How to Clean a Rivian Interior Safely

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Identify every surface before choosing a product

Confirm the vehicle, model year and installed trim in the current owner's guide. Separate vegan-leather seating from textile inserts, finished wood, soft-touch dash material, display glass, ordinary window glass, rubber mats and third-party accessories. Rivian's care kit uses different formulas for upholstery, timber, dash and glass, which is a useful warning not to move one chemical across the whole cabin. Test any approved product in an inconspicuous area first.

Step 2: Park, power down and empty the cabin

Park in shade, set Park and remove charging cables if they obstruct a door or work area. Let hot surfaces cool. Take out loose belongings and remove mats according to the manual. Move seats only while controls are dry, then stop powered movement before cleaning beneath them. Never work cleaner into seat controls, belt buckles, speaker grilles, USB ports, vents, switches or the edges of a display.

Step 3: Vacuum before adding moisture

Use low suction and a clean soft brush to lift grit from seats, seams, carpet and accessible tracks. Hold the crevice tool just above delicate piping and perforation instead of scraping it along the surface. Brush crumbs out of seams toward the vacuum. Do not use compressed air, which can drive debris into switches, vents and seat mechanisms. Dry removal prevents sand from becoming an abrasive paste during wiping.

Step 4: Clean vegan leather in small sections

Apply Rivian-recommended upholstery cleanser to a cloth or applicator away from the vehicle. Work one bolster or cushion section with light overlapping passes and immediately lift residue with a separate damp cloth if the product directs. Do not saturate perforations, stitching or seat edges. For denim transfer, sunscreen or cosmetics, repeat the gentle approved method rather than escalating to solvent, bleach or a melamine sponge that can alter the finish.

Step 5: Treat wood as finished trim, not bare lumber

First remove dust with a dry microfiber cloth, following the grain. If the exact trim calls for Rivian's timber cleanser, put a small amount on the cloth and wipe lightly; keep liquid away from joints and adjacent electronics. Apply any timber coating only as the product guide directs. Do not use furniture polish, oil soap, wax or abrasive pad, and do not scrub a natural color or grain variation as if it were a stain.

Step 6: Wipe dashboard and controls with minimal moisture

Use a dry cloth first. For remaining soil, apply the approved dash product to a cloth, not the panel. Wipe solid areas while avoiding speaker mesh, vent interiors, seams and switch gaps. Use a nearly dry soft brush to lift dust around edges. Glossy residue can create glare and attract dust, so finish with a clean dry cloth and do not apply greasy dressing to the steering wheel, pedals or other control surfaces.

Step 7: Clean displays separately

Follow the exact Rivian screen instructions and use a dedicated clean display-safe microfiber cloth. Disable or avoid active controls while wiping. Lift grit first, then make broad light passes. Never spray the screen, and keep ordinary glass cleaner, ammonia, paper towels and abrasive erasers away from display coatings. If a mark does not change with the approved method, stop before repeated polishing creates a visible patch.

Step 8: Finish glass, mats and carpet on their own paths

Apply approved glass cleaner to a separate cloth so mist cannot reach the dash or screens. Clean rubber mats outside the vehicle with their material-approved method and dry both sides fully. Blot carpet spots from the outside inward using minimal solution; do not flood padding or seat wiring. Keep any slick protectant off mats and pedals, where residue can reduce foot grip.

Step 9: Dry, inspect and reassemble

Buff every hard surface with a clean dry cloth and leave doors open only in a secure shaded place until seams and textiles are dry. Reinstall dry mats on their correct retention points and confirm that none can interfere with a pedal. Test displays, seat controls, belts and ports only after surrounding surfaces are dry. Persistent odor, moisture inside a control, delamination or abnormal seat-belt operation requires service rather than more cleaner.