Interior vehicle protection is just as important as making sure the exterior is ship-shape. Dirt, debris, dust, mold, and bacteria can all add up quickly to cause serious damage and deterioration to your car’s seats, carpets, and electronics. Not to mention it can start to pose some health risks to you and your passengers.
Plus, isn’t it nice to get into your car without having your olfactory senses assaulted with what smells like a combination of stinky sweat socks, stale hamburgers, and a mysterious spilled smoothie that is now growing its own ecosystem...?
Check out some of these essential interior car accessories and give the inside of your ride the love and attention it deserves.
Interior Cleaning Wipes
Once you’ve removed all the free-floating trash and detritus from your car’s interior, it’s a good idea to start the cleaning process with a good wipe-down using some high-quality automotive disinfecting and cleaning wipes.
Meguiar’s Citrus-Fresh Cleaning Wipes feature a pleasing and fresh scent, offering a formula that’s effective at removing grease, grime, dirt, and dust from rubber, vinyl, cloth, plastic, and more -- making them a great choice for an overall surface wipe. If added protection is what you’re after, then check out 303 Protectant Wipes. They not only clean, but also provide a durable layer of UV protection for your vehicle interior to prevent cracking and fading. And, of course, the old standby, Armor All, also makes a reliable wipe that’s great for your dash, fabric, and carpet.
Odor Eliminators
Odor eliminators may not provide a visible layer of “protection” for your vehicle’s interior, but they certainly offer a much-needed reprieve from the offensive “hockey bag” scent you’ve been diligently cultivating. And hey, you might want to drive your date to dinner one day.
While we can’t vouch for your manners, Starbrite NosGUARD Car Bomb might be just the thing to get you that second date. It’s a fast, effective, and safe way to remove even the most stubborn odors from your car, truck, or RV — especially if you’re a smoker.
If you don’t need an atomic level of assistance, try Meguiar’s Whole Car Air Re-Fresher Odor Eliminator. It’s an aerosol spray that moves through your car’s ventilation system, permeating the entire interior to remove stale odors. Looking for something more subtle? Little Trees offers a surprisingly large variety of scents and funky designs, some of which are a fresh take on the beloved classic hanging tree.
Leather Conditioner
Just like your favorite biker jacket or comfy leather sofa, your car’s leather seats need and deserve to be regularly refreshed and conditioned for maximum lifespan. WeatherTech TechCare Leather Conditioner is a leather-specific formula that uses aloe vera to clean and protect your automotive leather. It also contains other moisturizers to make seats supple and provide a layer of much-needed UV protection.
Similarly, Mothers VLR Multi-Purpose Cleaner is a pH-balanced product that is infused with lanolin and neatsfoot oil to give the ultimate in supple conditioning and protection for your leather, vinyl, and rubber interior components. It can help clean, condition, and protect in one easy step.
Seat Covers
If the question is “Should I finally invest in some seat covers?” Then the answer is yes, these are some interior car accessories you really need to put on the shortlist. They’re an ideal solution for anyone looking to freshen up tired, damaged original seats, or those who want to keep their new seats protected and still looking new for years to come.
The creme-de-la-creme has to be Fia Synthetic Leather Seat Covers. These cleverly crafted OEM-grade leatherette seat covers look as close to OEM seats as you could want. Not only are they padded for comfort, but they’re also water-repellant and feature full UV protection. The form-fitting, multi-directional stretch fabric comes with separate headrest covers to give you a snug, clean, no-slip fit.
If you are in the market for a super durable option that comes in a variety of fun patterns and can stand up to some serious wear and tear, check out the plethora of choices offered by Covercraft. There are numerous options to fit almost any seat configuration you can imagine. As well, these seat covers are made from rugged Denier Nylon or Duck Weave polycotton that is water-repellant and stain-resistant. They’re the perfect choice for work vehicles and off-road enthusiasts.
Floor and Cargo Liners
The ultimate in interior vehicle protection has to be a set of tough and durable vehicle-specific floor liners like the ones offered by Husky Liners. Each Husky liner is molded specifically to fit your car’s floors like a rubber second skin. They feature raised lips and embossing that help keep dirt, debris, mud, snow, and spills contained. Constructed from patented thermoplastic rubberized vinyl, they’re guaranteed not to crack or break. And, as an added bonus, they’re super easy to clean.
