How to Clean Your Car Seats
The obsession with “that new car smell” is an odd one, when you think about it. It’s a sterile smell which – when abstracted away from the pride that comes with the purchase of that new car – isn’t all that pleasant. Still though, it’s highly sought after, and many motorists do their utmost to maintain it for as long as possible.
This goes a long way to explaining why things like coffee stains on our car seats are so incredibly frustrating but, unfortunately, they’re almost bound to happen.
In this article, we’ll be giving you some tips on how to get rid of those stains, so you can keep that new car dream alive.
How to clean cloth car seats
- Remove any large item from the upholstery, such as wrappers and coins, and then vacuum up the crumbs and debris.
- Once the visible dirt has been removed, take a bottle of upholstery cleaner or shampoo and spray one area of the seat – usually, it’s best for the seat to be damp, not soaking wet.
- Gently work the area with a brush or an abrasive sponge.
- Once the cleaner has been left to work on the seat for a few minutes, take a clean microfibre cloth and gently work the area. This will help speed up the drying process.
- We recommend concentrating on smaller areas, as this will ensure no areas are missed.
How to clean leather car seats
While cleaning leather car seats is a similar process to the one listed above, there are some important differences which you will need to take note of:
Firstly, while leather is better at repelling stains than cloth, it is extremely delicate and, as a result, prone to abrasions. With this in mind, you will need to be especially gentle when vacuuming your leather with a plastic nozzle. Secondly, you will need to find a specific leather upholstery cleaner, which could well be a cream rather than a shampoo.
- Apply the cream as per the product’s instructions.
- Once it has been applied and left to work its magic, lightly rub the treated area of the seat with a clean microfibre towel.
- You should be able to see the leather becoming brighter and less shiny, as clean leather is typically matte in appearance.
- As above, observe the transfer of dirt onto your towel until you’re satisfied it’s a job well done.
Letting your seats dry
Once you’ve finished cleaning the car seats with upholstery cleaner and a microfibre towel, they should only be slightly damp to the touch. Most products recommend being left to dry naturally, so always plan to clean your seats when you aren’t planning any journeys, or can use another vehicle or method of transport.
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