The short answer
Screen first, with a dry then slightly damp microfiber and no chemicals. Then vents and seams with compressed air, upholstery with a pH-neutral cleaner, glass roof and windows, and finally the frunk and trunk seals, which are the areas most often skipped entirely.
The one rule that matters most: nothing containing ammonia or alcohol goes anywhere near the center screen, because it strips anti-glare and oleophobic coatings permanently.
The checklist
- 1Center screen: wipe with a clean dry microfiber first, then a barely damp one. No glass cleaner, no alcohol, no pressure.
- 2Vents and seams: compressed air first, then a soft detailing brush.
- 3Upholstery: pH-neutral interior cleaner on a soft brush, section by section.
- 4Door pockets, cupholders, and console bins: remove the liners, clean separately.
- 5Carpet and mats: compressed air, then vacuum, then extraction if there are stains.
- 6Glass roof: clean inside and out, and check for water spots that need decontamination.
- 7Frunk and trunk seals: clear the channels, wipe the seals, check the drains.
- 8Cameras and sensors: by hand, with a clean damp microfiber.
The screen deserves its own rules
| Do | Do not |
|---|---|
| Dry microfiber first to lift dust | Wipe a dusty screen wet |
| Barely damp cloth with plain water | Use ammonia or alcohol-based cleaners |
| Light, straight passes | Press hard or scrub circles |
| Turn the screen off first so smears show | Clean it in direct sun |
Center screen do and do not
The full interior, done right
A Interior Detail covers all of the above with steam, extraction on stained areas, and appropriate products for synthetic upholstery, from $149.
The glass roof
A full-length glass roof is a large horizontal surface that shows every water spot and every interior film. On the inside it collects the same plasticizer haze as a windshield; on the outside it collects hard-water deposits that bond in Texas sun.
Clean it inside with the two-towel method and outside with the rest of the glass, and consider a hydrophobic coating for it as well as for the windshield.
The five places people miss
- The channel where the glass roof meets the headliner trim, which collects dust and is awkward to reach.
- Under the front seats, where a minimalist floor design leaves a large open area that collects everything.
- The rear cargo well beneath the trunk floor, which usually holds a layer of grit.
- The frunk seal and drain channels, which nobody thinks of as interior but behave like it.
- The door pocket bases and the seam under the screen, both of which need a brush rather than a towel.
This is an educational guide written to help DFW drivers budget and decide with confidence. It is not a binding quote. Your price is confirmed up front before any work begins, with no deposit.