Another top-quality choice is WeatherTech. These floor and cargo liners are digitally measured with lasers to ensure the most accurate and customized fit for your specific vehicle. Specially designed surfacing channels carry fluid and debris away from your feet to be trapped in a reservoir. Manufactured from a custom-blended TPO (thermopolyolefin), these mats are not only ultra durable, but also flexible -- even in extreme temperatures.
Steering Wheel Covers
Aside from carpets and floor mats, your steering wheel is one of the most abused interior accessories of your car. Grease, oil, dirt, bacteria, and all other manner of yuck are transferred from your hands to your steering wheel every time you drive.
A durable steering wheel cover like one from Plasticolor is a quick and easy way to protect your steering wheel from damage and deterioration, or to hide damage that’s already done without the expense of completely replacing the component. For the sports fan, you can even get your favorite team logo to adorn your steering wheel with a Fan Mat Steering Wheel Cover. Constructed from mesh and faux suede, it’s a comfortable and fun option. As an added bonus, you can also pick up a pair of matching headrest covers.
Windshield Shades
An excellent — and often overlooked — way of protecting your vehicle’s interior is to invest a few dollars in a lightweight windshield shade like those offered by Covercraft. These compact and foldable shades not only protect your car’s dash and other interior components from damaging UV rays and fading, but they also help to keep high heat and temperatures at bay on hot and sunny days.
Covercraft shades are designed to fit your specific vehicle, giving you maximum coverage. They’re also constructed from a durable and relatively thick foam that features a triple-laminate construction with a soft felt backing for added strength. They fold up easily for compact storage behind your car seat for easy access and protection against trampling feet.
Door Sill Protectors
Another often overlooked component of your car or truck’s interior that gets some serious abuse (and a limited amount of love) is your door sill. Protect your pristine paint and even your car’s carpets with a rugged entry guard, like this affordable choice from Rugged Ridge. It’s molded from tough and impact-resistant injection molded ABS plastic that features a deep tread design that is not only functional, but looks great as well. It even comes backed by a limited 5-year warranty.
For a more aggressive and flashier look, check out Legend Fleet. This all-aluminum checker-plate entry guard is custom-cut and features a formed edge for the ultimate in protection against high-traffic wear and tear. It has a limited lifetime warranty for added peace of mind.
Under-Seat and Trunk Organizers
A key aspect to interior vehicle protection is keeping it from being used and abused by gear, cargo, and equipment left to freely fly around the floor while you’re driving. Consider installing a cleverly custom-designed under-seat storage system like those designed by WeatherTech and DU-HA. Both options feature heavy-duty constructions and a design that sits below your rear truck seat to keep your items safe, secure, and hidden. You can even get them to match your vehicle’s interior color for an added chameleon effect.
TruXedo also makes an excellent line of cargo and truck bed organizers that are ideal for keeping tools and supplies contained and off the floor. They’re also made to fit perfectly under most tonneau covers. Made from heavy-duty, commercial-grade fabric, these organizers are not only weather resistant, but they also install and remove in seconds with very little effort.
Dashboard Cover
The Covercraft Dash Mat is a widely recognized, custom-fit dash cover that guards your dashboard against harmful UV damage and covers up unsightly imperfections and wear and tear. It can also help reduce windshield glare in harsh sun and keep your interior cooler or warmer, depending on the season. It’s constructed from Soft Foss Fiber carpet, which promises to provide a forgiving cover that won’t fray over time.
If you’re looking for something with a little more “pizzazz,” Coverking makes a swanky and luxurious velour dash cover that is offered in eight fashion print designs and a whopping 12 fade-resistant color options. Constructed using three layers of polyester fabric, this dash cover promises to provide a snug contour and is custom cut to fit the front or rear dash with cutouts for sensors, airbags, air vents, cup holders, and more. It’s easy to clean and quick to install with its secure hook-and-loop pads.