Can alcohol be used to whiten car interiors?
2 Answers
Alcohol should not be used to clean car interiors. The specific reasons and disinfection methods are as follows: Specific reasons: Alcohol is not suitable for cleaning car interiors because it can corrode interior components and leather, and in severe cases, it may cause white spots that cannot be removed. Most disinfectants, high-concentration Dettol, and Walch are not suitable for wiping car interiors. Using car interior cleaners does not have a disinfecting effect; they only remove dirt. Disinfection methods: The most suitable method for car interior disinfection is high-temperature steam, but this method is costly. Therefore, it is recommended to use diluted hand soap for interior cleaning. Hand soap is gentle in nature, does not damage the interior, and has certain antibacterial properties, effectively preventing excessive dust accumulation in the car.
I learned my lesson the hard way when I used alcohol to clean my leather seats last time! At first, I was quite pleased with how clean they looked after wiping, but a few days later, I noticed the areas I cleaned had turned white and stiff, feeling like sandpaper. The truth is, alcohol dissolves the natural oils on the surface of the leather, causing it to dehydrate and crack. It's even worse for faux leather or plastic interiors—it can corrode the surface coating, exposing the white base material underneath, which looks like white spots. Now, I use a neutral foam cleaner for interior cleaning. I spray it on, gently scrub with a soft brush, and once the dirt softens, I wipe it away with a dry towel. This method doesn’t damage the material at all.
