When most of us think of bringing back a souvenir from the beach, we usually go for a pretty sea-shell or a new t-shirt, but sandy floor mats aren’t what we have in mind.
But sandy shoes, towels, and feet can leave your car’s interior looking a little worse for wear. When you return from your ocean getaway, you’re faced with the task of removing sand from your car – which is never simple.
Luckily, we put together this list of helpful methods for cleaning out your car, so the sand can return to the outside of your car where it belongs.
5 Tips for Removing Sand From Your Vehicle
- Move Quickly: For best results, get to work as soon as possible. If sand is not removed immediately from the carpet of your car, it becomes almost impossible to remove. The best option is to use a car hoover and follow up with a damp microfiber cloth. If sand has gotten into the small gaps of your car’s interior, try using q-tips and other small tools to clean those hard-to-reach places.
- Just Beat It: Remove your floor mats and suspend them from a clothesline or over a railing. Take the end of a broom and hit the mats to get the loose sand to fall off. Even if you don’t remove all the sand, the sand will become loose, allowing for the sand to come out easier when vacuuming.
- Comb it Over: Take a wire bristle brush and rake it over the areas where the sand has set in. This will help release any more stubborn particles.
- Bring Out the Vacuum: Now, it’s time to whip out the trusty vacuum. Some car vacuums are not powerful enough to remove the deep-set sand in your car mat. You might want to use a more powerful vacuum, at least 2000-watt, to ensure all grains of sand are out and will not damage the car. While you vacuum, continue using your wire brush to bring out more sand. Keep going this way until all the sand is gone.
- Wipe Your Wheels: If sand manages to find itself in your wheels, this can cause trouble in the long term. Surfaces of the wheels or the trim can get scratched and dull looking because of the sand. You can use a wet sponge and wipe your wheels using a microfiber cloth as soon as possible. Follow up with protective wax on your wheels to prevent any other damage.
No one likes getting sand in their car and can be a very irritating process trying to remove it. But using these tips, you can eliminate it from your car, so the only thing left of your adventures is memories.
We hope our tips help you to leave the sand behind and finish out the rest of the summer with a clean car!