It's always a struggle to keep a car's interior looking fresh. Dust is usually the main culprit. So, you might be looking for ways to keep the inside dust free. While it's impossible to keep dust out for good, we have tips to reduce the amount you see!
There are a few ways to prevent dust from accumulating on your car's dashboard and console. Some of it is as simple as carrying cleaning tools in your glove compartment. Others involve using an anti-static spray. In any case, here are your options:
- Carry a duster with you.
- Keep dryer sheets in your car.
- Vacuum the interior routinely.
- Purchase and apply an anti-static spray.
- Replace your cabin filter periodically.
- Eliminate dust-producing items.
All of these solutions are relatively cheap and easy. You might not even need to purchase anything at all. In any case, if you want to explore these ideas in detail, keep reading!
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How To Keep A Dust-Free Car
There isn't much to like about dust. People dislike it for various reasons. First, it doesn't look good on your dashboard and console. In addition, it accumulates quickly. So, even if you clean the inside routinely, it can seem like you've done no cleaning at all!
Apart from aesthetic reasons, dust also aggravates allergies. Fortunately, there are various ways to keep it out. However, some factors are out of our control. But, we can always do our best to keep it out. Let's go over some ideas.
1. Carry A Duster With You
The first solution would be to carry a dust cleaner in your car. It's usually not that big of a tool. So, you'd be able to fit it anywhere you'd want.
When dust begins to settle, you can take it out and remove it with the duster. It's a simple solution. However, it's a temporary fix.
Some of you might have dust accumulate in the car's interior quicker than others. Therefore, whipping out a duster frequently doesn't sound like a good idea. It could take up too much room. Nevertheless, it's an option you should consider.
2. Keep Dryer Sheets In Your Car
A better solution would be to carry dryer sheets. They're more effective because they have some properties to reduce the effects of dust. More specifically, you might've heard that dryer sheets help repel it.
Are those sayings true? They're not correct. But, dryer sheets are typically anti-static. In other words, it helps prevent dust from sticking onto surfaces in your car's interior.
While it might not repel dust, it helps make cleanings a lot easier. There's a reason why people use it for many purposes. Whether it's cleaning baseboards, cabinets, or blinds, dryer sheets help with dust.
3. Vacuum The Interior Routinely
Dryer sheets and dusters help gather up the dust that accumulates inside. However, they don't get rid of every single speck of it. Most of the time, they're spreading it somewhere else.
So, it's essential to pair dustings with another form of cleaning. Routine vacuuming can also help keep your car's interior relatively dust free. Though, that doesn't mean you should use a random vacuum cleaner.
Some of them will function like a duster. So, it takes some of the debris in and spreads the rest of it all over the car. Instead, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. It's a type of filter that has the best potential to remove 99.97% of the dust.
If you want a clean surface, you need to ensure the dust layer you're cleaning isn't lingering around.
4. Purchase And Apply An Anti-Static Spray
After removing all the dust, you want to keep the surface clean as long as possible. So, we should look for a way to keep dust from settling on the surface again.
One way to do that is to eliminate the charged attraction the surface can have. As mentioned, dryer sheets can help in this regard. They can make the interior anti-static with a simple rub.
However, we're focusing on a tool that isn't for cleaning. An anti-static spray is a film-type product that you can apply to your surface. It's a tool you can use after you clean up.
Still, some products could double as a cleaner. It's up to you to decide which one you'd like to choose. If you need to remove stains and other sorts of grime, go with the anti-static cleaner. However, if your interior is still in good shape, use an anti-static spray.
Click here to see this anti-static cleaner on Amazon.
If you'd like to see an anti-static spray in action, here's a YouTube video demonstrating how to apply it:
5. Replace Your Cabin Filter Periodically
After all the cleaning, dust always seems to make its way back. So, it raises the question—where does it come from? It certainly doesn't appear from thin air.
You need to figure out the source of the dust. Once you remove it, the car's interior won't have as much of a dust problem. One source of dust could be your cabin air filter.
When's the last time you swapped the old filter for a new one? If you haven't kept up with replacements, you have a dirty air filter. So, instead of keeping the air inside clean, it's redistributing the dust.
If you're curious to know where you can find the filter, that's going to depend on the car model. The installation will also be different from vehicle to vehicle.
Some vehicles don't have a cabin air filter. In any case, here's a YouTube video demonstrating what it looks like to change one:
6. Eliminate Dust-Producing Items
Dust is a general term to describe a collection of all sorts of things. A lot of items fall under the dust category. You will find dead skin cells, pet dander, food crumbs, hair, and more.
Of course, we can't control some of the items in that list. However, we can try our best to reduce as many dust-producing objects.
So, remove any fabrics that shed, avoid eating in your car, and try to avoid having your pet ride along. A simple item like a winter jacket could be creating your dust problem. In addition, try to avoid rolling down your windows frequently. Opening the windows will only introduce more dust.
Lastly, make sure you thoroughly wash floor mats or carpets. Tap your shoes to remove any debris before getting in your car. This way, you're eliminating every possible dust source in your control. Apart from that, there's not much else you can do.
What Household Products Can You Use To Clean Inside A Car?
Dust is unattractive to look at. It makes us reach for the cleaning products right away. However, you might want to be careful with the tools you use.
Some household products will not work well with the materials inside your car. It's essential to become familiar with the tools you can use. Otherwise, dust won't be the only problem with your car's interior.
The items and products that work well are microfiber cloths, isopropyl alcohol, and soap with water. Car manufacturers like Nissan also recommend against using bleach, hydrogen peroxide, benzene, and other harsh cleaners.
In addition, you should avoid using ammonia-based cleaners on infotainment screens. They can remove the anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coatings.
How Often Should You Clean The Inside Of Your Car?
In a perfect world, we wouldn't have to do frequent cleanings. The cars would look as good as they did the first day you drove off from the dealership. However, it's nearly impossible to control dust.
So, to keep the interior looking clean, you need to clean the inside routinely. However, the question is—how often should you do this? The easy answer would be to clean the interior as soon as it looks dirty. For some, that might be months from now. Others would have to clean it more frequently.
Generally, dust the interior as frequently as you'd like. In addition, you can purchase protective coatings for your car's interior. Reapply the protectant every month.
Deep Cleanings
Apart from that, it's also good to do a deep cleaning every month. Dusting is the easy part. Removing all the hidden dirt and grime is more time-consuming. The longer you wait, the more dust you might have to deal with.
That's not to mention the odors that can develop from letting grime sit inside for too long. In any case, a monthly cleaning is a good benchmark. Adjust it to fit your situation.
Some might have to do it every two weeks. Others might be able to wait between cleanings longer. Still, the timeframe doesn't matter as much as the cleaning. This way, you can create the dust-free environment you want.
In Closing
Now you have some ideas you can consider. Are there any you'll consider trying? It can seem hopeless to keep your car's interior dust-free entirely. Yet, you'd be surprised to find it's easy to keep it to a minimum. Regardless, we hope you found the information above helpful.
Before you go, be sure to take a look at these other guides:
How To Remove Mold From Your Car