Interior Detailing A sound understanding of the proper technique and the correct process will produce excellent results even with a mediocre product. A quality product used without the proper surface preparation or application technique will never obtain a satisfactory result. Using the proper methodology (surface preparation, using a quality product, along with the correct application technique) will ensure an excellent result. Skill Level / Experience Some methods described may be beyond the capabilities of the average detailer or enthusiast; in this case we strongly encourage the reader to consult a professional detailer or body shop concerning the matters discussed herein. Liability The writer assumes no responsibility, expressed or implied, due to misuse or misinterpretation of the information or methods used, or for any vehicle damage or injury that may occur due to the suggestions and information offered. Product Quality and Technique Proceed with this in mind; the products you use constitute a very small factor in the equation. Methodology and technique constitute 95%; the reasoning behind the choice of quality products is to eliminate any limiting factors, thus enabling you to place emphasis on technique used. Vehicle Interior All kinds of dust, fumes, smoke and dirt builds up inside of a cars interior, much of it is brought in by the driver and passengers, but traffic fumes and air-borne dirt enters via the vehicles ventilation system. Every single interior surface is affected. Periodically it needs to be thoroughly cleaned to remove pollutants and preserve the original surfaces, ensuring the vehicles like-new condition. The surfaces involved in this cleaning are; glass, vinyl, leather, plastics, fabric, carpets and various acrylic surfaces. To remove stains the surface tension that bonds them must be released, then the stain encapsulated and held in suspension to be removed. I’m repeatedly asked which product is the best interior cleaner. There is no one-product answer; as the so-called all purpose cleaners (APC) do not remove every stain, different stains require different solvents to remove them. A thorough stain removal / cleaning process would require the following; the correct chemical cleaner, heat, agitation, and water to act as a carrier system and as a final rinse. Before cleaning a stain ascertain the material and try detergent and water before using a specific cleaner. Once fabric is clean apply a fabric protection (303™ High Tech Fabric Guard) Between these cleaners you should be able to remove 99% of stains occurring in a vehicle and around the home; Start with a 10:1 solution and decrease dilution as necessary; Stains: The first thing you should do upon discovering a stain is to act immediately. Don’t wait because heat and/or time will just cause the stain to set in deeper, which will make it much harder to remove. Before deciding upon treatment, you should first access what ‘type’ of stain it is, before a stain can be removed the surface tension that bonds it must be released, then the stain encapsulated and held in suspension to be removed. Classifying stains- a) Organic stains- these include proteins and fats, body oils, mould yeast, bacteria, bugs and carbohydrates. Most of the stains found in the vehicle interior are of an organic nature and require an alkaline type cleaner. Some organic stains (i.e. blood, vomit, urine) should be removed with an enzyme type cleaner and a disinfectant applied to the area b) Non-Organic stains- mostly found on the exterior of the vehicle, hard water scale (calcium) lime deposits, Road tar, grease and oil film, and require an acidic type cleaner. c) Petroleum soils - substances that do not contain water, nor are they miscible, these soil types include, motor oils, and crease and road tar, and require a solvent type cleaner. Stain Types- a) Water Soluble Stains- These stains can be dissolved in cool water or loosened with water based cleaner, coffee; soft drinks, cocoa and chocolate are good examples. b) Oil soluble stains- These are stains that are comprised of oily or greasy substances, which include cooking, oil from fried foods and suntan oil. c) Combination Stains- These stains contain both water based and oil-soluble properties. Cleaning these stains require treatment with a petroleum solvent followed by water based cleaning solution. d) Unidentifiable Stains- Sometimes stains cannot be identified. Treat these stains like a combination stain. Clean with a petroleum solvent followed by water based cleaner. Always select a chemical / cleaner that are biodegradable, environmentally friendly and safe to use by observing any precautions recommended so that they won’t harm you, your