What Is Interior Only Detailing?

Last week this dude from Arnold pulls up in a work truck that looked fine on the outside. Little dirty, whatever. He walks in and says, "Man, I don’t care about the outside. I just want the inside to not smell like wet socks and beef jerky."

We laughed. But it’s real. The inside of your car is where you live. Where your kids spill stuff. Where your dog rides. Where your coffee always somehow ends up on the seat. That’s why interior only detailing is such a big deal.

We do a lot of full details here at Arch City Detail, but sometimes folks just need the inside done right. No wax, no polish, just a deep clean on everything inside.

So What Is Interior Only Detailing?

Freshly detailing black Mercedes interior.

It’s exactly what it sounds like. We go all-in on cleaning your car’s interior. We pull out dirt, crumbs, hair, smells, stains, sticky junk—you name it.

We clean:

  • Seats (cloth or leather)

  • Floors and carpets

  • Floor mats

  • Dashboard

  • Door panels

  • Center console

  • Cup holders

  • Steering wheel

  • Vents

  • Seat tracks

  • Headliner (yep, the ceiling)

  • Windows

If it’s inside the car, we clean it.

And no, we don’t just wipe things down. We shampoo, extract, scrub, steam, and sanitize.

What Do We Actually Do?

Here’s the step-by-step of our interior only detail at Arch City Detail:

1. Full Vacuum

We vacuum under the seats, in the seats, between the seats, behind the seats. You get the idea.

2. Mat Extraction

We use hot water extractors to pull gunk out of floor mats. Even the rubber ones.

3. Carpet Shampoo

Gets out salt, spills, and old stains. Smells better too.

4. Steam Cleaning

We use steam for sticky stuff, vents, cupholders, and tight spots. Kills bacteria without chemicals.

5. Leather Cleaning + Conditioning

If you got leather, we clean it and condition it so it doesn’t dry out or crack.

6. Plastic & Vinyl Detail

We scrub all those areas you touch every day. Then we add a protectant that doesn’t feel greasy.

7. Glass Cleaning

Streak-free, front to back. Yes, we get the inside of the windshield. That haze is gross.

8. Odor Removal

We use ozone and enzyme cleaners if needed. It helps after smoke, pets, or mystery funk.

9. Pet Hair Removal

We take our time with this. If your dog rides with you, we know how bad that hair sticks.

Who Needs It?

Lots of folks. Especially around here in the St. Louis area.

  • Parents driving messy kids to school in Arnold

  • Uber and Lyft drivers in St. Louis City

  • Dog lovers taking their pup to Mastodon Park

  • Construction workers with muddy boots

  • People with allergies who want dust gone

  • Folks trading in or selling their car

Even if you wash your car every week, the inside still gets nasty fast.

Why Not Just Vacuum It Yourself?

Clean Toyota image with gray seats and dash.

You can. But:

  • Home vacuums can’t reach deep spots

  • You’re not steam cleaning

  • You’re not shampooing carpets

  • Most DIY stuff just spreads dirt around

We got the tools. And we take our time.

We had a teacher from Sunset Hills bring us her car. She said, "I vacuumed last weekend, but it still smells like crayons and goldfish crackers." She wasn’t wrong. After we did the interior detail, it looked and smelled brand new.

How Long Does It Take?

Usually around 2 to 4 hours. Depends how dirty it is and what type of car you drive. SUVs and vans take longer than sedans.

Totally. Here’s why:

  • Your car smells better

  • It feels better to drive

  • Less bacteria and allergens

  • Clean seats last longer

  • It looks way nicer

Think about how much time you spend in your car. It should feel clean and not gross.

Is It Worth It?

Common Add-Ons

When people book interior only detailing, they sometimes add:

  • Interior Ceramic Protection – long lasting protection against stains and fading

  • Ozone Treatment – deep odor removal

  • Pet Hair Add-On – if it’s really bad

Man cleaning a seat with a blue pad.

What It Won’t Fix

Just so we’re honest:

  • It won’t fix rips or burns in seats

  • It won’t make old leather look brand new

  • It won’t remove every single deep stain

But it’ll look and feel way better than before.

How Often Should You Get It Done?

Depends on how you use your car.

  • Daily driver with kids or pets? Every 3–4 months

  • Commute-only car? Every 6 months

  • Showroom car? Maybe once a year

Winter and spring are big times for this. After snow, salt, and boots trash your floors. Or before summer road trips.

We do everything in-shop only at our High Ridge location. Easy to get to from Fenton, Arnold, Cedar Hill, and even South County.

Come by. Drop off. Pick up later that day. Simple.

Book online, call or text and we’ll get you on the schedule.

Ready To Book One?

314-252-8950

info@archcitydetail.com