The seats in your car will inevitably become soiled at some point in time. Spills that result in stains are bound to occur at some point in time, and it doesn’t matter whether they take place on a lengthy journey to a vacation spot or on a brief one during which you drop your children off at school; they will. There is more than one way to clean a soiled car seat, so if this has happened to you and you’re curious to know how to wash a dirty car seat, you don’t always have to take your vehicle to the car wash. There are a variety of products available that can be utilized to rid your car seats of stains and clean them.
You have the choice, when it comes to washing your car seats at home, between utilizing a car seat cleaning product, a detergent that you have purchased from a shop, or utilizing one of the regular household cleaners that most individuals have lying around their homes. In this guide, we will walk you through the most effective methods for cleaning your car seats so that they not only look and smell brand new but also feel completely fresh.
The Proper Way to Clean Leather Seats
The appearance and sensation of luxury are both contributed by leather upholstery. Nevertheless, if allowed to dry out, the leather on your car seats may begin to appear cracked. Leather is a bit more expensive than other materials, so it is essential to maintain it to ensure that you get your money’s worth. Leather must be cleaned and hydrated regularly if it is to retain its suppleness and smoothness. You may overestimate the difficulty of cleaning leather car seats, but in reality, doing so is the only way to keep your most precious possession looking its best.
Equipment Needed
- A vacuum cleaner
- A collection of gentle microfiber cleaning cloths
- A brush with gentle bristles or an old toothbrush
- Containers for spraying
Always start by hoovering the seats to remove any dirt and dust; make sure to get into all of the nooks and crannies. After that, apply your cleaner, but before you do so, check to see that it does not contain ammonia or bleach; both of these substances can ruin leather seats.
Cleaning Method
In a bucket, combine 5 parts water with 1 part dish soap. Then, use the mixture to dampen a microfiber cloth, and use the cloth to wipe down the surface of your vehicle’s seats. Be careful not to drench the car seats with water because this can cause water to pool in the seams and seep into the car seat, which will cause the leather to become discolored. After cleaning the seats with one microfiber cloth, you should clean them again with another microfiber cloth and then thoroughly dry them with a clean towel.
Squirt the seats with a mixture that contains a half cup of olive oil and a quarter cup of vinegar that has been combined in a spray bottle. After waiting five minutes, wipe down the whole surface after letting the mixture sit.
Avoiding stains is the easiest and most effective method for keeping leather car seats clean. Invariably wipe down liquid spills as soon as they occur to reduce the likelihood of permanent stains. Nevertheless, stains are an inevitable part of life, and regardless of how diligently you try to protect your leather seats from them, you will eventually find that they have been stained. Using the products and techniques that are listed below, stains can be removed.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste can also be used to remove scuff marks. Apply a bit of toothpaste that does not contain gel to the stained area. Scrub the stain as gently as possible with a toothbrush until it disappears. After that, remove the toothpaste from the area by scrubbing it with a clean, moist microfiber cloth, and then wrap it up by drying it with a clean towel.
Cream of Tartar and Lemon Juice
Because it has a subtle bleaching effect on dark colors, this technique should only be utilized on lighter leather seats. Create a paste by combining lemon juice and cream of tartar in equal proportions. After you have applied it to the stained area, wait half an hour for it to take effect. To remove the paste, use a sponge that has been dampened.
Rubbing Alcohol
Blot the stain with rubbing alcohol that has been applied to a cotton bud. After the stain has been eliminated, the area should be cleaned with a solution consisting of sunlight liquid and warm water. Wipe the area down with a cloth that has been dampened with water. Keep in mind that alcohol can cause the leather to dry out, so use it with caution.
Baking Soda
This is an effective cleaner for stripping away oil and grease stains, and it can be found in most grocery stores. Baking soda can be used to remove stains from leather seats by sprinkling it over the stained area and working it in with a clean cloth that has been dampened with water. It is best to let the baking soda sit for at least a few hours, but overnight is even better. Baking soda can absorb oil and grease. After allowing the baking soda to sit and do its job on the seats for a while, clean them by removing any residue with a moist microfiber cloth and then patting them dry with a towel.
Applying a leather conditioner that contains sunscreen as soon as the leather seats have been thoroughly cleaned and dried is the best way to prevent the leather from cracking or fading in the future. The use of conditioner will impart a shine to your seats in addition to making the leather more resistant to stains in the future.
Nail Polish Remover
Soak a portion of cotton wool in nail polish remover, then use the cotton wool to blot the discolored or dirty area. Continue blotting the seat until the stain has been removed completely. After the stain has been satisfactorily eliminated, remove any remaining nail polish remover from the surface by wiping it down with a microfiber cloth that has been dipped in a solution made of warm water and soapy water.
You can make your cleaning product using vinegar and dishwashing liquid by combining 3.5 liters of hot water, one cup of vinegar, and five drops of dishwashing liquid in a mixing container. Massage the mixture into the stained area using a microfiber cloth that has been dampened with the solution. Use a brush to remove the stain from the seat, and then rinse the seat with clean water and use a clean towel to soak up the remaining moisture.
How to Properly Clean Upholstered Car Seats
Even though they are typically not as expensive as leather, cloth car seats still need to be thoroughly cleaned and kept pristine for an enjoyable driving experience. This can be accomplished by regularly vacuuming and wiping down the seats. To ensure that your cloth car seats remain in pristine condition, choose one of the following maintenance strategies:
Advice
To make the task as simple and effective as it can be, vacuum both before and after attempting the other cleaning methods below.
Baking Soda
To make your cleaning solution, combine a quarter cup of baking soda with one cup of warm water in a mixing bowl and stir until the baking soda is dissolved. After applying the solution to the affected area, you should wait anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes for it to take effect, depending on how resistant the stain is. After the allotted amount of time has passed, use a toothbrush to scrub the discolored area, and then clean it by wiping it down with a microfiber cloth that has been dampened with warm water.
Sparkling Water
To apply this solution, first, pour some sparkling water into a spray bottle, and then spray it over the stained area. This is a rather straightforward method. After that, remove the stain by scrubbing it with a toothbrush, and then clean the area with a microfiber cloth that has been dampened with warm water.
Vinegar and Sunlight Liquid
When cleaning your fabric car seats with vinegar and sunlight liquid, follow the same steps and method that were described in the previous paragraph. In addition to selling car cleaning products manufactured particularly for your car seats, auto dealers, technicians, and other shops also sell all-purpose cleaners that are appropriate for cleaning seats.
These are other options worth considering to bring back the clean appearance and pleasant odor of your vehicle. Just ensure to get the product that is designed specifically for the material that your seats are made of. It’s possible that you must clean your car seats more frequently than you realize, based on your lifestyle and the number of people in your family.