Let's be honest: if someone opened your car door right now, what would they find? An immaculate vehicle smelling of fresh pine? Or a post-apocalyptic landscape of empty coffee cups, supermarket receipts, crumpled water bottles, biscuit crumbs and that fast food container you "were going to throw out tomorrow" three weeks ago?
If you identify with the second option, don't worry. You're not alone. Most cars in Portugal are bins on wheels and their owners don't even notice, because the dirt builds up gradually, like a frog in a pot of slowly heating water.
The good news is that cleaning the inside of your car doesn't have to be a 4-hour military operation. With 15 minutes and the right products, you can turn your bin on wheels into somewhere you're not embarrassed to give someone a lift.
The 5-Minute Rule (The Habit That Changes Everything) ⏱️
Before any deep clean, adopt this rule: every time you get out of the car, take something to the bin. A cup, a piece of paper, a bottle. Takes 5 seconds and stops the mess from building up to skip-bin levels.
Put a small bag in the pocket behind the driver's seat. When it's full, you throw it out and put another one in. Simple, cheap, effective.
The Makeup Brush Trick 💄
The dashboard air vents are a magnet for dust. And no vacuum reaches that deep. The trick? Use a makeup brush (one of those thick, soft ones) or a clean paintbrush. Push it into the vent grilles and the dust comes right out. It's so satisfying you'll want to film it for TikTok.
For the cracks between the seats and the centre console (that black hole where coins, fries and your right AirPod disappear), use a kitchen silicone spatula wrapped in a damp cloth.
Upholstery: Fabric vs. Leather 🪑
Fabric upholstery: Vacuum first (with the narrow nozzle attachment). For stains, use a spray-on upholstery cleaner (spray it on, let it sit for 5 minutes and scrub with a soft-bristle brush). For smells, sprinkle baking soda on the seat, leave it for 30 minutes and vacuum it up. The smell vanishes like magic.
Leather upholstery (real or faux): Never use abrasive products. Wipe with a damp microfibre cloth and apply a leather-specific conditioner (like a leather sofa cream). If you don't condition it, the leather dries out, cracks and ages prematurely, especially in the sun.
The Inside of the Windows (The Detail Everyone Forgets) 🪟
Have you ever noticed that greasy film on the inside of the windscreen that blinds you when the sun hits it head-on? It's a mix of off-gassing from the dashboard, hand grease and condensation. Clean it with a glass cleaner (or a water and vinegar mix) and a microfibre cloth. The visibility difference is brutal, especially driving at night.
The Hook: Come Back from Holiday and Find a Car That Smells New ✈️
If your car is already a bin on wheels in everyday life, imagine how it'll look after a holiday trip: sand on the mats, sunscreen on the seats, kids' crumbs everywhere and that vague "the holiday is over" smell.
With Multipark, you can add the full wash service (interior and exterior) to your parking booking. While you're on holiday, we take care of vacuuming, cleaning the upholstery, washing the windows inside and out, and leaving the car with that new-car smell.
When you land, instead of climbing into a dirty oven, you climb into a fresh, clean car ready for the drive home. Run your Valet Parking quote at the Multipark website and add the wash service. Your car (and your nose) will thank you!
