Episode 4 – How to clean your car’s dashboard
There’s nothing worse than sitting in a car coated with a film of dust and grime, making it sticky and dull. Dirty interiors are unappealing, and they are a haven for the bugs and germs that make us sick. If you are a car freak like me, you also like to keep your car in tip top condition – inside and out!
With the dashboard being the focal point of your car interior, you need to make sure it is clean at all times, as much as it is possible.
But how do you get rid of the dirt and dust tucked into tiny nooks and crannies? How do you stop your dash from fading and cracking under the harsh sun?
Add mild soap (de-greasing soap) into a bowl filled with water, dampen your microfibre cloth with this water, and run the cloth across your dash and centre console. If you want to leave your dash with a fresh smell, add essential oil (Lavender) into the water mixture.
This action will lift the heavier particles of dust and grime off the dash.
Make sure you wring out the cloth so that it is not dripping with water. Rinse and repeat this process until your dash is clean.
A lot of the dust and grime that enters your car gets stuck in tight nooks and crannies and your microfibre cloth will not be able to find its way into the tight corners.
So, take a vent and dash brush (or a soft bottle cleaner) and run it over the dashboard knobs, hand brake, vents, radio, gear shift, and any other crevices and spaces where the dust and grime sit.
Use a gentle touch when running the bristle over these interior parts to avoid scratching the delicate bits.
Once your dash has been fully cleaned, you can add a little bit of shine to give your car a brand new appearance.
This step is straightforward: spray or pour a small amount of polish onto a clean microfibre cloth, and then rub this cloth over the super-clean dash. You can also repeat this process over your centre console.
There are numerous dashboard polish options with differing degrees of shine- semi matte to gloss. You can therefore pick the polish which suits your preference perfectly.
A good tip is to put a small amount of olive oil onto a microfibre cloth, then rub the cloth over your dash. When you’re done, remove any excess olive oil from your dash with a dry cloth.
If you are worried about the effect of olive oil on your dashboard, test the oil on a small area of your dash. If no discoloration occurs, you can go ahead and rub olive oil over your whole dash.
Always keep a microfibre cloth in your cubbyhole so you can swipe at any grime or dust that dares to re-decorate your dashboard.