Interior Tools & Equipment

This is the hardware of an interior clean: Maxshine horsehair brushes and scrub sponges, our own pet hair remover blocks, Kiam wet and dry vacuums, and the Aquarius carpet cleaner and steamer.

How to choose

• Brushes: Interior Detailing Brushes for vents, seams and switches, soft Leather Brushes for leather seats, and stiffer Carpet & Fabric Brushes for carpet, mats and seat fabric.
• Hand tools: Pet Hair Removal blocks and tools drag embedded hair out of carpet, Scrub Pads & Cleaning Blocks lift scuffs and grime from hard plastics, and Interior Microfibres wipe the cleaner off.
• Machines: Vacuums and Hoovers, mostly Kiam wet and dry models, and Extractors & Steam Cleaners for deep cleans: an extractor sprays cleaner into carpet and seats and sucks it back out, a steamer loosens grime with heat.

Good to know

• Check the voltage before buying a vacuum: the 110V Kiam SiteVac models need a site transformer, so for a household socket choose a 240V model.
• The Magic Eraser is lightly abrasive: keep it off leather and gloss or coated trim.

What tools do I need to clean a car interior?

A vacuum, a soft detailing brush for vents, seams and switches, a stiffer brush for carpets and mats, and two or three interior microfibre cloths. Add a pet hair tool if you carry a dog, and an extractor for stains a vacuum cannot lift. Our home detailing kit guide lists the rest.

Related: Interior, Interior Cleaning & Finishing, Fabric, Carpet & Upholstery, Leather, Plastic & Trim. Popular brands here: Maxshine, Kiam Power Products, The Drivers HQ, Better Detailing.