GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Chevrolet 🢒 2004 🢒 Malibu 🢒 Service and Appearance Care 🢒 Appearance Care 🢒 Interior Cleaning

Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather, plastic and painted surfaces with a clean, damp cloth.

Cleaning Fabric/Carpet

Your dealer has cleaners for the cleaning of fabric and carpet. They will clean normal spots and stains very well.

You can get GM-approved cleaning products from your dealer. See Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials .

If the vehicle has the Ultra Lux® suede fabric, follow the listed procedures except do not use any solvents or dry cleaning products.

Here are some cleaning tips:

    • Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
    • Clean up stains as soon as you can --  before they set.
    • Carefully scrape off any excess stain.
    • Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean area often. A soft brush may be used if stains are stubborn.
    • To avoid forming a ring on fabric after spot cleaning, clean the entire area immediately or it will set.

Most stains can be removed with club soda water. To clean, use the following instructions:

  1. For liquids: blot with a clean, soft white cloth.

    2. For solids: remove as much as possible and then vacuum or brush.

  2. Apply club soda water to a clean, soft white cloth. Do not over-saturate; the cloth should not drip water.
  3. Clean the entire area. Avoid getting the fabric too wet.
  4. Start cleaning from the seams into the stain to avoid a ring effect.
  5. Continue cleaning, using a clean area of the cloth each time it becomes soiled.
  6. When the stain is removed, blot the cleaned area with another dry clean, soft white cloth.

Using Cleaner on Fabric
  1. First, try the cleaner in an inconspicuous area to make sure the cleaner does not affect the color of the fabric.
  2. For liquids: blot the stain with a clean, soft white cloth.

    3. For solids: remove as much as possible and then vacuum or brush.

  3. Spray a small amount of the cleaner onto a clean, soft white cloth. Do not apply spray directly to the fabric.
  4. Start cleaning from the seams into the stain to avoid a ring effect.
  5. Continue cleaning, using a clean area of the cloth each time it becomes soiled.
  6. When the stain is removed, blot the cleaned area with another dry clean, soft white cloth.
  7. If the cleaner leaves a ring effect, follow up with the club soda water instructions given earlier in this section.

Special Fabric Cleaning Problems

Stains caused by such things as catsup, coffee, tea, milk, fruit, fruit juice, jelly, cheese, chocolate, vomit, urine, and blood can be removed using the club soda water instructions given earlier in this section. If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine, treat the area with a water and baking soda solution: 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml) of lukewarm water. Let dry.

Stains caused by oil and grease can be cleaned with an approved GM cleaner and a clean, white cloth. See Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials for more information.

  1. Carefully scrape off excess stain.
  2. Clean with cool water and allow to dry completely.
  3. If a stain remains, follow the cleaner instructions described earlier.

Cleaning Vinyl

Use warm water and a clean cloth.

    • Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. You may have to do this more than once.
    • Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain if you do not get them off quickly. Use a clean cloth and vinyl cleaner. See your dealer for this product.

Cleaning Leather

Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or saddle soap and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Then, let the leather dry naturally. Do not use heat to dry.

    • For stubborn stains, use a leather cleaner.
    • Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.
    • Soiled or stained leather should be cleaned immediately. If dirt is allowed to work into the finish, it can harm the leather.

Cleaning Ultra Lux Suede

Use a mild solution of lukewarm water and a neutral dish soap on a soft cloth or sponge. For the following stains, follow these instructions:

Coffee, Tea, and Milk: Blot with a clean, soft, white cloth. Then clean with mild soapy water and a clean white cloth.

Cosmetics: Clean with mild soapy water and a clean white cloth.

Jelly, Syrup, and Fruit: Remove most of the solids, then clean with warm tap water and a clean white cloth.

Oil and Grease: Sprinkle baking soda on the spot, brush, then wipe with a clean white cloth.

Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel

Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield and even make it difficult to see through the windshield under certain conditions.

Cleaning Interior Plastic Components

Use only a mild soap and water solution on a soft cloth or sponge. Commercial cleaners may affect the surface finish.

Cleaning Glass Surfaces

Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner or a liquid household glass cleaner will remove normal tobacco smoke and dust films on interior glass. See Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials .

Notice: If you use abrasive cleaners when cleaning glass surfaces on your vehicle, you could scratch the glass and/or cause damage to the integrated radio antenna and the rear window defogger. When cleaning the glass on your vehicle, use only a soft cloth and glass cleaner.