vehicle or the environment Specific fabric stains- a) Red Stains- Try to find out the source of the stain (Koolaid, Gatorade, Red wine, etc.) It is important to know the source as many old coffee or tea stains can look like red dye stains and many stains if treated improperly can "set" and then be a major task to remove Removing red stains is one of the toughest to remove because usually a red food dye is used and if spilled on fabric or upholstery it will dye it. Use Red Stain Remover (topoftheline.com) is a unique formulation that removes super tough red stains. Spray the solution on the stain and agitated with a brush to make sure it has penetrated the fibre. Allow it to sit a few minutes to insure the chemical "action" dissolves the dye. Place a dry towel over the area and press with a hot iron, as the heat draws the dye to the towel so it can be lifted from the fabric. The process may take a couple of applications especially if stain is old, or has been allowed to set for some time. Follow with a thorough by hand-cleaning using Woolite® Heavy Traffic Carpet Cleaner), or with a carpet extractor. Once carpet is thoroughly dry protect it from future stains (using 303 Fabric Protector) b) Blood- remove the stain as soon as possible; if it sets it will be more difficult to remove. Once the stain has been removed the area should also be treated with a disinfectant (Lysol™ Disinfectant). Take all necessary precautions when dealing with blood (latex cloves, and etc) and when disposing of blood stained items. Wipe down the area with a damp micro fibre towel and then remove blood stains using a 2:1 solution cold distilled water / Hydrogen peroxide, this will eliminate the stain and provide a disinfectant. Finally rinse the area with a damp micro fibre towel. Take all necessary precautions when dealing with bodily fluid stains (latex cloves and etc) and when disposing of soiled items. (See Vehicle Interior Detailing Section 10) c) Wax (candle or crayon)- to remove melted wax from carpeting, place an absorbent paper towel folded 4-5 times over the wax and with a hot iron run it back and forth on the towel (renewing as required) this will re-liquefy the wax and the towel will absorb it. Repeat as necessary. d) Pet stains and odours- Enzyme is specially formulated using enzyme action to eliminate odours caused by pet urine vomit to digest the stains and odours left behind by pet urine and faeces. (PETsMART) e) Bituminous Asphalt Stain Removal- a) A solvent (Stoner™ Tarminator) can also dissolve a variety of oil and petroleum based products, it's safe to use on all types of paint, plastics, synthetic fibres, carpet and upholstery. If used on vehicle paintwork re-apply a protect rant after use. Something else you can try is isopropyl alcohol (IPA) using a sponge or towels gently blot until the stain is lifted. Blot again with cool water to rinse. Dry with a thick towel. b) A dry cleaning solvent will also remove asphalt, as with the alcohol, pour onto a sponge or cloth and blot. Keep blotting until the stain is lifted and then blot with cool water until all traces of the chemical is removed; blot dry with a thick towel. Road Paint / Asphalt Remover- lay the smooth side of the wipe over the contamination to saturate the surface. Let it sit for about one minute to soften the paint. Use the textured side of a new wipe and rub vigorously. Use firm pressure and a lot of action. Particularly difficult cases may take a second application. Once you have removed the road paint, wash off the chemical with shampoo or glass cleaner. A quick spot polish should bring back the original shine. (Do not use on paint jobs less than 90 days old)The same technique can be used for old tar removal. If the first application doesn't remove it completely, apply a new wipe and repeat the process. Different cleaning methods to remove two different types of contaminants 1. Hot water and liquid soap to remove water-soluble contaminants: Dirt, Mud Road Salt 2. Wax and Grease Remover to remove solvent soluble contaminants: Grease and Oil (Stoner’s Tarminator) Road Tar ditto Tree Sap ditto Bird Droppings ditto Wax and Polishes (DuPont Prepsol) Silicone ditto With all cleaning products (especially solvents) always test a small inconspicuous area first to ensure it won't discolour, stain or etch the surface, and ensure that the pH of the product is suitable for the material After the paint surface has been subjected to a chemical cleaning its protective layer (s) have been removed and the paint surface left without protection, so it is very important that a wax or polymer protection be applied immediately. As can be seen stain removal requires some knowledge of basic chemistry. Read the