Quick, where’s the closest car wash? 

Whoa… what’s the rush? 

Fall is about to land on us like a pile of leaves on a lush Bermuda lawn.

We’ll take it though, since this time of year is the perfect chance to make the interior your focus when cleaning your car.

LET’S SEE WHY, THEN LIST THOSE 7 EASY INTERIOR CLEANING TIPS

For starters, the temperatures are comfier. So, you won’t have to sweat it out on a 90-degree July afternoon just to get some cracker crumbs vacuumed up.

Kids…or more likely, husbands, drop a lot on long rides, right? 

The next reason fall is a good time to clean your ride’s inside? It’s a great excuse to get outdoors! Changing leaf colors and autumn decorations in the neighborhood are a lovely view.

That’s not all. 

Experiments have shown just being around natural environments improves working memory and cognitive flexibility. Not to mention the studies showing that green views near children’s homes promote self-control behaviors. Great reason to get Junior to help vacuum the car out!

7 TRICKS FOR FALL INTERIOR CAR CLEANING

#1 Careful with those touchscreens when cleaning your car interior. A local dealership suggests only using a microfiber cloth with distilled water. Then mix in white vinegar for hard-to-remove spots.

#2 High-quality car mats have turned into big business and can be expensive to replace. A quick search shows they can range from $249 to over $1,105. One car care expert says he only uses Griots Garage 3-in-1 Wheel, Tire, & Mat Cleaner. He says top-notch mats are worth the cost to protect vehicle carpeting. 

#3 Vacuuming can be a hassle at home. Tangled extension cords are always about 2 feet too short to reach that last spot! That’s why many feel the best car wash for new cars is one with free vacuums. Vacs that reach every cracker-crumb-filled crevice and have plenty of power to get all the dirt, pet hair, and grit sucked away.

#4 Don’t do windows when cleaning your car? Help has arrived! Avoid streaky windows by not washing the car or truck in direct sunlight. Also, try distilled water versus tap water, and avoid letting glass cleaners dry before wiping the glass. Lastly, use a microfiber cloth or towel specifically for window cleaning. BTW - check those wiper blades— they may be causing outside streaks.

#5 Ahh, that new car… wait, what’s that smell? Air fresheners never last long enough, right? Smart suggestions to extend the good scents include: add essential oils to card-type fresheners, sprinkle baking soda the day before vacuuming the interior to kill odors, and use Febreze. Did you know Febreze works so well it helped a park ranger who handled skunks get more second dates? True story.

#6 Leaves are clutter too. Clutter inside your vehicle will compound if you don’t do a quick cleanout daily. And with leaves blowing around in the fall, they also wind up on the car floor. Then they get dry and dusty, one leaf breaking down into a hundred pieces to clean up. ZIPS Car Wash with our free vacs helps keep leaves and clutter from building up. Remember, check your interior daily to reduce clutter.

#7 Last tip. Pet hair is not a vehicle’s best friend. But we love our furry co-pilots. So, try these ideas for removing pet hair in your ride. Last resort is tape to pull up stubborn hair on carpet but first try rubbing across surfaces with dampened rubber gloves to grab the hair. Many cleaning pros suggest a pumice stone works wonders too. Weather matters here because low humidity makes pet hair harder to remove. Finally, always remember to brush your pet regularly as a preventative measure.

Now, how many pounds of pet hair have been cleaned up with the free vacs ZIPS Car Wash offers? 

Let’s just say those gigantic stats are really fuzzy, plus we’re adding to the count daily.