Dirty car seats aren’t just gross. They’re also unsafe. Just think of all that bacteria buildup, and you’ll know why you need to get rid of those urine stains as soon as possible.
We know accidents happen all the time, especially if you frequently travel with kids or pets, so we’ve compiled these tips for effectively cleaning your car seats.
The best way to clean your car seats is going to depend on a few things, especially the material your car seat is made of. Different materials call for different ways of cleaning, so before anything else, go ahead and check the type of car seat material you’re dealing with.
To clean cloth seats in a car, you’ll have to be as fast as possible. Cloth car seats absorb odor quickly, which can make them harder to clean later on. Urine can also soak into the actual padding under the cover, which would be the worst-case scenario because only using a steam cleaner would get that out.
Use a clean, dry cloth to blot the urine before applying a mixture of water and vinegar to the stains. This might take a few tries, but keep going until the stain disappears.
If the vinegar doesn’t do the trick, try mixing water and baking soda together. Apply the solution to the stubborn stains, allow it to sit for 10 minutes, and then rinse it with water.
When dealing with leather car seats, it’s important to use a gentle hand. Otherwise, you might end up scratching the leather as you clean the stains out.
Take a clean, wet cloth, and then blot the affected area. Gently rub a small amount of leather cleaner into the stains using the cloth. Be careful not to use other harsh cleaners on your leather seats, as they’re likely to do more harm than good.
Mix water and dish soap, and you have yourself a homemade cleaner for vinyl car seats. Using a clean cloth, gently rub the solution into the stains. Then, simply rinse the seats with water and dry them with another cloth.
If you have an all-purpose cleaner at home, you can also use it to clean your vinyl seats. Just spray it over the urine stains and rinse them off with water.
Before cleaning your car seats, you might want to consider your choice of cleaner first. There’s plenty to choose from, but which one’s the best for you?
If you’re looking for something to clean your car seats with, then you don’t have to look further than your supply closet. White distilled vinegar, baking soda, laundry detergent, and dish soap can all remove urine stains from your car seats.
Commercial cleaners typically come in sprays or liquids, and they’re great at cleaning urine stains and odors from your car seats. In most cases, you just have to spray the cleaner on the stain and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before wiping it with a clean cloth.
If you have a steam cleaner at home, you can also use it to get rid of urine stains from your car seats. The heat from the steam cleaner can effectively break down stubborn stains and odors in one go.
First, be sure to remove as much of the urine as possible by blotting the affected areas with a clean cloth. Then, fill your steam cleaner with water and use it over the stains.
Cleaning car seats can take up a lot of your time, especially if you’re dealing with dirty urine stains. If you can, try these tips to protect your seats from urine stains:
If you’ve got a long road ahead of you, try to encourage your kids to use the restroom before getting into your car. Accidents happen all the time, but doing this can certainly help lessen the risks of them happening.
Pets can be messy, but they can also be trained. Try potty training your pets to use a specific area if they have to pee. Just make sure you prepare the area for them before you drive off.
Washing car seat covers is a lot easier than washing your seats, which is why protective covers can be a worthwhile investment. You’ll have a lot to choose from in terms of style and color, but make sure you pick a durable, waterproof one.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.