Cleaning between the car seats and center console is one of the most frustrating parts of cleaning a car. It can seem impossible to reach no matter what cleaning equipment you have.
Cleaning these cracks and crevices is actually quite feasible with the use of a vacuum, steam cleaner, a dog hair brush, and an all-purpose cleaner
What You Need To Follow This Guide
- Car Detailing Vacuum
- Having the right vacuum to clean your car is essential. Vacuums built for car detailing excel at reaching the tightest spaces in the car, such as between the center console.
- Steam Cleaner
- Steam cleaning doesn’t get enough hype. It cuts through old dirt and grime in seconds and also aids in removing sticky debris in carpets on interior car paneling. This is a must-have for a car owner.
- Dog Hair Brush
- If you have a dog then you will need this to clean your car. Dog hair is one of the hardest things to extract from carpet even if you have the right vacuum.
- All Purpose Cleaner
- An APC is used to tie everything together when the cleaning process is coming to an end. It will remove any debris that was missed during the vacuum and steaming process.
How To Clean Between Car Seats and The Center Console
1: Move the Car Seats Forwards
To begin, move the front car seats as far forward as possible. This will allow you to work from behind the seat and reach as much surface area as possible with a vacuum.
If your seats go further back than they do forward, move them all the way back and work from the front of the seats.
2: Remove Sizeable Debris
Remove any trash such as food, plastic, or paper from underneath your seats. Although the vacuum will suck these up in many cases, it will make it easier to see the area you need to clean.
3: Vacuum Around the Seats
Use a car detailing vacuum to remove as much dirt from the carpets surrounding the seat as possible.
For the crack between the seat and center console, use a vacuum attachment, such as a crevice cleaning tool, to target the hard-to-reach carpet as best as possible.
Vacuum the carpet in both directions to agitate and remove all of the dirt and debris.
4: Remove All Hair
Run a dog hair brush through all the carpet surrounding the seat, as well as the carpet next to the center console. A quality dog hair brush should pick up all hair and make this step a breeze
If the hair is severely embedded, consider using a pair of needle nose pliers to pull the stubborn hair out of the carpet. Be careful not to yank the carpet itself.
5: Steam Clean the Area
If there are sticky spots on the carpet, use a steamer to loosen up the filth. After applying the steam, use a microfiber towel to pick the grime out of the carpet.
Also, run the steamer on the side of the center console as there are more than likely remnants of food stuck to the plastic
This is also a great time to clean the metal seat tracks. Steam the metal tracks and follow up with a wipedown with a microfiber towel to restore them to like new condition
6: Finish with All Purpose Cleaner
Using a spray bottle, apply an all-purpose car cleaner to the side of the seat, the sides of the center console, as well as the tracks. Once done, wipe all areas with a microfiber towel
How To Clean Dog Hair From Between Car Seats
Cleaning dog hair from between car seats is simple with the correct dog hair brush. Simply run the brush through the carpet and remove the hair from the brush as you go.
Some lower-quality carpets are harder to remove dog hair from than others. For those stubborn carpets, use a pair of needlenose pliers to pull the hair out.
How To Clean Ice Cream Spills From In-between Car Seats
Steam cleaning will be your best friend when it comes to removing any sticky substances from your car. Whether it is residue in your cupholder or ice cream spills on your carpet, steam cleaning will remove it all in just minutes.
For a great visual guide on how to steam clean your car, check out this video.
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