They say that every cloud has a silver lining - in other words, there's a bright side to even the darkest of situations.
That being the case, what's the opposite? What's the disadvantage to the bright, air-conditioning friendly, heat-reflecting, inviting interior of the 2012 Nissan Leaf electric car?
Dirt, that's what. One blogger on Nissan Leaf Drivers found this out the hard way.
As anyone who has ever owned a car with a light interior knows, they quickly accumulate grime and if you aren't careful that light shade can darken significantly. And as for transporting children, or dogs - forget it.
Aforementioned blogger, Lisa K, did her best to keep her gleaming new Nissan Leaf clean, until a pen burst in her daughter's bag one day and splattered green blobs all over the light-colored fabric.
The surprisingly effective solution? Blotting the stains with isopropyl alcohol - and the ink came right out.
That tells us two things: Firstly, that with a bit of ingenuity and fast action, the worst of in-car stains can be dealt with effectively, and second, that the Leaf's light seats are usefully dirt-resistant and robust.
What else can you do to prevent stains in your Leaf?
If you carry dogs, then some form of mat would be most effective for preventing hair and dirt from accumulating in your trunk carpet or on the seats.
Stain repellents like Scotchgard are also useful for prevention - and as we all know, prevention is better than a cure. At the very least, they make future stains easier to remove.
Regular vacuuming will also keep the interior dust and hair-free, and should the worst happen, like a coffee spillage, then mopping up the excess and treatment with upholstery cleaner should do the trick.
In extreme circumstances, it's time to call the experts - but avoid letting the stains linger for too long, unless you'd like to make them a permanent fixture of your interior...
It may take a little extra effort to keep the light interior of the Leaf clean, but it's a small price to pay for enjoying your car over the years to come.
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