Use this as a standard. Whether you are doing the work yourself or evaluating someone else's, these are the surfaces and steps a genuinely thorough interior detail covers. The order matters: work top to bottom so debris falls onto surfaces not yet cleaned, and do glass last.
Preparation
- Remove all personal items, trash and floor mats
- Remove child seats if you want the area beneath them properly cleaned
- Note any existing damage, stains or loose trim before starting
Dry stage
- Compressed air or a brush through vents, seams, switch surrounds and seat rails
- Vacuum the headliner edges, pillars and upper surfaces first
- Vacuum seats, including between cushion and backrest
- Vacuum carpets, under seats, behind seats and the cargo area
- Vacuum door pockets, cupholders and console bins
Wet stage
- Clean the dashboard, instrument surround and center stack by hand
- Clean door panels, handles, armrests and window switches
- Clean the console, shifter surround, cupholders and storage bins
- Clean the steering wheel, stalks and pedals area
- Clean seats according to material: extraction for cloth, gentle hand cleaning for leather
- Extract carpets and mats where soiling warrants it
- Clean seat belt webbing and let it dry fully extended
- Wipe door jambs and sills
Finishing
- Apply a matte, non-greasy protectant to plastics and vinyl
- Condition leather with a product suited to a coated finish
- Clean interior glass last, including the top edge of the windshield
- Reinstall mats once fully dry
- Final inspection with the doors open in daylight
Desert-specific additions
In this climate, add three things to the standard list: check the cabin air filter, since it fills with dust faster here; pay extra attention to the windshield's inside surface, which hazes from heat off-gassing; and treat sun-exposed upper surfaces with UV protection rather than a shiny dressing.
Frequently asked questions
- Should protectant be shiny?
- No. A greasy shine attracts dust, causes windshield glare and looks artificial. A matte finish is both better looking and more practical here.
- Why clean glass last?
- Because cleaning mist and protectant overspray from other surfaces land on the glass. Doing it last avoids redoing it.
- How long should a thorough interior take?
- Considerably longer than most people expect. A properly detailed interior on a moderately soiled vehicle is a matter of hours, not minutes.