Whats your best tips for interior detailing?

808_detail_nut

808_detail_nut

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I been doing exteriors for a while but started doing interiors only recently. Bought a steamer (vapamore primo), a LGM, and a Rug doctor off Craigslist and been getting pretty good results. Sometimes I wonder if I am spending too much time chasing dirt around the car, having to go over areas over and over and over again because the dirt and dust blow or fly back where I finished. Anyone got some tips that would make me more efficient so I don't waste too much time. It seems like I am.
 
For me, dirt and garbage suddenly appears everywhere after spending an hour or so vacuuming, so I just fight the urge not to turn on the shop vac again til the end.

That usually cuts about 10 minutes out lol
 
Start from the very back of the car and go towards the front. When you finish the back there should be no need to go back to it. No cross contamination that way. Its hard on dark carpet though seems its never ending
 
I also work top to bottom.

If it's just dust on dash, center console etc, a quick interior QD wipe down first.

Carpet, I only vacuum twice at the most, 1 if really dirty before carpet cleaning then once after carpet cleaning. I have many different attachments for shop vac as well. These are really helpful (I have a different set, but these are really close):
41v33D0-ZlL.jpg


I really like brush attachments and scrubber attachment for a DA. Really do a good job in a short amount of time.

Save dressing for the vary end for cleaning up any last kick up.
 
+1 on the brush attachments for the PC

AGO now sells them as singles

Agitate carpet with the Blue or White one before vacuuming. It speeds up the process significantly

Scrubbing by hand is a time killer
 
KMdef9 said:
I also work top to bottom.

If it's just dust on dash, center console etc, a quick interior QD wipe down first.

Carpet, I only vacuum twice at the most, 1 if really dirty before carpet cleaning them once after carpet cleaning. I have many different attachments for shop vac as well. These are really helpful (Ihave a different set, but these are really close):
41v33D0-ZlL.jpg


I really like brush attachments and scrubber attachment for a DA. Really do a good job in a short amount of time.

Save dressing for the vary end for cleaning up any last kick up.
Click to expand...

yeah those types of attachments are a god send for me. i've been using them for years, over a decade for sure. but i use them with an original issue black and decker vh780 (if i recall correctly) and the flexible extension that vac has that looks like an elephant trunk, haha. i use the middle five in the picture except for the straight extension. and the piece that my attachments go into is a very narrow cone. i can get every last speck of dust or dirt out with all of that. i tend not to use the brushes on gloss interior trim, esp. "piano black" or clear cluster covers - for those i use a nice MF and Opti-Clean. however, i've found that if the dust is light, you can sort-of just hover over the plastic with a small nozzle and if the vac is good, it'll pull most if not all of it up and you don't even need to touch it.
 
builthatch said:
yeah those types of attachments are a god send for me. i've been using them for years, over a decade for sure. but i use them with an original issue black and decker vh780 (if i recall correctly) and the flexible extension that vac has that looks like an elephant trunk, haha. i use the middle five in the picture except for the straight extension. and the piece that my attachments go into is a very narrow cone. i can get every last speck of dust or dirt out with all of that. i tend not to use the brushes on gloss interior trim, esp. "piano black" or clear cluster covers - for those i use a nice MF and Opti-Clean. however, i've found that if the dust is light, you can sort-of just hover over the plastic with a small nozzle and if the vac is good, it'll pull most if not all of it up and you don't even need to touch it.
Click to expand...

I just 'amazoned' it for a quick picture. HD sells the kit I got, picked up when I got the Rigid detailers kit for my shop vac. I keep alittle canvass bag with all my attachments ready to go, cleaning one area thoroughly at a time.

The brushes work well for vents and buttons, but as you said, not on gloss. The vacuum really increases with power when you put those little attachments on.


On another note to OP, I assume you have a bunch of attachments for your vacuum? Aside from the ones I pictured (possibly). That flexible crevice tool is really useful (sold alot of places):
9017933-crevice-tool.jpg
 
allenk4 said:
+1 on the brush attachments for the PC

AGO now sells them as singles

Agitate carpet with the Blue or White one before vacuuming. It speeds up the process significantly

Scrubbing by hand is a time killer
Click to expand...
Do they sell a brush attachment for the flex 3401?
 
The most important tool for interior detailing is compressed air. Hard to properly detail an interior without it.
 
allenk4 said:
This one is compatible with the 3401

Dual Action Carpet & Upholstery Brush

If you are doing more that just your own vehicle, I would pick up a HF DA for the brushes.

It will save a lot if time changing BP's and the machine can get pretty messy when using the brushes with wet cleaning products
Click to expand...
thank u for the link. i just put it in my cart.
the last time i checked i didnt think they made one for the flex
 
Awesome tips guys thanks. I need to invest in those brush attachments ASAP, thats is for sure. I seen them but I dont know why I never bought them. (im a idiot!!) I need to get that thin nozzle for my compressor so I can get in those tight spots. (Thanks for reminding me). I always space on those little things.
 
This is the best tip I can give: start using a brush rolled, belt driven hand vacuum to quickly vacuum. Then hit the unreachable areas with a shop vac. It makes vacuuming much faster.
 
expdetailing said:
This is the best tip I can give: start using a brush rolled, belt driven hand vacuum to quickly vacuum. Then hit the unreachable areas with a shop vac. It makes vacuuming much faster.
Click to expand...

Have a picture of this trick?
 
I use the Dirt Devil Classic 7 amp hand-held vac. It even comes with an attachment that converts the brush-rolled suction area to a crevic wand. I rarley use the attachment when I'm doing a thorough detail, but for quickies I use it very often.
Sorry for no picture, i'm on a tablet.
Besides quick vacuuming, it also helps to fluff-up the fibers and restore nap, and it's great to scrub the fibers after you use your favorite spray to help loosen debri and such.
 
I wanted to add, the Kirby Zip Brush is worth investigating if your serious on interiors. No, I don't work for Kirby, nor have any affiliation with them.
 
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