product labels and manufacturers material safety data sheets (MSDS) to obtain a basic idea of contents, pH levels etc. Always select a chemical / cleaner that are biodegradable, environmentally friendly and safe to use by observing any precautions recommended so that they won’t harm you, your vehicle or the environment. (See also Vehicle Interior Detailing Solvents Before using a cleaning product a detailer needs to know the material they are working on, what they are trying to remove and wither the product chosen is compatible with the material and will not damage it. Diagnosis is the key, not guess work. With all cleaning products, always test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it won't discolour or stain the surface, and ensure that the pH of the product is suitable for the material. As can be seen stain removal requires some knowledge of basic chemistry. Read the product labels and manufacturers safety data sheets (MSDS) to obtain a basic idea of contents, pH levels etc. Always select a chemical / cleaner that are biodegradable, environmentally friendly and safe to use by observing any precautions recommended so that they won’t harm you, your vehicle or the environment Carpets- 303™ Rug / Upholstery Cleaner & Spot Remover or Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover Bac-Out - the safest and most advanced stain and odour eliminator on the market, contains live enzyme cultures that attack organic stains (food, etc) and odours until they are gone. P21S Total Auto Wash (its active ingredient is d-limonene solvent (citrus)) a safe all purpose cleaner (APC) Woolite® Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam or Hoover Deep Cleansing Carpet/Upholstery Detergent, Eimann Fabrik Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, Cabin - Iz einszett Cockpit Premium, an interior treatment developed specifically for the cockpit providing an original factory look. For use on dash, vinyl seats, door handles, trim navigation screens, stereo/head units, and clear plastic. Cleans components and prevents fading from the sun and heat that occur over time. The gentle formula is water-based and free of oils providing a flat, original showroom finish. Non-slip finish allows for application on the steering wheel and gear-shift knob Fabric seats -303™ Rug / Upholstery Cleaner & Spot Remover or 303™ Aerospace Cleaner Duragloss FC (Fabric & Carpet Cleaner, Aerosol Foam) is a blend of surfactants, which encapsulates and gently foams away soil, oil and grease from fabric and carpet surfaces. Spot cleaning can be done without leaving rings on fabric Vinyl interior trim cleaning- the interior trim consists of the dash, vents, hard plastic surfaces and vinyl trim. These surfaces all can be cleaned using a damp micro fibre towel and a 5:1 Woolite / distilled water solution and with a water-based, anti-static cleaner Iz einszett Cockpit Premium; even at high temperatures, its thermo-stable action protects the product against break-down or 1Z Cockpit Premium (inc UV protection) as a matte finish dressing. Einszett Vinyl-Rubber Care + Protectant 'Tiefenpfleger' Plastic - For all plastic surfaces (BTI Chemicals Plexus® Plastic Polish & Cleaner) including wood, as they are protected with a urethane clear coat, Blackfire One Step, Plastic Cleaner, Polish & Glaze Leather – a 6:1 solution of LM Soft Cleaner and distilled water and Leather Master Protection, as a shield against stains etc Washable surfaces - Distilled water / Woolite 10:1 or 303™ Cleaner & Spot Remover Glass surfaces - Stoner's Invisible Glass and a (Norwex) glass cleaning cloth with a super tight knit. Eimann Fabrik Clear Vision II Glass Cleaner with a micro fibre towel Headliner - Duragloss 451 Fabric & Carpet Cleaner Aerosol Foam (FC) is a blend of surfactants, which gently foam away soil, oil and grease from fabric and carpet surfaces. Spot cleaning can be done without leaving rings on fabrics, carpet and velour - Wood surfaces – Klasse or Zaino All-In-One (AIO) Ultra violet (UV) protection - for all interior surfaces- 303™ Aerospace Protectant or Optimum Protectant Plus Fabric Upholstery / Carpet Protection – 303™ High Tech Fabric Guard, 3M Scotchgard™ Fabric protector fluorocarbon chemicals (polymer latex) are mostly inert so by applying it to fabric (not for use on automotive leather upholstery, see Leather Protection) it can be protected from stains and soiling. Methodology •Vacuum the fabric thoroughly to remove all dirt and dust. •If heavily stained, use a fabric cleaner / spot remover first. •Shake the fabric protector well. •Spray high use areas first and more generously •Spray onto the fabric and allow sufficient drying time before use. Fluorocarbons are a class of molecules that possess a variety of unique and economically valuable properties. Molecules that contain multiple carbon-fluorine bonds are chemically and thermally stable, with high dielectric strengths. Fluorocarbons are lipophobic (non-absorbent) in addition to being hydrophobic/non-polar, finding applications as oil, water, and stain repellents. Ultra Violet Protection (UV) - 303™ Aerospace Protectant Use the Right Brush For the Job 1.Interiors - (Horse hair / Nylon) whether around the house or inside your automobile, have many different textures. This carpet cleaning brush is great for lifting the nap up on carpets and cloth upholstery to make for easy cleaning. 