April 8, 2026
Despite the cold temperatures, it can be a great time of year to get out in the fresh air for a long walk. When that winter sun comes out, it can provide some perfect conditions for a morning or afternoon spent outside. However, winter walks don’t often come without a bit of mess too – muddy tracks and trails to be exact.
What’s more frustrating is that this will usually have a direct impact on the cleanliness of your car, both inside and out. So, if you’re hoping to enjoy getting out and about but are worried about having a muddy car, follow these handy tips.
The inside of your car can easily become dirty thanks to muddy shoes, clothes and pets, once you’ve returned to your vehicle. So, when it comes to cleaning the seats, mats and even dashboard, we’ve got some helpful ways to restore everything to how it was.
Before you start, you might want to let any mud dry first on upholstery and fabric, as it can make it a little easier to remove. You should also give the mats a good shake outside the car to remove any looser bits of debris.
Once most of the mud has dried up, use a vacuum cleaner to hoover up as much as you can. By getting rid of any larger areas of loose mud, you can eliminate most of the work quite easily. Just be sure to empty the vacuum cleaner into the appropriate bin afterwards!
If any of the leftover mud has dried into the upholstery and needs a little more work to remove, use a soft brush to loosen and scrub away. You could use a specific upholstery cleaner to help remove dirt and stains.
Once you have loosened as much mud as possible, use a clean microfibre cloth to wipe away what you can. If any debris is left, you could use a multi-surface cleaner to help cut through any dirt or leftover marks.
The floor mats, depending on whether they are fabric or rubber, would also benefit from dedicated cleaning to remove any marks from muddy shoes. Utilise the vacuum cleaner and scrub with a brush to ensure any loose mud or dirt is removed effectively.
Driving up muddy tracks or visiting more rural areas in the winter can result in the exterior of your car being flecked with spray from puddles, as well as being exposed to more dirt than usual. It’s beneficial to clean your car sooner rather than later to remove any debris and dirt, as it will avoid any mud being baked onto the paintwork.
For quick and effective cleaning of the outside of your car, consider using a pressure washer. This can be an incredibly easy way to remove dirt and grime, but there are a few tips you should follow to protect the paintwork and tyres. Our guide on the do’s and don’ts of pressure washing can help!
If you’re hoping to give your car a thorough clean, Simoniz Snow Foam is a pH-balanced pre-wash that can help to loosen dirt and grime before rinsing. It produces a thick foam that clings to the vehicle’s surface, so leave for a few minutes before rinsing. It’s important that you don’t let the Snow Foam dry on the car’s surface.
Once you’ve completed your effective pre-wash, you can use a regular car shampoo to achieve that showroom shine and restore your car’s exterior back to its former glory. Our Shampoo & Wax has added carnauba wax to further protect the paintwork, providing an all-in-one solution for gently cleaning your vehicle’s exterior.
If you’re hoping for some additional tips to keep your car clean after a muddy walk, consider the following:
For more tips and advice on cleaning your car, don’t forget to check out the rest of our blog.
