Cleaning inside of really dirty car

2,749 Views | 24 Replies | Last: 8 mo ago by Mookie
NoahAg
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10:15a, 5/22/25
Got a great deal on very used Highlander for my 16 year old. But literally every surface of it is filthy. Started wiping down with soap/water to remove the surface dust and grime. What is the best product for cleaning stained plastic and vinyl? Like the inside of the doors, center console, etc?

I plan on shampooing and steam cleaning the carpet. Will need to work on the headliner too.

The owner was a smoker so I've already ordered one of these. Hopefully it really works.

Clobomb
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Mookie
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10:22a, 5/22/25
AG
I would pony up the money for a professional detail.

That smoke smell likely won't be coming out with a few ozone/charcoal treatments.
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streetfighter2012
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10:36a, 5/22/25
AG
Replace the cabin air filter with a carbon one. Continue replacing frequently while the smell remains.
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AgGrad99
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10:40a, 5/22/25
AG
make sure you clean the ac vents the best you can, and replace the cabin air filter.

But I agree with Mookie. Spend a couple hundred and let someone who knows what they're doing clean it.

For dirt/grime in hard to clean places, these things are great:
https://www.amazon.com/PULIDIKI-Car-Cleaning-Gel-Accessories/dp/B0CRKX3D9J/ref=sr_1_6?sr=8-6
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sts7049
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10:44a, 5/22/25
AG
make your kid clean it!
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Silvy
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10:44a, 5/22/25
AG
For cleaning, you should get an all purpose cleaner like Super Clean and follow dilution instructions. For interior cleaning, Super Clean is something like 5:1.
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FIDO*98*
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10:53a, 5/22/25
AG
If you want the smoke smell out, you need to get an Ozone Generator.
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txyaloo
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In reply to FIDO*98* • 11:02a, 5/22/25
AG
FIDO*98* said:
If you want the smoke smell out, you need to get an Ozone Generator.
This. The product you bought OP isn't going to do anything but mask the smell.

I'd suggest buying a steam cleaner and a carpet/upholstery extractor. It's going to take a lot of time and some money to get the car cleaned up and less stinky

I agree with Mookie. Pay a pro to clean it. You're probably going to spend $800-1200 to have them do the dirty work. To do it right, you need to pull the seats, shampoo them and the carpets. Steam every hard surface and do something with the headliner. It's a lot of work.
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91AggieLawyer
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11:10a, 5/22/25
AG
Go to O'Reillys and order (it will take a day or two) Superior Products Does it All AND Heavy Duty Enzyme Cleaner (2 different products). You'll spend about $50 for the gallon bottles of each but it will be well worth it. Use the former on doors, etc. and the latter on carpet and fabric. I'd also rent a carpet extractor from Home Depot.

Good luck getting that smell out.
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NoahAg
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In reply to sts7049 • 11:32a, 5/22/25
sts7049 said:
make your kid clean it!
Oh, we're definitely cleaning together. I'm partial to DIY and like getting my hands dirty. While I may not get everything that a pro will, we can get it clean enough. It's a 16 year old vehicle with plenty of bumps and bruises so I'm not going for showroom quality. Realistically, we'll keep it 2-3 years.

I do have a steamer and shampooer, so I think that'll be the next step. The headliner seams like the trickiest challenge. Have to scrub it w/out damaging.

Quote:
I agree with Mookie. Pay a pro to clean it. You're probably going to spend $800-1200 to have them do the dirty work. To do it right, you need to pull the seats, shampoo them and the carpets. Steam every hard surface and do something with the headliner. It's a lot of work.
Considering I bought it for $2K I don't think I can drop $1,000 for cleaning, haha.
I do need to replace the back tires, and at some point the windshield. The powertrain seems strong. It has 220K miles. Who knows? Maybe I'll get it to 300K...

