Heading
Close X
Menu
By Tia Harrison-North
Drivers are being warned that car interior cleaning tricks shared across platforms like TikTok and Reddit could cause lasting damage that may only become clear weeks or months later.
From rubbing Vaseline or olive oil onto dashboards to cleaning seats with laundry pods, drivers are regularly sharing cheap ways to clean and restore car interiors online.
Marshall Motor Group has teamed up with cleaning specialist Iryna Balaban, co-founder of Sunlight Cleaning Inc, to look at five car cleaning hacks being shared on social media and explain what drivers should know before trying them.
Balaban warned drivers to be careful with products not designed for car interiors, including bleach, concentrated washing powders and heavy-duty disinfectants.
She said: “The biggest mistake people make is thinking that because something cleans quickly, it must be safe.
“The internet shows you what works straight away, but rarely what happens weeks or months later.
“Once a surface has dried or been exposed to heat and sunlight, scratches, stains or changes to the finish can become much more obvious.”
So, whether you're cleaning a brand-new vehicle or used car - make sure you're not falling victim to questionable viral hacks.
One video on TikTok showing Vaseline being rubbed into a dashboard has been watched more than 28 million times, while olive oil has also been suggested for cleaning dashboards and repelling dust.
But according to Balaban, the effect is short-lived and can cause other problems.
She said: “Vaseline might make a dashboard look darker and shinier at first, but the effect won’t last.
“It leaves a greasy film that attracts dust and can also cause glare on the windscreen. Repeated use could also affect some plastics or vinyls.
“Residue on a steering wheel, gear stick or pedals can make them slippery, so there’s also a safety risk.”
Ben Welham, motoring expert at Marshall Motor Group, added: “Olive oil has also been suggested as a way to add shine to dashboards and plastic trim, but like Vaseline, it could leave an oily residue that attracts dust or causes glare.
“These hacks can be tempting because they’re cheap and the results can look good at first, but drivers should be careful about using products that haven’t been designed for car interiors.”
Instead, dashboards and door trims can usually be cleaned with a clean, damp cloth lightly dampened with water, which is cheaper and easier than the hacks.
Magic Erasers are also often recommended online for removing stubborn marks from plastics, leather and other interior surfaces.
In February, one driver posted pictures after using a Magic Eraser on their plastic glovebox, saying the area looked fine right after cleaning but showed visible marks the next day.
However, Balaban warned that Magic Erasers are abrasive, meaning they can remove more than just dirt.
She said: “Magic Erasers can dull surfaces, change the texture and strip protective coatings from leather and soft-touch plastics.
“You might remove the mark, but you can also damage the finish at the same time.”
Leather can be left with shiny patches or discolouration if its protective layer is removed, while glossy black trim can become scratched or dull.
Instead of scrubbing at stubborn marks, Balaban recommends removing loose dirt first with a soft detailing brush, before using a cleaner designed for that surface.
Another hack seen online involves dissolving a laundry detergent pod in water and using it to clean fabric car seats, but Balaban warned that laundry products can be difficult to remove properly once they soak into the fabric.
She said: “Laundry detergent is designed to penetrate clothing before going through a full wash and rinse cycle.
“That’s much harder to replicate with a car seat, so detergent can be left behind in the fabric, where it can attract dirt or leave visible residue.”
Instead, Balaban recommends using a mild upholstery cleaner sparingly before gently brushing and blotting the area. This will also be most cost-effective at around 50p to £1 per clean.
In July, a BMW owner asked Reddit for help after marks appeared on their infotainment screen while cleaning the car. After trying alcohol, display cleaner, water and soap, the marks remained, with users suggesting the screen’s coating may have been damaged.
Balaban warned that drivers should check the manufacturer’s guidance before using antibacterial sprays or household glass cleaners to remove fingerprints and marks from infotainment screens.
She said: “I’d be careful with heavy-duty disinfectants unless the manufacturer specifically says they’re safe for that surface.
“In many cases, a touchscreen can be cleaned with a clean, dry microfibre cloth or one that has been very lightly dampened.”
In one recent Reddit post, a driver asked how to fix scratches on their dashboard, with some userssuggesting toothpaste as one possible way to buff them out.
But Balaban warned that the abrasive quality of toothpaste can make the problem worse.
She said: “I’d avoid using toothpaste or other abrasive household products on interior plastics or screens.Although you might get rid of the mark you were trying to remove, you can easily damage the surface underneath.
“Instead, drivers use something designed for the material to avoid making a mess of their interior.”
Welham added: “Car interiors use lots of different materials, so there isn’t one cleaning trick that will work safely everywhere. And, in some cases, there isn’t a safe way to rid your interior of scratches and scuffs of everyday life.
“Before copying a hack online, check the car manufacturer’s guidance and start with the gentlest option and do a small test patch first. If you’re not sure a product is safe for a surface, don’t use it.”
