26 Steps + 9 Tips on How to Clean Car Seats Efficiently and Easily
There’s nothing so cool like that new car feeling. But even if your vehicle is far from fresh off the lot, there’s still a lot you can do to keep it looking as good as the day you purchased it.
When it comes to the car interior cleaning, in particular, keeping the seats neat is key to keeping it in tip-top shape.
Car seats are in daily use, and it’s crucial to keep them clean. Different sorts of seats will need slightly different treatment to suit the type of fabric.
As some fabrics may need special care, you should consult the car manual to see if the manufacturer provides any cleaning or maintenance advice.
Also, make sure always to read the label on your car seat cleaning product to check it’s suitable for use on your seat fabric.
In this guide, we extensively cover the most proven methods for cleaning car seats.
5 Quick Steps on How to Clean Car Seats
Read these 5 instructions to get a clearer understanding of how to clean car seats at home in the easiest way possible.
Requirements:
- Mixing bowl;
- Two tablespoons dish soap;
- Two tablespoons washing soda;
- Two cups hot water;
- Clean towel;
- Cleaning brush;
- Linen spray (optional).
1. Begin by giving your seats a fast vacuum, or gently wipe with the dry-cleaning brush to take off any bits and also give the fabric a quick refreshing.
2. Blend together the cleaning solution to use on your seats. Add the hot water and do a quick whisk on the fabrics.
3. Lightly dip the cleaning brush in the compound, and then work over seats in a circular motion.
4. Wipe the seats with a towel and continue working until all fabrics have been cleaned. Lower the windows and allow air dry.
5. Finish by giving your vehicle another vacuuming using the hose attachment, and then apply linen spray. You’ll get a fantastic smelling car
4 DIY Tricks on How to Clean Leather Car Seats
The best way to clean car seats made from leather is to prevent stains. Wipe off spills as soon as they hit the fabrics. Even if you’re quick with the cleanup, stains will happen.
Take one of these 4 items and start cleaning.
- Baking Soda – Spread it on the stained area and rub with a damp cloth. Let it sits for a few hours or overnight. The solution will absorb the stain. Wipe away the powder with a soft cloth. Follow with a damp cloth to eliminate residue, and dry with a towel. Once your fabrics are clean, use a leather conditioner that contains sunscreen to keep them from fading and cracking;
- Nail polish remover – Immerse a cotton swab in this product and blot the stain. Once you’ve lifted the stain, clean the spot with a mild solution of liquid dish soap and warm water. In the end, wipe it with a clean, damp cloth;
- Toothpaste – Apply the non-gel paste on the stained area. Employ a toothbrush to scrub away the stain gently. Wipe the stain with a clean cloth when finished, then dry using a towel;
- Lemon juice + cream of tartar – Use this mixture on light upholstery only, as it causes bleaching effect. Blend equal parts of juice and cream of tartar into a paste. Apply to a coaly area and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Take a damp sponge to remove the paste.
5 Tips on How to Clean Cloth Car Seats with Household Products
In order to help you keep the vehicle clean and mess-free, we’ll show 5 easy-to-do tips on how to clean cloth car seats successfully.
- Club soda – Lightly spray it in the stained area and use a brush to scrub away the soil, then wipe it away with a clean towel;
- Baking soda – Mix ¼ cup of the solution with a cup of hot water, then use a toothbrush and light layer of the solution to scrub away the blemish. If the stain is tricky, let the baking soda sit for about 30 minutes;
- Vinegar mixture – Blend a cup of vinegar, a few drops of dish soap and a gallon of hot water in a bucket. Then dab the mixture into the seat and use a brush to scrub it out of the stain, use clean water to rinse the fabric off;
- Laundry detergent – If you don’t have a specific upholstery cleaner or detergent, you combine some laundry detergent with warm water and dampen the fabrics with it. Take a towel with cold water to rinse the detergent off the fabric and scrub the stain away;
- Baby wipes – Baby wipes are excellent for this purpose, and should get most stains out. You only need to wipe the stubborn stain with them, and that’s it. They don’t include abrasive chemicals, which is excellent for the environment and safe for small children and adults with allergies or sensitive skin.
How to Clean Car Upholstery – 6 Right Steps
Cleaning car upholstery, either leather or cloth-covered, isn’t a simple task. Therefore, follow these 6 steps to get your car upholstery clean as a whistle.
Items you’ll need:
- ¼ cup of baking soda;
- 1 cup of hot water;
- Dish detergent;
- ¼ cup of vinegar in a spray bottle.
