Dirty Car

Updated on August 14, 2011
G.H. asks from Boise, ID
11 answers

I just vacuumed my car and it seems to help less each time I'm doing it... We have sand and other stuff embedded in the removable foot mats (which I just replaced this summer) and underneath. The seats are dirty (little kids...) and it looks pretty bad overall. How in the heck do people keep their cars clean? I've tried to use one of those carpet cleaners that can be rented at drugstores, got the upholstery attachment for it, but it was leaking all over, and I gave up on it. How do you get the embedded dirt out? I have a central vaccum system and am using the upholstery attachments that come with it, which should work better than the vacuumer at the car wash. Is it, that once it's really dirty, there's no way to get it clean?
I've heard you can have it done in a shop or carwash -- has anybody done that and is it worth it? And, how much does it cost? Are there any good places for that in the Boise area?
Any advice is greatly appreciated!

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S.G.

answers from Boise on

A dealership is best, they detail hundreds of cars and know what they're doing. Try Larry Miller Subaru on Fairview - they're great and I think they charge around $100. Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful

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S.A.

answers from New York on

Most car dealers offer an interior cleaning for around 60-100 dollars.Well worth it, especially if it smells. Call around and check prices in your area. This would make a great christmas present for someone else too.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

I pay $15.99 - for that they wash the outside and dry it, vacuum, with a high power vac, clean windows and door jams, wipe dash and fascia, make it smell nice.
I love my car for the few days b4 it gets gross again.
most places have a basic package like this

1 mom found this helpful

T.M.

answers from Modesto on

Dont eat or drink in the car. Take it to a carwash and get the full service, they'll do the best they can on the carpet but if stuff is imbedded sounds like muddy feet and spilled stuff was probably the cause. Prevention is the best method.... leave some towels laying around in the car in wet weather... and once again it is not a restaurant ;) I used to find fries under my seat and wonder why the car smelled like McDonalds inside.... I quickly ended the food in the car thing shortly afterward.
Put new floormats on your Christmas list ;)

1 mom found this helpful

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

A good detail can cost $100.
I use a shop vac. If you don't have one, you can get a decent one for $30-40 and they are so useful. First I vacuum the car. Then I mix a bucket of hot detergent water. I have a scrubbrush. I do the car in sections of scrubbing with the detergent water and then sucking up the extra moisture with the shop vac. Think of it as being like a manual shampooer! Works great and you can really get the tough spots out. I use this same method on the carpets in the house too.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Seattle on

get a full detail.. then put the rubber mats in your car.. you can purchase them at the car dealer ship.. the rubber mats are a life saver.. and carpet saver!!!

1 mom found this helpful

C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

go to any place like turtle car wash (which is what we have) where they do detailing. most also do gift cards- christmas is coming! we don't do any foods or drinks in the car, except the occasional bottle of water on longer drives, but definitely not while tooling around town. i don't even allow that many toys in the car, the louder and more rambunctious the kids are, the more distracted i am. a few books, some kid friendly cd's, that's about it.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.T.

answers from Denver on

We recently had CarToys detail our 10 yr old car. The beige carpets and floor mats looked really gray. It came back looking amazing. The carpets looked almost new. It was SO worth it. The cost was around $130.

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

Get it detailed which is costly but worth it.

Secondly, I love my leather seats because they are easier to keep clean. Same for leather sofa, etc.

Don't eat in it if you can't keep it clean or kids too messy

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Try getting your car detailed. My looks like new after being detailed. All scratches out of exterior and brand new looking seats and carpet. It takes about 6 - 8 hour at a detailing shop and cost about $180. Also, we never eat/drink in the car.

1 mom found this helpful

W.T.

answers from Detroit on

I will recommend you go for a professional detailing business, someone like DetailXperts will even come to your place to do the cleaning, and the best thing is that they use steam cleaning so no messy driveways. You should try car steam cleaning http://www.detailxperts.net/interior-exterior-steam-cleaning from a professional steam cleaning service.

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