
If this is a winter beater car like you state in your post, why spend a ton of time detailing the hell out of it if you're just going to be tracking snow/salt/ice in and out of it all winter? Give it a proper vacuuming, scotch guard the interior and call it a day.
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That kind of talk will get you banned around here! :grrr
 
That is "filthy, filthy"? THIS is "filthy, filthy" :lol



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Sad to say that isn't even the worst interior I've seen. I once got called out to give an estimate on a PT Cruiser that a couple crackheads and their infant child had lived in for a month before they got busted and the bank reposed the car. After the bank got my estimate, they decided to send it through auction "as is".
 
And that's actually what I started to do! I removed the front passenger seat already and am in the process of removing the rears and drivers. My cheap 15/32 socket busted when I was struggling on one of the drivers seat bolts! Anyhow, I'm going to move the console and anything I can!



BTW, what is this Folex thing you guys keep talking about? Also, I don't have a carpet steam cleaner. Is this something that's easily/readily rent-able?



Dunncsu said:
If you want to go really crazy i would take removing the seats a step further. I would take anything out that would come out easily.



Seats, Console, trim, Vents (there actually really easy to get out in most cars)



that way you can soak all the small parts in a bucket of water. I typically do that with cup holders and ashtrays
Click to expand...
 
as for the steering wheel -- I have done a few interiors where the steering wheel looked just like that and it all came of after a terry cloth rag, some strong APC, and a lot of hard scrubbing. Most of the time, it has turned out to be makeup from the owner putting it on while driving. If this is the case, I have also found it on the shifter, door handle, door arm rest, and turn signal.



Anyway, i think the steering wheel should come clean along with the rest of the interior if you just dedicate some time to it and a lot of hard scrubbing. You may not get it perfect but it will look a million times better than what it was.
 
Scottwax said:
That is "filthy, filthy"? THIS is "filthy, filthy" :lol



878horrible_inteior_before2.jpg




Sad to say that isn't even the worst interior I've seen. I once got called out to give an estimate on a PT Cruiser that a couple crackheads and their infant child had lived in for a month before they got busted and the bank reposed the car. After the bank got my estimate, they decided to send it through auction "as is".
Click to expand...



I feel bad for you guy's that do this for a living and have to deal with that kind of stuff. That car makes me gag. I would have taken the seats out at the carwash, opened the doors, grabbed the wand and let her rip! LOL.
 
I'm going to replace the steering wheel altogether! When I was cleaning it, the rubber flaked off and almost dissolved! it's done. Time for a replacement one. May swap it over for a leather wrapped one if I can source out a used cheap one!



Also, Folex is no longer carried at Home Depot in Canada! I picked up a bottle at Canadian Tire!



AGAuto said:
as for the steering wheel -- I have done a few interiors where the steering wheel looked just like that and it all came of after a terry cloth rag, some strong APC, and a lot of hard scrubbing. Most of the time, it has turned out to be makeup from the owner putting it on while driving. If this is the case, I have also found it on the shifter, door handle, door arm rest, and turn signal.



Anyway, i think the steering wheel should come clean along with the rest of the interior if you just dedicate some time to it and a lot of hard scrubbing. You may not get it perfect but it will look a million times better than what it was.
Click to expand...
 
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