2.Leather - The Horse Hair Brush has soft and gentle bristles, easy to grip handles. Great for leather, headliners, vinyl door panels and rear deck covers: Groit’s Garage Using dry steam vapour – A system that produces a high temperature, low moisture vapour that contains only 5% to 6% water and is much less dense than air, a steam vapour system is equipped to safely produce thousands of gallons of live dry steam using only about 1.5 quarts of water per hour. It is mess free with temperatures hot enough to kill bacteria and germs, emulsify grease and oil as well as other surface contaminants. These units are best suited for light cleaning (covered leather or fabric upholstery) maintenance, and spot removal. Apply a cleaner to a sponge, work up foam and apply to the surface, then pass the steamer just above the top of the area just cleaned and lightly agitate with a micro fibre towel, then wipe dry. Steam vapour helps to emulsify the grime, while the foam encapsulates it. Steam when it cools turns to condensate (water) which helps to re-hydrate leather upholstery Steam Vapour advantages - •Can access areas that a carpet extractor cannot •Cleans between seats, consoles, dashes, cup holders, vents, door pockets, door jambs, seat tracks and more •Will not leave moisture to soak materials as the steam vapour only contain 5 - 6% water moisture •Steam-vapour dries very quickly (unlike a carpet extractor) and therefore will not cause mould or mildew to form. •A steamer will clean hard (vinyl, wheel and glass) surfaces that an extractor cannot •A steamer can be used to clean leather upholstery quickly and more efficiently than standard methods and without the use of chemicals Note- Steam can scald the skin so wear cloves, and don’t use with synthetics materials as it could cause them to melt Carpet Extractor: An extraction system process is the choice of professional detailers due to its cost effectiveness, performance efficiency and time saving over conventional methods. Extractors work by using a cleaning solution dispensed from a tank that heats the solution to 200oF+ and is sprayed at medium pressure, high volume from the machine via a cleaning wand; it is then filtered and re-circulated. Extraction also allows the ability to remove cleaning residues due to its high suction power (100-inch water gauge +). Rinsed fabrics look and smell cleaner and resist soiling better. Organic stain removal- quarter (1/4) cup Protein Stain Remover (topoftheline.com) / 1-cup 303™ Cleaner & Spot Remover / one gallon hot water let dwell for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react Other stain removal / normal cleaning- 10:1 distilled hot water/ P21S Total Auto Wash, let solution dwells for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react Note- Run a gallon of distilled white vinegar thru the extractor either weekly, or after every ten fresh fills. Vinegar contains acetic acid, an organic carboxylic that will help eliminate scale, mild mineral deposits etc. from clogging your extractor. Information resource- Automotive Detailing Inside & Out; a Knowledge Base for the Perfectionist– by Jon Miller © TOGWT ™ Ltd Copyright 2002-2008, all rights reserved Detailing Articles This is one of is one of a series of unbiased and informative, knowledge based, subject specific articles, which are dedicated to the automotive detailing enthusiast or professional detailer in search of development and further education Copyright Protection and intellectual property rights-© This work is registered with the UK Copyright Service All original material is copyright, unless otherwise state (1) it may be copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes only provided that you retain all copyright and other proprietary notices contained in the original material, (2) the information is copied in full with no changes unless prior written agreement is obtained from TOGWT, and a reference to © TOGWT ™ is included, any unauthorized use of these materials may violate copyrights and/or trademarks