Step 1 – Use a toothbrush to apply the baking soda and water mixture to stains and leave it for 30 minutes to penetrate the stains.
Step 2 – Then, use a clean, dry towel to blot the stains with the solution. Try to absorb as much liquid as possible before starting the next step in the car upholstery cleaning operation.
Step 3 – Use the vinegar mixture, water, and detergent mixture to spray the upholstery.
Step 4 – After spraying the fabrics, utilize a stiff-bristled brush to work in the mixture gently.
Step 5 – Leave the solution to sit for 15 minutes on the seats, and then use dry towels to absorb excess moisture.
Step 6 – The last phase is to air out the vehicle to get rid of any smells. You may want to leave all the vehicle doors and windows open until all the cleaning smell is gone.
6 Nifty Steps on to How to Clean Fabric Car Seats
You’ll need:
- Vacuum cleaner (with attachments);
- Car upholstery cleaner;
- Soft-bristled brush;
- Cleaning towels.
Step #1
Vacuum the fabrics to remove superficial debris and dust. Use the crevice tool attachment to take off dirt accumulating in crevices of the seats. Use the brush tool attachment to remove as much debris and dirt from the fabric as possible.
Step #2
Spray the car upholstery cleaner onto a one-foot area of the fabrics. Then, hold the cleaner, so it sprays onto the seat from an 8″ distance. Don’t saturate the seats thoroughly – a light missing is perfect.
Step #3
Let the cleaner sit on the fabric for approximately 5 minutes.
Step #4
Moisten of the cleaning towels slightly and rub it at the sprayed area to remove soiling. Keep working on the area until you get rid of stains.
Step #5
Use the soft-bristled brush to work any stubborn stains on the seats. Scrub gently to avoid damaging the fabric fibers.
Step #6
Wipe the seating area with another dry towel to remove the upholstery cleaner from the fabrics. Continue cleaning one-foot regions of the vehicle utilizing the same operation until the entire surface of the seats is clean.
How to Remove Car Seats Stains – 5 High-Speed Directions
Here’re 5 tips recommended from top car interior detailing experts for keeping your car’s interior in top-notch condition.
- Scrape or vacuum the stain
Use a vacuum cleaner or a dull scraper to detach any dried residue that you can.
- Blot the stained area
It’s a wise idea to skip rubbing or brushing a soiled area, as this can drive it further into the upholstery. Instead, blot the stain with a paper towel or rag repeatedly.
- Apply car seat stain remover
There’re a variety of solutions available for cleaning upholstery. Choose one formulated for your sort of stain and your kind of upholstery and follow the instructions on the product. Apply car stain seat remover
- Rinse the stain
After you have removed the dirt, you should rinse the seats with a small amount of clean water. It’ll eliminate the cleaner and get rid of any remaining debris.
- Dry the fabrics
Use a towel or paper towels to remove any remaining moisture from the stained area. Press on the stain and absorb as much liquid as you can. Use dry spaces of a sheet to get even more liquid out of the soiled spot.
Once, you have removed the moisture, let the fabrics to air dry.
- Rinse the stain
After you have removed the dirt, you should rinse the seats with a small amount of clean water. It’ll eliminate the cleaner and get rid of any remaining debris.
- Dry the fabrics
Use a towel or paper towels to remove any remaining moisture from the stained area. Press on the stain and absorb as much liquid as you can. Use dry spaces of a sheet to get even more liquid out of the soiled spot.
Once, you have removed the moisture, let the fabrics to air dry.
How to Deep Clean Car Seats – 4 Swift instructions
Deep cleaning will keep you and your passengers free from the hazards brought about by bacteria and germs. It also prolongs the lifespan and enhances the image of your car seats.
Apply these 5 steps for the best deep cleaning results:
- Vacuuming – Deep cleaning begins with a thorough vacuuming. It removes loose contaminants – sand, dirt, hair, fur, food scraps, etc. Vacuum all seats, including the spaces underneath each.
- Shampooing – Shampoo fabrics to remove hard-to-remove dirt and grime. It’ll also loosen up different kinds of stains – blood, oil, chocolate, etc.
- Washing car seats – Washing is also an essential part of deep cleaning. Cloth car seats are easier to wash when compared to the leather ones. Use of a high-quality product for cleaning leather car seats. Always follow package directions to escape leather damage and discoloration.
Some shampoos are specifically designed for cloth seats. Wash as per product instructions. Rinse the covers entirely and hang them to dry.
- Stain removal – Finally, you must look out for stains and treat them accordingly. It’s paramount to pre-treat the stains so that they can be easily removed when you wash them off.