How to Detail a Car with a Steam Cleaner

Reviewed by Jason Shackelford

Last Updated: August 10, 2021 References

More and more professional car detailers are using a vapor steam cleaner to detail vehicles interiors. Steam cleaners produce dry, superheated steam to dislodge dirt, grease and stains from any surface in minutes. It is possible to steam clean seats, center consoles, dashes, cup holders, vents, engines, carpets, door jams and even leather surfaces. Steam cleaning let you detail the car entirely without having to use any chemical. While commercial-grade steam cleaners are sold to car washes, detail shops, car dealerships and car rental companies, home-grade models are available to help you deep clean your car in the most DIY fashion.

Steps

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Don't forget to vacuum the trunk. Unless your steam cleaner has an integrated vacuum, steam cleaning will remove only small debris and dirt, so it is best to vacuum thoroughly first.^{[1]
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Try it between the seats, in the cup holders, vents and central console. Wipe off excess moisture with a cloth.

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For very dirty seats, you can use the triangular brush directly on the surface and scrub with the bristles to dislodge dirt.^{[2]
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Apply steam to the windows using the window squeegee tool or by spraying steam and wiping off moisture with a clean microfiber cloth.^{[3]
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A slow forward motion will give the best results.^{[5]
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How do I remove stickers from windows?

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If steaming didn't work, apply an adhesive remover such as Goo Gone and scratch it off with a credit card after it's had a chance to set for a bit.

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How do I remove strong odor from a car rug?

Gina Saye

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Make sure the rug is dry and then sprinkle dried coffee grounds on the rug. Let it sit for 24 hours and then vacuum coffee grounds up.

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Steam cleaning is pretty good at removing unpleasant car smells. If you still have noticeable odors after such a vigorous cleaning, use an odor-removal product designed to get smells out of fabrics.

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A second vacuuming removes dirt dislodged during the cleaning process.

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You can remove heavy salt stains using the steam lance with a nylon detail brush. Gently scrub the salt rock until it dissolves entirely. Vacuum for perfect results.

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