If you want your car to be a real eye-catcher, you don't just have to the bodywork, but you also have to clean the car seats. Old dirty upholstery is not only unsightly; they can also be a breeding ground for bacteria. The various manufacturers of car care products therefore also have different cleaners for car seats in their portfolios. Today we want to show you how you can clean your car seats yourself and when you should have your car seats cleaned. The most stubborn dirt includes chocolate stains and dirt from your beloved four-legged friend.
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How to clean cloth seats in the car
In particular, if you want to clean the car seats, you should make sure that you clean your car seats properly. Otherwise irreparable damage may occur if you do not follow a few instructions. A first step, of course, is to clear everything that can be cleared from the car seats. This makes your cloth seats easier to access and easier to clean. Cleaning by hand is the best way to begin with. It is best to start with the complete vacuuming of your seats. You can do this either with your household vacuum cleaner or an industrial vacuum cleaner at a gas station. After that, various products can be used to properly clean the car seats. We distinguish between home remedies and professional care products.
Clean car upholstery with the vacuum cleaner
This is a quick and convenient way of cleaning. Such a wet vacuum cleaner is sometimes also referred to as a spray extraction device. You can borrow it or, of course, buy it. In the meantime, gas stations and car washes also have suitable vacuum cleaners for cleaning car upholstery. In many cases, buying it yourself is hardly worthwhile if you only want to use this tool for your car seats. It is even more efficient if you clean your car seats with a steam vacuum cleaner.
How to clean car seats clean with home remedies
There are various ways of cleaning your seats with the help of so-called home remedies. For example, drivers clean their car seats with shaving cream. Some also recommend cleaning with baking soda for car seats. In addition, there are special methods and detergents for cleaning car seats from water stains.
But first things first:
A common home remedy is first a simple mild detergent. In doing so, you mix about 10 liters of warm water (about 50 °C) with around 20grams of detergent and stir this mixture well. Now you can rub them in evenly with the help of terry towels, for example. The effect can be intensified by circular movements. After an exposure time of around ten minutes, you can rub away the dirt with a fresh and clean towel. Afterwards, it is very important that you let the car seats dry long enough to avoid mold growth. You can then rub your seats with a little vinegar water (a good dash per 10 liter) to improve the shine and color intensity.
The use of shaving foam as a home remedy for Cleaning the car seats is comparatively easy. To do this, simply spray the stains with it before allowing the foam to work for at least ten minutes (twenty to thirty minutes is better). Afterwards, it is often sufficient to rub the stain away with a suitable cloth.
In addition to general cleaning, cleaning your car seats with baking soda also eliminates unpleasant odors. To do this, spread baking soda, which can be purchased as a powder, evenly over the surface of the car seat. If the stain is heavier, you can use a dampened brush or sponge soaked in hot water to work the baking soda into the stain. Here, too, the agent is removed again with the help of a cloth after an exposure time of at least ten minutes. Brake cleaner, on the other hand, should also be suitable for removing lubricants such as engine oil.
Car seat cleaning with the help of special care products
A large number of different specially developed cleaning agents for car seats are available on the car aftermarket. When using them, you should follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly. In this way you avoid unpleasant surprises, which can arise, for example, if the application time is too long.
In most cases, commercial car seat cleaners work like a carpet cleaner. Spray your seats evenly and generously with it. This is followed by a certain exposure time. This differs from cleaner to cleaner, so you must read the relevant instructions carefully. The most popular products in this category include the active interior cleaner from the Caramba brand, the A1 upholstery foam cleaner from the Dr. Wack and the Xtreme upholstery and Alcantara cleaner from Sonax. After the exposure time, the agents are removed again using a standard household vacuum cleaner (or an industrial vacuum cleaner at a gas station).
How to clean and maintain leather seats
Special cleaners are also available for this. In addition, you can also easily care for your car seats with the help of the popular Nivea cream. For this purpose, the seats are either creamed by hand or dabbed with a rather soft care sponge. After leaving it to work, you can use a clean cloth to wipe away the excess. Another option for cleaning and care is a colorless shoe polish. This also helps to keep the suppleness and shine of your leather seats. Other possible home remedies for use with leather upholstery are saddle grease and baby lotion.
Conclusion
Your car seats can be cleaned just as well and correctly with care products as with certain home remedies. But cleaning with car care products can be easier because some of them are easier to use. Nevertheless, it can be worth trying out the home remedies, because you often already have them in your closet at home.
A tip from CarTipsandmore: So that your car seats don't get so dirty in the first place , seat covers and/or pads are recommended. The latter can be used as a seat protector, for example in the area of built-in child seats. They are very easy to clean and some can even be washed in the washing machine.
