1. Invest in some car mats to save time cleaning car carpet (especially on those rainy days when mud and extra dirt are wiped onto the carpet and mats). Remove the mats and give them a good shake to remove dust and dirt, then vacuum them outside the car.

2. Buy inexpensive car mats and replace them each year.

3. Give the inside of your car a quick vacuum regularly to avoid it becoming a huge job later on. And if you give the carpet a quick swipe with a stiff brush first, it will make the vacuuming job that much faster, easier and more efficient.

4. Clean off spots and stains inside your car with a foaming cleaner (available from some supermarkets and automotive outlets). Spray it directly onto the stain, leave it to work for 5 to 10 minutes, then wipe it off with a clean cloth. If stubborn stains persist, repeat the process.

5. Use a moisturising soap to clean leather car seats. Simply wipe the soap bar over a moistened cloth and then clean the leather. No need to rinse, just buff the leather with a clean cloth until it’s dry.

6. Clean the dashboard in no time using a clean, soft paintbrush. It will dislodge dust and particles in vents and all of those hard-to-get-at spots.

7. Clean the inside of car windows with window cleaner or methylated spirits, spraying the solution onto a clean cloth not the window itself, to avoid inadvertently spraying anything else.

8. Eliminate persistent tobacco smells by placing anti-tobacco granules (available from larger department stores and automotive outlets) in the ashtray. As they come into contact with hot ash they neutralise odours. Replace the granules as soon as smells become more noticeable.

9. Keep a packet of cleaning wipes in the glove box to polish plastic surfaces when you’re stuck in a traffic jam. Or use a dry microfibre cleaning cloth – they’re fast and efficient. If you use vinyl cleaner on plastic surfaces such as the dashboard, you must keep using them regularly, to avoid the plastic drying and cracking.
 

From: 10,001 Time Saving Ideas