Deep-clean your car in 5 SIMPLE STEPS

There’s no time like the present to spruce up your vehicle’s interior.

1 CLEAR CLUTTER

Check footwells, the central console and inside drinks holders for discarded sweet wrappers, apple cores, parking ticket receipts and other rubbish. Stop debris from building up again by hanging a car bin from one of the front seat headrests. The Collapsible Waterproof Car Travel Waste Bin (£6.99, Lakeland) has a waterproof liner to stop leaks escaping. Then invest in a couple of Backseat Organisers and a Boot Organiser (£8 and £10 respectively, both Halfords) to stow in-car essentials.

2 VACUUM UPHOLSTERY

A cordless cleaner is ideal for giving the car a really thorough vacuum. If you don’t have one, though, a handheld vacuum will help get rid of crumbs and loose dirt from awkward places inside your car. The top scorer in our tests was the Vax Gator H85-GA-P18 Handheld Vacuum (89/100; £59.99, Amazon).

3 TACKLE STAINS

If your seats are only lightly stained, try mixing 1tbsp washing-up liquid with two cups of warm water. Then, using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution. For tougher stains or to revive soiled floor mats, blot with Dr Beckmann Carpet Stain Remover (£3.59, dr-beckmann.co.uk) – it can’t be used on leather, though.

4 CLEAN SURFACES

Soak a cloth in warm water that’s had a few drops of washing-up liquid added to it, then wring out well. Use this to wipe the dashboard and the interior trim, paying particular attention to ‘high touch’ surfaces such as door handles, the steering wheel and gearstick. For a really thorough clean, follow up with a cloth sprayed with an antibacterial and antiviral cleaner.

5 POLISH WINDOWS

Use a fine microfibre cloth sprayed with a little water to clean the inside surface of windows and the windscreen for a gleaming, streak-free finish.