Lifestyle

The Ultimate Guide to Dashboard and Console Maintenance

Published

1 year ago

January 23, 2025

When it comes to car care, the dashboard and console often receive less attention compared to the exterior or engine. However, maintaining these interior surfaces is crucial – not just for aesthetics but also for preserving your vehicle’s value and ensuring a comfortable driving experience. In this ultimate guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about dashboard and console maintenance, from cleaning to protecting these surfaces.

Why Dashboard and Console Maintenance Matters

Your car’s dashboard and console are constantly exposed to dust, UV rays, fingerprints, and spills. Over time, neglecting these areas can lead to:

Fading and cracking caused by sun exposure.
Build-up of dirt and grime, making your car’s interior look tired.
Unpleasant odours from trapped debris or spills.
Decreased resale value due to visible wear and tear.

With proper care, you can keep your car’s interior looking fresh and prevent long-term damage.

Step 1: Gather the Right Tools and Products

Before you begin, having the right tools is essential for effective and safe dashboard and console cleaning. Here’s what you’ll need:

Microfibre cloths – Soft and lint-free for cleaning without scratching.
Dashboard cleaner – Choose a product designed for your dashboard’s material, whether it’s vinyl, leather, or plastic.
Detailing brushes – Perfect for cleaning small crevices and vents.
Protectants – These shield surfaces from UV damage and keep them looking new.
Vacuum cleaner with attachments – For removing dust and debris from hard-to-reach areas.

For premium-quality car care products, you can explore a trusted retailer like Detail Central, which offers a wide range of solutions tailored to every car enthusiast’s needs.

Step 2: Cleaning Your Dashboard and Console

Dust First: Use a dry microfibre cloth to remove loose dust and dirt. Start from the top of the dashboard and work your way down to avoid spreading debris.
Target Crevices: Use a detailing brush to clean small areas like air vents, buttons, and edges where dust tends to accumulate.
Apply Cleaner: Spray a small amount of dashboard cleaner onto a cloth (not directly onto the surface) and wipe gently. Avoid oversaturating, as too much moisture can damage electronics.
Spot-Treat Stains: For stubborn stains, use a soft brush or sponge with a mild cleaner to lift the dirt without scratching the surface.
Vacuum: Use a vacuum with a soft-bristle attachment to clean around the gear shift, cup holders, and other hard-to-reach areas.

Step 3: Protecting Your Dashboard and Console

Once your dashboard and console are spotless, the next step is protection:

Apply Protectant: Choose a UV-resistant protectant to guard against fading and cracking. Apply it evenly using a clean cloth, and buff away any excess to prevent a greasy finish.
Use a Sunshade: A sunshade can reduce direct sunlight exposure, especially during Australia’s harsh summers.
Regular Maintenance: Dust and wipe your dashboard weekly to maintain its appearance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using Harsh Chemicals: Avoid cleaners with ammonia or alcohol, as they can dry out and damage surfaces.
Overusing Water: Excess moisture can seep into buttons or seams, causing damage.
Skipping Protectant: Neglecting to use a protectant leaves your dashboard vulnerable to UV damage.

The Importance of Professional Detailing

While regular maintenance can keep your dashboard and console in great shape, professional detailing services provide a deeper clean and long-lasting protection. Experts use specialised tools and products to ensure every crevice is spotless and safeguarded.

If you’re serious about car care, partnering with professionals or investing in high-quality products can make all the difference.

A clean and well-maintained dashboard and console enhance not only the look of your car’s interior but also your driving experience

With the right products and techniques, you can protect these surfaces from damage and maintain their showroom-like condition for years to come. Start your journey to pristine car interiors today by equipping yourself with premium car care solutions. Your car – and your passengers – will thank you!

Lifestyle

When Seasons Shift: Dr. Leeshe Grimes on Grief, Loneliness, and Finding Light Again

Published

3 days ago

February 22, 2026

Michelle Langton

Some emotional storms arrive without warning. A sudden change in weather, a holiday approaching, or even a bright sunny day can stir feelings that don’t match the world outside. For many people, the hardest seasons are not defined by temperature; they are defined by what’s happening inside, where grief and loneliness often move quietly.

This is the emotional terrain where Dr. Leeshe Grimes has spent her career doing some of her most meaningful work. As a psychotherapist, registered play therapist, retired U.S. Army combat veteran, and founder of Elevated Minds in the DMV area, she understands how deeply seasonal shifts and unresolved grief can affect people. Her upcoming books explore this very space, guiding readers through the emotional weight that can appear during different times of the year.

What sets Dr. Grimes apart is her ability to see clearly what many people overlook. Seasonal depression, for example, is usually tied to winter months. But she often sees it appear during warm, bright seasons, the times when the world seems happiest. For someone already grieving or feeling disconnected, watching others travel, celebrate, or gather can create its own kind of heaviness. Sunshine doesn’t always lift the mood; sometimes it highlights what feels missing.

The same misunderstanding surrounds grief. Society often treats it as a short-term experience with predictable phases and a clean ending. But in her practice, Dr. Grimes sees how grief keeps evolving. It doesn’t disappear on a timeline. It weaves itself into routines, memories, and milestones. People learn to carry it differently, but they rarely leave it behind completely. And that’s not failure, it’s human.

Her approach to mental health centers on truth rather than pressure. She encourages clients to acknowledge the emotions they try to hide: sadness that lingers longer than expected, moments of joy that feel out of place, and the waves of loneliness that return even when life seems stable. Instead of pushing for quick recovery, she focuses on helping people understand how emotions shift and how to care for themselves through those changes.

Much of her insight comes from her military years, where she witnessed the emotional toll of loss, transition, and constant survival. She saw how people continued functioning while carrying pain that had nowhere to go. That experience shaped her belief that healing requires space, space to feel, to speak, and to move through emotions without judgment.

In her clinical work today at Elevated Minds, she encourages people to build small, steady habits that anchor them during difficult seasons. Journaling helps them recognize patterns and name what feels heavy. Community support breaks the cycle of isolation. Therapy creates a place where emotions don’t have to be minimized or explained away. And intentional routines, daily sunlight, mindful breaks, and calm evenings help rebuild emotional balance.

Her upcoming books expand on these ideas, offering practical guidance for navigating both grief and seasonal depression. She focuses on helping readers understand that healing is not about escaping pain. It’s about learning how to live with it in a healthier way, honoring memories, acknowledging loneliness, and still allowing room for moments of light.

What makes Dr. Leeshe Grimes a compelling voice in mental health is her ability to bring language to experiences that many struggle to explain. She reminds people that emotional seasons don’t always match the weather and that there is no single path through grief. But within those shifts, she believes there is always a way forward.

The seasons will continue to change. And with the right tools, compassion, and support, people can change with them, finding steadiness, softness, and light again, one step at a time.