Home Cleaning Speed-Clean Your Car Interior Checklist Have your car looking like new in just 15 minutes. Gather a few tools—a small plastic bin, garbage bags, glass cleaner, car cleaning wipes, air-conditioner treatment, a flat-head screwdriver, paper towels, and a hand vac—and get ready for your car to look fresh off the lot. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 29, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: PAPERCUT Minute 1:Toss items that shouldn't be in the car into a small bin. Throw trash into a garbage bag. Spritz the cup holders with glass cleaner and let sit.Minutes 2 and 3:Using the wipes, clean the dashboard, center console, inside door pockets, steering wheel, and gearshift. Spray air-conditioner treatment into the air vents below the windshield and let sit.Minutes 4 and 5:Clean leather seats with a few wipes. (Seats that are upholstered will get vacuumed later.)Minutes 6 and 7:Wrap a wipe around the end of a flat-head screwdriver, and run it along the buttons and switches on the dashboard. Wipe out the cup holders with paper towels.Minutes 8 through 10:Spray glass cleaner on paper towels and wipe all the windows, including the windshield, sunroof, and rear window.Minute 11:Remove the floor mats and whack them against each other to dislodge any dirt.Minutes 12 through 14:On the driveway, vacuum the floor mats with the bare hose of a hand vac for maximum power (do not attach a tool). Vacuum the seat upholstery and foot wells, shifting the front seats fully forward, then back, to hit every spot.Minute 15:Replace the mats and return the seats to their original positions. Open all the doors and let fresh air blow through. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit