Alright, so I finally got around to trying out a steam cleaner on my car. Been meaning to do this for ages, you know how it is. Always something else that needs doing first.

I started by prepping the car, which basically meant clearing out all the junk. Old receipts, empty water bottles, the usual stuff that accumulates. Vacuumed the carpets and seats to get rid of the loose dirt and crumbs. Gotta start with a clean slate, right?

Next, I filled up the steam cleaner with distilled water. Read somewhere that tap water can leave mineral deposits, and I didn't want to risk that. Waited for it to heat up, which took a few minutes. Then, I started with the floor mats. Used the upholstery attachment and just went over them slowly, letting the steam do its thing. You could see the dirt lifting right away, which was pretty satisfying.

Then, I moved onto the seats. They're cloth, and they've definitely seen better days. Lots of stains from spilled coffee and who-knows-what-else. The steam cleaner did a decent job, but some of the tougher stains needed a bit more elbow grease. I sprayed a little bit of upholstery cleaner on them and then went over them again with the steam cleaner. That seemed to do the trick.

The dashboard was next. Used a smaller attachment for that, and it worked really well. Got into all the nooks and crannies and cleaned off all the dust and grime. Made a big difference.

After that, I tackled the door panels. They were pretty grimy, especially around the armrests. The steam cleaner made quick work of that. Just steamed and wiped with a microfiber cloth.

The toughest part was probably the carpets. They were really dirty, especially in the driver's side footwell. I spent a lot of time going over them with the steam cleaner, and they definitely looked better afterward. But I think they could still use a good shampooing.

Finally, I went over all the windows and mirrors with the steam cleaner and a squeegee. Left them streak-free and sparkling.

Overall, I'd say the steam cleaner did a pretty good job. It definitely made a noticeable difference. The car smelled fresher, and everything looked cleaner. Was it perfect? No. Some of the tougher stains are still there. But for a quick and easy way to clean your car's interior, it's definitely worth it.

Things I learned:

• Distilled water is the way to go.
• Don't be afraid to use a little bit of upholstery cleaner on stubborn stains.
• Take your time and go over everything slowly.
• Microfiber cloths are your best friend.

Would I do it again? Definitely. It's a lot easier than scrubbing everything by hand. Plus, the steam sanitizes everything, which is a bonus.