Did you know that your car interior might have more germs than your toilet seat? Yup, you read that right, and science can back it up. Researchers from Aston University found that most car interiors harbor alarming levels of bacteria, with the trunk, driver’s seat, and gear shifter ranking as the top three dirtiest areas in most cars.
Dirty cars aren’t just gross–they can be dangerous to your health too. We know cleaning your car isn’t the most exciting task, but there are some ways you can make it easier for yourself, such as car steam cleaning.
Why You Should Use a Steam Cleaner
Steam cleaning your car is a great way to deodorize and disinfect it. Just be sure to thoroughly vacuum the carpet and areas you plan to clean first. A heavy-duty steam cleaner for cars can cost anywhere from $140 to $350, but you can find smaller ones for around $50 too.
You might have to shell out a lot of money at first, but it’s an investment that’s very much worth it. If you aren’t completely sold on the idea yet, consider these advantages when using a steam cleaner:
- Effectively kills bacteria
- Removes smoky, moldy, and other unwanted smells
- Thoroughly sanitizes without using toxic chemicals
- Quickly gets rid of stubborn stains on upholstery
- Uses less water than pressure washers
If you don’t want to buy your own steam cleaner, you can always hire auto detailers to steam wash your car for you. Some auto detailers even offer at-home services, saving you a lot of time and effort. This is also the most expensive option, but it might also be the best option as they are likely to clean it better than you can.
You can also rent steam cleaners from various places, which might be a better investment, especially if you are not going to use them very much.
Steam Cleaning Your Car Interior
One of the great things about a steam cleaner is you can use it to clean pretty much everything in your car interior. From carpets to windows to cup holders, steam cleaners have different accessories that can clean them all.
Carpets and Upholstery
When steam cleaning carpets, fabric seat covers, and other upholstery, use the triangular brush attachment for your steam cleaner. The bristles of the brush are great for agitating the stains, while the steam effectively softens dirt and other debris stuck on the fabric.
Leather, Plastic, and Vinyl
You’ll have to be extra careful when cleaning leather, plastic, and vinyl surfaces. With a steam cleaner, your goal is to make your car spotless, not spread the dirt around or scratch the surface.
Use a cloth or foam attachment when steam cleaning areas like your car’s leather seats, gear shifter, and center console.
Hard-to-Reach Areas
The great thing about steam clean auto detailing is that it can help you clean every nook and cranny of your car interior, including those that you can’t reach by hand. With an angled nozzle, your steam cleaner can efficiently clean your cup holders, dashboard vents, and console nooks.
Headliner
When it comes to your car’s headliner, you’ll have to use an upholstery attachment that has a brush with soft bristles. Being too rough with your car’s interior roof can cause it to sag, so you’ll have to be extra gentle while using the steam cleaner.
Windows
Cleaning your windows by hand can be tiring, time-consuming, and also boring. With a steam cleaner, you can get all your windows squeaky clean in just a few minutes. Use a squeegee attachment, and work your way down from the top of your window.
Other Car Steam Cleaning FAQ
What Causes Car Interiors To Get Dirty?
Whether you like it or not, your car will most likely get dirty over time. Mud from your shoes, crumbs from your most recent drive-thru meal, and pollen and dust from the outside might seem like nothing but tiny specks of dirt, but they can build up over time and make your cabin dirty.
Your steering wheel, which is probably the part of your car you touch the most, will most likely get dirty from a build-up of sweat and oil from your hands. Likewise, fingerprints from kids and other passengers can also smudge your windows.
How Often Should You Steam Clean Your Car?
Some suggest cleaning your car every two weeks, but you can probably put it off for around six months if you take extra care not to spill anything on your car seats and don’t smoke while in your vehicle. However, no matter how careful you are with your car, there are some factors you can’t control.
Rainy weather will soften muddy roads and cause dirt to stick to your car, and your passengers can track dirt on your carpet. If you have kids, you might have to clean your cabin more often too.
How Long Does Steam Cleaning Take?
Car detailing with a steam cleaner can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. It typically doesn’t take too long, but the total time can vary depending on your vehicle’s make and model. Of course, the state of your car will also factor in, so if your car hasn’t been cleaned in a while, you can expect it to take longer.
Get New High-Quality Interior Parts and Accessories Online
Steam cleaning is a great way of disinfecting and cleaning interiors. Despite its effectiveness, sometimes it isn’t enough to make your interior like new again. If you want to freshen up your interior, perhaps it’s time to get new interior accessories like seat covers, floor mats, and carpets. It’s a good thing CarParts.com is a one-stop shop for all sorts of vehicle accessories!
CarParts.com prides itself in being a trusted source of aftermarket components. We remove the guesswork from picking the right components because our website makes it easy for you to filter parts that will fit. Our catalog includes a diverse range of components from various brands, so you’ll have a lot of choices when it comes to price range and other aspects.
Get the most bang for your buck when you shop for interior accessories here at CarParts.com!
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
