The Nissan-Approved Guide for Cleaning the Inside & Outside of Your Car

May 20, 2021

Coffee-stained seats? Snack-crammed crevices? Bird droppings from bumper to bumper? It sounds like your Nissan could use some spring cleaning inside and out! Freshen things up, and get your Nissan ready for window-down driving this spring with these cleaning recommendations straight from your manufacturer.

How to Clean the Outside of Your Car

First impressions matter, so keep your Nissans exterior looking fresh! Enjoy some sunshine and give your Nissan a good scrub with a solution of mild dish soap and lukewarm water (never hot, as this can crack your windows or windshield). You can use specially formulated exterior cleaning solutions (find them at your nearby Nissan dealer), but avoid any cleaning products with thinners, benzine, or acidic ingredients, as these can corrode the paint and permanently damage plastic components.

Scrub off any dirt with a wet sponge, and use a repetitive circular motion to slough off bird droppings, stuck-on bugs, or tree sap (psst, you should always scrub off those things as soon as possible to avoid discoloration of your paint!).

Use extra care on the seams, folds, and inside edges of your Nissans doors, hood, and hatches, as these areas are especially susceptible to the effects of road salt. don't forget about the wheels and tires; these can be cleaned with soap and water, too. Once you've scrubbed everything, let your vehicle air dry in the sun, or wipe off any excess moisture with a chamois cloth to prevent water spots.

Clean Your Bumpers and Radiator

If you see an area that could use a deep clean or isn't easy to reach with a cloth (like your bumper cover or fenders), a soft bristle brush can help you clear out any stubborn crevices and scrub off bugs. Sometimes, its faster and easier to replace exterior trim pieces, particularly if they've cracked or corroded after exposure to road salt.

The front of your car meets the elements head-on, and your radiator and headlights can take a real beating over time. Pop the hood and spray down the outside of your radiator using a water hose. While you're at it, hose down the undercarriage of your vehicle, too ‐ especially if you live in an area where road salt is common.

How to Clean Your Headlights

To fix your foggy headlights, grab a headlight restoration kit and block off an afternoon. With a polishing compound and a steady circular motion, cleaning headlight lenses is an easy way to improve the look of your Nissans exterior. Nothing says "fresh and clean" like a bug-free exterior and crystal-clear headlight lenses!

How to Clean the Inside of Your Car: Just Get Started!

The outside is important, but lets be honest ‐ you spend most of your time on the inside of your Nissan. When it comes to cleaning the inside of your car, you don't need fancy cleaning products. All you need is a vacuum cleaner, soft bristle brush, clean cloths, and a mild soapy solution. Before you jump into cleaning the interior of your car, check your cabin air filter and replace it if needed. You certainly don't want to pump dirty, dust-ridden air back into your clean car later on!

Depending on the current state of your Nissans interior, you may want to start with the vacuum cleaner to pick up crumbs or excessive dust in any part of the interior. Use an attachment to get deep into the gaps between seats, your seat adjustment tracks, the inside of your cup holders, and the cracks and crevices in the center console. Be sure to take your floor mats out and vacuum underneath them, too.

Clean Your Car Interior: Seats, Carpet, and Interior Trim

If you have stains on your seats, carpet, or interior trim, bust out a towel and a solution of soap and water (mild dish soap is best). You can use this solution to scrub anything in your Nissans interior (except the meter and gauge lens and any electronic components). Make sure to use a soft, non-abrasive cloth with your soapy solution to avoid scratching any surfaces.

You can clean the gauge lens with water only (no soap or glass cleaner) and use a clean, dry soft-bristle brush to knock off any grime that's built up around your stereo system or other electronic components. For windows, use a store-bought window cleaner solution and a paper towel (a cloth may leave streaks on your windows).

For stubborn stains in your carpet or floor mats, use a non acidic carpet cleaner that doesn't contain benzine, chlorine, or other harsh chemicals. If your floor mats are just too far gone, consider replacing them with plush new ones (or upgrade to all-season ones that can easily be hosed off in the future).

How to Keep Your Car Interior Clean for the Long Haul

They say prevention is the best medicine, and that's especially true when it comes to cleaning the interior of your car. Keep groceries, supplies, and other items tidy and contained with a cargo organizer, and stash a microfiber cloth in your glove compartment to wipe up spills as soon as they happen or dust off your center console on the fly. Whether you consider yourself to be messy or neat, a few simple Nissan accessories and a little organization can help keep your Nissan in tip-top shape… no matter what your habits are!

Clean Your Nissan and Enjoy Your Everyday Life

Running errands and cruising the open road is way more fun in a clean ride. Get your Nissan feeling polished inside and out, and help keep it that way with replacement parts and functional accessories from Nissan Parts.