Begin with the interior first and work outward. Dirt, grime, stains and spills can accumulate quickly on upholstery and carpets, which can lead to bad odors and a grimy interior if not cleaned regularly. Start by picking up any paper, large debris (bottles, food containers, etc) or personal objects in your car. If you frequently eat in your car because of a job that requires an amount of travel, or have children that carry toys and games into the car, keeping an appropriate small trash bag or box to store these items in can help making the process of tidying up the interior less of a hassle.

Next, using either an industrial vacuum at a car wash or your household vacuum, clean out dirt from carpets and upholstery. Be sure to pay special attention to the seams on seats and the carpet underneath the seats, where grime can go unseen. Go over the area a few times if needed, and then set the vacuum cleaner aside as you will need it again.

Use a baseball bat, carpet iron or other safe, blunt object to firmly hit the seats a few times (be careful not to hit them too hard and break them though!) to get out more accumulated sand, dirt and dust. Vacuum the area once again and use a safe stain remover on any spots on seating. If you have leather seats, use a mild soap and water to dab up any spots, and then protect the leather with a good leather conditioner.

Finally, use a vinyl cleaner to wipe the dashboard, armrests and steering wheel off, and wipe the rear-view mirror clean with window cleaner. You can also wash the inside windows this way.

When you move to the exterior of your car, start with the windows first. A conventional window cleaner will work just fine. Afterward, you can use a handheld power wash of your own, or use one at a self-serve car wash. Take care not to stand too close or allow the stream to be applied directly on the same spot for too long; this may damage the car. Move the wand with sweeping motions, and pay special attention around the wings and lower parts of your car where dirt is most common.

When you are ready to wax, make sure you have a soft, clean towel, a soft sponge and a high quality car wax. A good wax will protect your car for up to three months in additional to making it look great. Dab a small amount on the sponge and begin spreading the wax evenly over your car, one area at a time. After the wax has been allowed to haze for a few moments, use the clean towel to buff your car, using small circular rotations.