Many car owners, even those who take great pride in the appearance of their vehicle's exterior, will often skimp when it comes to cleaning up some areas of its interior. They'll vacuum the carpet and wipe off the dash, but they'll forget the "smaller" details. Which means the job isn't quite done. One such detail is the need to clean your air vents on a regular basis. Today, we'll explain why this is important and the best detailing products to get the job done.
Dust Accumulation and Musty Odors
No one should be forced to breathe dirty air. With air being circulated around the cabin of your automobile every time the fan is running (and even when it isn't, to a lesser degree), it doesn't take long before dust accumulates inside your air vents. If left untreated, this can cause respiratory problems as some of the dust is kicked up into your air whenever you run your air conditioning or heat. This is especially worrisome for people who suffer from allergies or asthma. Plus, you may also experience odors in the vehicle due to bacteria caused by condensation.
Best Detailing Products to Clean Your Vents
The good news is that cleaning your vehicle's air vents isn't a very tough job as long as you use the best detailing products that are available to you. Start with a soft, flexible brush that is small enough to fit inside the vents with ease, such as the Wheel Woolie vent brush. The idea is that you want to use a brush that won't scratch plastic or delicate surfaces. Many people will simply wipe out the dust that's collected in the vents, but the trick to cleaning inside them thoroughly is to turn the fan on while you clean. This helps prevent dust from being pushed deeper into the vents as you wipe them out. Also, if the odor in your car is especially repugnant, spray some Lysol, similar disinfectant, or professional odor treatment from an auto parts store into the intake vent or grill and run the air conditioning for a while. This will allow the disinfectant to work through your system and eliminate the odor.
Additional Advice
Here are a few other quick tips to help clean your vehicle's vents:
- For especially tight cracks that a small brush might have difficulty cleaning out, use a cotton swap or toothpick.
- If the vents in your vehicle are removal, take them out and wash them with soap and warm water.
- Due to dust that enters the air while you clean, detail your vents beforeyou vacuum out your vehicle.
