DASHBOARD & CONSOLE
Caring for the dash and console is really pretty easy. Simply wipe them down with a damp towel every time you wash your car, and treat them with a vinyl protectant once a month. To reduce the effects of the sun's UV rays, use 303 Aerospace Protectant or Lexol Vinylex, which contain strong UV sunscreens.

The easiest way to treat the dash and console is to use a foam applicator pad. Spray your vinyl protectant on the applicator, not on the dash or console, and wipe it in thoroughly. This will prevent over spray on your glass and upholstery. Don't forget to protect the steering wheel, turn signal levers, and the shift boot. Allow the vinyl protectant to soak in for three to five minutes, then buff the dash and console dry with a clean wipe-down towel or Miracle Towel.

If you're doing a complete interior detail, you should also dust and clean out the vents and grill work. There are a variety of tools that work in vents and grills. The easiest to use is a vent brush and compressed air. If you don't have compressed air, you can use Stoner GUST. Simply brush the vents and grills while blowing with air.

If your vents are disgustingly dirty, use a cotton swab or foam swab (electronics part cleaning swabs from Radio Shack) to clean out the dirt. A good vinyl cleaner/protectant, such as Meguiar's No. 40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner & Protectant works well on a foam swab to clean and beautify vents and speaker grills.

On consoles with a lot of nooks and crannies, it's best to use an old toothbrush followed by a towel to clean and protect. This same method works well around buttons and controls on the dash.

PANELS AND JAMS
Door panels are often made of several materials, including fabric, vinyl, carpet and leather. Vinyl can be scrubbed to remove shoe scuffs. Spot removers, such as Eimann Fabrik Spot Remover and Eagle One Zap Spot Remover, easily remove black scuff marks from these areas. If the lower part of your door panel is leather, it will be treated a little differently, as discussed in the section on leather detailing.

Thoroughly clean around door handles, pulls and window cranks using a tooth brush and soapy wash water. Be sure to clean and dry the speaker grills and wells on arm rests, too. If the door panels have storage pockets, use your sponge or wash mitt to clean in these areas, as they tend to collect a lot of dirt and crud. Next, use your sponge or wash mitt and soapy water to clean all the way around the door frame and the door sill. When you're finished, dry the door completely with a clean towel.

If your door panel is leather or vinyl, be sure to treat it with a leather or vinyl protectant. Fabric door panels can be treated with a fabric protectant to reduce staining and fading.