Tip one: Do not park in the sun. The sun has harmful UV rays that can breakdown the fibers of your vehicle's upholstery, cause it to fade, and cause real damage. So, one of the best things you can do for your car, if you can't park it in a garage, is choose a shaded place to park, like under a tree. If you do not have shade available to you, it might be wise to invest in some car shades. This will minimize the impact of the sun on your interior. A rear window shade, and windshield shade are a great place to start. You can also buy suction cup ones that go across your other windows of your car.

Tip two: Use upholstery cleaner on seats that need cleaning. Just like you can clean the upholstery in your home, you can clean the upholstery in your car. Just be sure to use it somewhat sparingly as it is never a good idea to soak the interior. However, a good cleaning on soiled seats is a great way to keep the fabric from breaking down.

Tip three: Clean your car regularly. If you want your upholstery to last you should vacuum it out as often as you wash the exterior. A good cleaning will remove dirt and debris and keep it from getting too deep in the carpet and causing it to break down. Use a high powered vacuum as it will remove even stubborn dirt. It is worth paying to use a good quality vacuum rather than a little hand held one.

Tip four: Put towels and plastic under child seats. Kids spill food, liquid, etc. in the car. So, if you want to protect your interior from getting stained, etc. you should put a piece of plastic under it and a high soak towel. This will help prevent damage and make for faster easier cleanup.

Tip five: Use Scotchgard every six months or after every cleaning. This is a upholstery protector or renewer that will make stains easier to clean, and protect your upholstery from dirt and other debris. Just be sure to clean the seats thoroughly before protecting it, and test an area first so you know that it won't discolor your seats, or cause some sort of damage.

Your car interior is where you spend your time when you are in your car, so it is worth cleaning out and scrubbing often, especially the upholstery. So, don't neglect it, if you do, your car won't last nearly as long.