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Fabric car seats are comfortable, relatively warm in the winters and the affordable alternative to leather upholstery when buying cars. However, they are also prone to getting dirty easily and stains show up quite prominently if the car seat fabric is light in appearance.
Also, if you like take-out food and/or frequently eat in your car, chances are there’s going to be stains on the fabric car seats. Another thing that leads to dirty seats is your clothes. All the dirt you collect on your clothes is transferred to the seats along with body oils and sweat.
So how do you get stains out of car seats? Here’s an easy to follow guide.
How to get stains out of fabric car seats for free
(Well, maybe not for free, but with things you’ve likely got at home already)
Things you will need
- Spray bottle
- Dish soap
- Microfibre cloth
Step 1
Fill spray bottle with hot water.
Step 2
Add some regular dish soap. Give it a shake to mix the solution well.
Step 3
Spray the solution on the upholstery.
Step 4
Using the microfibre cloth, rub the stain and remove the soapy solution.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 till the stain disappears completely.
Step 5
Once clean, the upholstery is likely to be damp. Leave the windows cracked open and let the sun dry the seat for you.
How to get stains out of car seats using simple tools
Things you will need
- Spray bottle
- Drill
- Drill brush
- Cleaning agent
- Wet dry vacuum
Step 1
Vacuum the car seats to remove any solid debris.
Step 2
Fill the spray bottle with water and add a cleaning agent. Check the instructions on the cleaning agent container for the correct mixing ratio (or scroll down for a simple explanation).
Step 3
Liberally spray the cleaning solution over the car seat.
Step 4
Using a soft drill brush on the seat, agitate the mixture so that it begins to dissolve the grime.
Step 5
Using a wet dry vacuum suck up all the solution off the car seat. Repeat Steps 3 to 5, till the stain completely disappears.
After the seat is cleaned, it is most likely to still be damp. Crack open the windows and let the sun do its thing.
Note
- If you don’t have a drill and drill brush combo, you can use a detailing brush with soft bristles to agitate the solution.
- If you don’t have a wet dry vacuum, a microfibre cloth works just fine.
Cleaning Agent
There are a number of products available both online and at your next door auto shop or a retail chain. Broadly, you’ll encounter two different kinds.
All purpose cleaner
Concentrates such as Super Clean are great for the reason that it is great for cleaning upholstery and any other bits such as the dashboard, doors, carpets and even wheels and tires. The only thing you have to worry about is the ratio you want to use. For general cleaning ,a 10:1 (water-to-cleaner) ratio works fine. On more stubborn things like dead bugs on paint, you might want to use a stronger 4:1 ratio.
Where to buy: Amazon | Walmart | Canadian Tire
Speciality upholstery cleaners
These are further available as foam cleaners, liquid cleaners and shampoos. Well established brands such as Meguiar’s, Armor All, Chemical Guys, and Turtle Wax all have products catering specifically to cleaning upholstery.
Where to buy: Amazon | Walmart | Canadian Tire
Must have car cleaning tools
Detailing brush
A good set of detailing brushes will help you agitate the liquid and get it working on the stains. We recommend a brush with soft bristles that won’t damage the car seat fabric.
Where to buy: Amazon | Walmart | Canadian Tire
Microfibre cloth
A must have car accessory, a high quality microfibre cloth not only helps clean the outside, but also wipe down wet car seats, thanks to the absorbent material.
Where to buy: Amazon | Walmart | Canadian Tire
Wet dry vacuum
A vacuum rated for both wet and dry applications is a great addition to the tool kit. It helps cut down cleaning time and is useful both in the garage and in the house.
Where to buy: Amazon | Walmart | Canadian Tire
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