Detailing: How do you clean the top of the dash and other hard surfaces?

[Aquineas]

Mine seems to pick up an inordinate amount of dust. How do you guys clean that? I find if I just use a wet rag it just spreads it around without picking anything up. I would also prefer something that does't look 80s-Armor-all-oily.

 

[dcottrell6]

I use Meguiars quick interior detail cleaner followed by Aerospace 303 every few weeks.
Just make sure you wipe off the 303 and don't let it dry.
Looks good with UV protection.

 

[Aquineas]

Thank you. It makes my car look older than it is lol. One other humorous anecdote. I accidentally poked my thumb through a Styrofoam cup of Sprite that I temporarily placed on the sunroof because my hands were full. When I got home I cleaned it off but I guess I missed a couple of drops that I noticed a couple of days later. That !@**@ formed a coating that felt as hard as acrylic. Someone hire me a chemist; I think I'm onto the future of vehicle protection!

 

[CVODON]

You may want to consider one of the modern Nano-Ceramic coatings that are suitable for leather. I cleaned mine with Colourlock Mild grade cleaner then applied a coat of their Leather Shield (wipe on and then off with supplied cloth). Looks like a just installed new dash and easy to wipe down with damp, or dry, 380 - 450 grade micro fiber towel. Worked so good I did the other car as well. Since doing it though I have considered one of the CarPro or Gyeon Leather coatings. They are supposed to have amazing lifespans and are very easy to apply whereas the Colourlock is a every 6 month or so product but equally easy to apply.

 

[Bhavie]

This may be an unpopular opinion, but just a dry microfibre cloth. I use a relatively thick one (meant for drying) and it just picks up and traps the dust.

I don't know why but I feel like teflon/vinyl picks up more dust and stays less clean when you add any sort of product to it They never return to that 'factory' look.

I'm not a chemist but I don't think the material is particularly absorbent, so when you add something on top all it does is create a layer of residue that picks up more dust.

 

[CVODON]

This may be an unpopular opinion, but just a dry microfibre cloth. I use a relatively thick one (meant for drying) and it just picks up and traps the dust.

I don't know why but I feel like teflon/vinyl picks up more dust and stays less clean when you add any sort of product to it They never return to that 'factory' look.

I'm not a chemist but I don't think the material is particularly absorbent, so when you add something on top all it does is create a layer of residue that picks up more dust.

I think you are still living in the Armor All world from the last century. Try one of the newer products. They work amazing and do bond to the dash, both leather and vinyl. Not sure any surface on the interior is "Asborbent" or needs to be. I have no idea what product you are referring to that would contain teflon, which has to be bonded with a heated chemical process to metallic surfaces. I do agree a micro fiber cloth of the correct thread count will remove dust, but it will do nothing for accumulation of oxidation of plastics on the inside of the car. Same as the film that develops on the inside of the windshield, this is plastic oxidation and also accumulates on the dash, Gotta remove it with something.

 

[surprisinguy]

After I wipe my car off with a microfiber towel using my usual spray carnauba wax product I wring my towel out really well and wipe everything down that I can inside - dash etc. Has just enough wax on it to lightly clean everything up. Not really a shine, just looks new again.

 

[pulsar]

I use a California duster. A larger one on exterior to wipe off light dust on the paint and a small one on the dash. It’s gets dust and small particles off the dash just fine and it’s quick.

 

[BadTrainDriver]

Water and a microfiber rag.

 

[felixleo]

Mine seems to pick up an inordinate amount of dust. How do you guys clean that? I find if I just use a wet rag it just spreads it around without picking anything up. I would also prefer something that does't look 80s-Armor-all-oily.

For the top of the dash and other hard-to-reach interior surfaces, I usually avoid anything too harsh since it can leave a shiny residue or cause glare. A microfiber cloth slightly dampened with an interior cleaner works best for me. I also keep a soft detailing brush in the car to get into vents and seams where dust loves to collect.


One thing I’ve learned is that regular maintenance makes a huge difference. If you keep up with it weekly, the dash won’t get that sticky layer of grime. For the exterior and heavy-duty cleanup, I’ve had great results using car detailing soaps from Dirt Killer (Dirt Killer pressure washing equipment and supplies) they’re safe on paint but strong enough to cut through road film. After washing the outside properly, it feels like the inside cleaning goes quicker too.


If your dash has already built up residue, try a gentle APC (all-purpose cleaner) diluted down, but always test in a hidden spot first.

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