How often do you clean your car? A lot of people run their vehicle through the car wash every month or two, more often in the winter. But how often do you vacuum the inside of your car?

If you’re like most people – not very often. But you may want to rethink your ways.

While cleaning can be time-consuming and hard work, a well-maintained vehicle can not only help preserve your car’s value and car safety ratings, it may be better for your health. As your car ages, the allergens and contaminants trapped in the rugs and upholstery can build up, causing mold and other problems that you likely want to avoid.

Here are some tips for keeping your car’s interior clean:

1. Wash floor mats – Whether you have plastic or cloth floor mats, you should give these mats a deep cleaning at least once a month to remove all the grime and dirt that is building up.

2. Clean the carpets – While waiting for your floor mats to dry, take the opportunity to clean the carpet in your car. Most of the time it will only need to be vacuumed.

3. Sanitize hard surfaces – Clean all hard surfaces in your car with an all-purpose household cleaner or with anti-bacterial cleaner. These surfaces include the dashboard, the rubber door moldings, seat-belt buckles, the glove compartment and ashtray.

4. Clean the windows – Use a quality glass cleaner to wash the inside and outside of windows. If your windows are tinted, avoid cleaners with ammonia or your tint may crack or become discolored.

Keeping your car clean isn’t the only thing you should do regularly to preserve its car safety features. It is also a good idea to check your automobile safety with a mechanic on a regular basis to make sure you don’t experience a problem while driving.