Thanks all for the product suggestions. I'll try to post some before/after pics.
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Milwaukees Best Light
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11:42a, 5/22/25
AG
If we have ozone generators, then give me back my spray cans! Just generate some ozone when the hole appears.
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P.H. Dexippus
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11:46a, 5/22/25
AG
Ozone machines are how hotels clean rooms after a smoker breaks the no smoking policy. They work.
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NoahAg
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In reply to FIDO*98* • 11:46a, 5/22/25
FIDO*98* said:
If you want the smoke smell out, you need to get an Ozone Generator.
Ah, I had seen that too. May as well pick one up.
Anyone know if these things work? Plug in air ionizer. I was thinking about getting one for my wife's and my car.
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mefoghorn
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12:07p, 5/22/25
AG
You need to have a professional detail it with shampooing carpets and seats. Then see what you got in terms of smell. I've had real good luck with a product called Ozium as a deodorizer. If you're in Dallas, I've got the right person for this job.
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txyaloo
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In reply to NoahAg • 12:24p, 5/22/25
AG
NoahAg said:
FIDO*98* said:
If you want the smoke smell out, you need to get an Ozone Generator.
Ah, I had seen that too. May as well pick one up.
Anyone know if these things work? Plug in air ionizer. I was thinking about getting one for my wife's and my car.
Those don't work. The $50 ozone machines work well.
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drumboy
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12:26p, 5/22/25
AG
My daughter bought a Corolla a while that my dad had been driving for 10 years and he lives in the country down a long dirt road. And he apparently eats fast food while driving daily spilling fries & coke frequently. But doesn't smoke.

He vacuumed & armor-alled what he could but in between & under the seats was pretty bad, I removed the seats to clean well under them & get to all areas and she did a few deep cleanings and eventually it looked much cleaner. I'd recommend removing the seats and shampooing everything after vacuuming. I also change the door stop things cause those were worn out so the doors wouldn't swing so freely.
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agracer
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1:45p, 5/22/25
AG
Chris Fix Youtube

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NoahAg
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In reply to agracer • 5:12p, 5/22/25
Yeah I've watched a couple of his videos. He's good.
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lb3
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In reply to FIDO*98* • 8:21p, 5/22/25
AG
FIDO*98* said:
If you want the smoke smell out, you need to get an Ozone Generator.
I rented an ozone generator for my last car and ran it for about 3 days. I feel like it worked well but wife was still complaining of the smoke smell 3 years later.
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txyaloo
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In reply to NoahAg • 10:34p, 5/22/25
AG
NoahAg said:
Yeah I've watched a couple of his videos. He's good.
ChrisFix is hard for me to watch these days.

Detail Geek makes good videos. He's done some smoky disaster cars that might give you a starting point.

https://www.youtube.com/@TheDetailGeek

Ammo NYC's older videos were good to learn on too

https://www.youtube.com/@AMMO-NYC

I wouldn't buy any product an influencer is selling. A lot of us have products we like to use that are probably less expensive/more effective.
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tamuags08
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In reply to txyaloo • 5:45a, 5/23/25
AG
txyaloo said:
NoahAg said:
Yeah I've watched a couple of his videos. He's good.
ChrisFix is hard for me to watch these days.
.


Any reason why? I've used his videos a number of times to learn how to do stuff.
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JSKolache
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10:19p, 5/23/25
AG
Change all fluids stat. If the interior is ragged out, so is the motor.
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mefoghorn
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In reply to JSKolache • 10:57p, 5/23/25
AG
Great point and I have seen the same. Expect to find a lot of deferred maintenance. Filters, fluids, belts, ball joints, spark plugs etc.
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NoahAg
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In reply to JSKolache • 12:45a, 5/24/25
Yep, good call. Spent a while scrubbing today. A lot of the headliner stains are coming out. I'll attack with the steamer tomorrow.
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Mookie
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6:12p, 5/24/25
AG
Be careful with scrubbing. You don't want to break down the glue on the headliner. It will be disastrous.
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