Today, society is more concerned about cleanliness than ever before, and your car's interior is made up of many surfaces that are touched regularly. The seats in your car, whether covered in leather or fabric, have a hard life. Even the most careful owner leaves crumbs, dirt and stains from spilled drinks, food and muddy clothing. This not only looks unsightly, but can also cause permanent damage if you're not careful. Your car will look better, smell fresher, and the condition and color of the upholstery will be protected when you clean your car seats!
Cleaning car seats – tips and steps
Start by vacuuming the leather seats and car upholstery
Thoroughly vacuuming the car seats as the first cleaning step makes the rest of the job easier. This not only removes dust, dirt and pet hair, but also prevents them from simply being pushed deeper into the seat upholstery.
Vacuum your car seats with a soft brush head to get into all the creases of the seat. Use your vacuum's crevice tool to get between the seat and console and other hard-to-reach places.
Clean stained and heavily soiled car seats
Dirt that has penetrated, melted chocolate, etc. – they can all leave lasting marks on car seats. Gently work a natural, homemade upholstery or leather cleaner (see below) into the stain using a soft brush. For leather seats, don't scrub too aggressively to avoid scratching the surface. Always test the cleaner in a hidden area to ensure it reaches the upholsteryof your carnot discolored or damaged.
Clean all parts from top to bottom - light and dark car seats
After vacuuming and spot treatment, you should wash the seat thoroughly. Go over each part of the seat, starting at the top so the dirty solution drips down. In addition to the headrest, backrest and seat, take time to clean the other parts of the seat.
Dry thoroughly after cleaning
Plan to let your freshly cleaned car seats dry for several hours or overnight. You can speed up this process by removing excess moisture with an absorbent microfiber cloth.
Pay particular attention to leather seats
Remember that leather interiors require specific products designed for leather. Cleaning and subsequent care is an additional step, but it's worth the effort.
You don't need to buy cleaning solutions that cost a lot of money and can damage your car. Use simple tools you already have at home.
Baking soda for your fabric seats
Baking soda is great for scrubbing and removing stains because it is very abrasive. It also helps in eliminating foul odors as it absorbs unpleasant odors. When you mix it with vinegar, it is even more effective at removing stains.
Rubbing alcohol for the stained car upholstery
Rubbing alcohol is a disinfectant that you can use to kill germs and disinfect your car. Additionally, due to the ingredients, rubbing alcohol is extremely strong and effective at removing stains from fabric.
Cleaning car seats – toothpaste for your leather seats
Toothpaste is very useful when you need to clean your mirror, faux leather or genuine leather covers, or other materials that you don't want to damage. It can remove stains without damaging the material you apply it to.
DIY cleaning solution: vinegar
Vinegar is one of the most common home remedies you'll find in DIY cleaning solutions. Due to its acidity, it is incredibly effective at removing stains, dirt, and more. Alsofor sticky dirtVinegar is very useful for spilled lemonade or stickers.
Mineral water as one of the best remedies
If you don't have the other ingredients on hand, you can use mineral water to remove light stains. Mix 500ml of carbonated water with a tablespoon of salt or baking soda. You can add some lemon juice to further enhance the effect. If you have a bad stain in your vehicle, for example your small child has vomited his food, spray the area with sparkling water. Then scrub them with a soft brush and reapply a little sparkling water if necessary.
Shaving foam works wonders – good for heated car seats
Apply shaving cream directly to the seats or stains, let it sit, then gently blot or wipe until the stain is gone.
Clean car seats with detergent
Mix one tablespoon of highly concentrated laundry detergent with hot water in a bowl or spray bottle. Dip a towel in the mixture and rub the affected area.About the detergentTo remove from the seat, moisten a microfiber cloth with cold water and rub the area.
Remove stubborn stains with dish soap
Add 1 tablespoon of dishwashing detergent to 500ml of water and dip your sponge in the liquid, wring it out and scrub the stained area until the stains disappear. To remove dish soap from the seat, dampen a microfiber cloth with cold water and wipe the area repeatedly, squeezing out the sudsy residue until it disappears.
