| Interior Detailing |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-205 |
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Most people think detailing your car is a tough job, but it just takes a little time, says Ask DIY Car Care Expert Trisha Hessinger. And there are plenty of ordinary household and commercial products (figure A) to make the job easier. Below, she answers five of the most commonly asked questions about detailing your car's interior: Q: What can I do to get the smells out of my car's carpet?
A: There's a real simple solution. Start by shaking loose any debris on the mats. Then sprinkle some household baking soda over the carpet. Let it sit for 15 or 20 minutes, then vacuum it up -- the odors come out with the baking soda. If that's not quite enough to get the job done, use one of the many fabric fresheners on the market.
Q: What can I do about grease stains?
A: First, gently scrape away what you can with the blade of a pocket knife, working the blade up and down on the stain and then side to side. To remove the rest of the grease, place an ordinary brown paper bag on top of it. Run a warm iron over the top of the bag to lift the grease onto the brown paper -- and out of the upholstery or carpet.
Q: Can I use regular carpet shampoo (figure B) in my car?
A: Definitely yes. But test the product on an out-of-sight patch of the carpet first, just to be on the safe side.
Q: How do I get a streak-free windshield?
A: Start with some regular old window cleaner, spraying it on the rag instead of the window. Rub the cleaner over the entire surface of the window. But don't rub it all the way off -- leave it a little damp. Then come back with a swatch of black-and-white newspaper to dry it completely, with no streaks.
Q: Do you have any advice for cleaning a dusty dashboard?
A: The kind of dust that accumulates on a dashboard is that heavy, gritty stuff, not the light, fluffy stuff. So start with the vacuum. Once you get the heavy stuff up, lift off the leftover dust with a piece of tack cloth or even the sticky side of a piece of masking tape. Finish off the job with some spray vinyl protectant that will protect the dashboard from damaging UV rays. Books: Automotive Detailing: A Complete Car Guide for Auto Enthusiasts
By Don Taylor
ISBN: 1557882886
HP Books (1998)
Penguin Putnam Inc.
375 Hudson St.
New York, NY 10014
Phone: 212-366-6000
Web site: www.penguinputnam.com Auto Detailing: The Professional Way
By James Joseph
ISBN: 0801981964
W.G. Nichols Inc. (1992)
1020 Andrew Dr.
Suite 200
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: 800-695-1214 or 610-738-9280
Fax: 610-738-9370
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