By Tia Harrison-North
Drivers are being warned that car interior cleaning tricks shared across platforms like TikTok and Reddit could cause lasting damage that may only become clear weeks or months later.
From rubbing Vaseline or olive oil onto dashboards to cleaning seats with laundry pods, drivers are regularly sharing cheap ways to clean and restore car interiors online.
Marshall Motor Group has teamed up with cleaning specialist Iryna Balaban, co-founder of Sunlight Cleaning Inc, to look at five car cleaning hacks being shared on social media and explain what drivers should know before trying them.
Balaban warned drivers to be careful with products not designed for car interiors, including bleach, concentrated washing powders and heavy-duty disinfectants.
She said: “The biggest mistake people make is thinking that because something cleans quickly, it must be safe.
“The internet shows you what works straight away, but rarely what happens weeks or months later.
“Once a surface has dried or been exposed to heat and sunlight, scratches, stains or changes to the finish can become much more obvious.”
So, whether you're cleaning a brand-new vehicle or used car - make sure you're not falling victim to questionable viral hacks.
One video on TikTok showing Vaseline being rubbed into a dashboard has been watched more than 28 million times, while olive oil has also been suggested for cleaning dashboards and repelling dust.
But according to Balaban, the effect is short-lived and can cause other problems.
She said: “Vaseline might make a dashboard look darker and shinier at first, but the effect won’t last.
“It leaves a greasy film that attracts dust and can also cause glare on the windscreen. Repeated use could also affect some plastics or vinyls.
“Residue on a steering wheel, gear stick or pedals can make them slippery, so there’s also a safety risk.”
Ben Welham, motoring expert at Marshall Motor Group, added: “Olive oil has also been suggested as a way to add shine to dashboards and plastic trim, but like Vaseline, it could leave an oily residue that attracts dust or causes glare.
“These hacks can be tempting because they’re cheap and the results can look good at first, but drivers should be careful about using products that haven’t been designed for car interiors.”
Instead, dashboards and door trims can usually be cleaned with a clean, damp cloth lightly dampened with water, which is cheaper and easier than the hacks.
Magic Erasers are also often recommended online for removing stubborn marks from plastics, leather and other interior surfaces.
In February, one driver posted pictures after using a Magic Eraser on their plastic glovebox, saying the area looked fine right after cleaning but showed visible marks the next day.
However, Balaban warned that Magic Erasers are abrasive, meaning they can remove more than just dirt.
She said: “Magic Erasers can dull surfaces, change the texture and strip protective coatings from leather and soft-touch plastics.
“You might remove the mark, but you can also damage the finish at the same time.”
Leather can be left with shiny patches or discolouration if its protective layer is removed, while glossy black trim can become scratched or dull.
Instead of scrubbing at stubborn marks, Balaban recommends removing loose dirt first with a soft detailing brush, before using a cleaner designed for that surface.
Another hack seen online involves dissolving a laundry detergent pod in water and using it to clean fabric car seats, but Balaban warned that laundry products can be difficult to remove properly once they soak into the fabric.
She said: “Laundry detergent is designed to penetrate clothing before going through a full wash and rinse cycle.
“That’s much harder to replicate with a car seat, so detergent can be left behind in the fabric, where it can attract dirt or leave visible residue.”
Instead, Balaban recommends using a mild upholstery cleaner sparingly before gently brushing and blotting the area. This will also be most cost-effective at around 50p to £1 per clean.
In July, a BMW owner asked Reddit for help after marks appeared on their infotainment screen while cleaning the car. After trying alcohol, display cleaner, water and soap, the marks remained, with users suggesting the screen’s coating may have been damaged.
Balaban warned that drivers should check the manufacturer’s guidance before using antibacterial sprays or household glass cleaners to remove fingerprints and marks from infotainment screens.
She said: “I’d be careful with heavy-duty disinfectants unless the manufacturer specifically says they’re safe for that surface.
“In many cases, a touchscreen can be cleaned with a clean, dry microfibre cloth or one that has been very lightly dampened.”
In one recent Reddit post, a driver asked how to fix scratches on their dashboard, with some userssuggesting toothpaste as one possible way to buff them out.
But Balaban warned that the abrasive quality of toothpaste can make the problem worse.
She said: “I’d avoid using toothpaste or other abrasive household products on interior plastics or screens.Although you might get rid of the mark you were trying to remove, you can easily damage the surface underneath.
“Instead, drivers use something designed for the material to avoid making a mess of their interior.”
Welham added: “Car interiors use lots of different materials, so there isn’t one cleaning trick that will work safely everywhere. And, in some cases, there isn’t a safe way to rid your interior of scratches and scuffs of everyday life.
“Before copying a hack online, check the car manufacturer’s guidance and start with the gentlest option and do a small test patch first. If you’re not sure a product is safe for a surface, don’t use it.”
