Simple Tips for Removing Tough Stains From Your Car Seats

Your car seats will naturally collect dirt and stains as they’re used. It can get tricky and annoying to deal with the tougher stains over time, as they may require some elbow grease to loosen up and remove.

Cleaning your upholstery shouldn’t be tedious. Here are some tips and tricks you can keep in mind to make cleaning your vehicle’s interior more efficient and effective.

How to Remove Stains From Your Car Seats

Some of the best ways to remove stains from your car seats include vacuuming them, using a vinegar solution, using club soda, steaming the seats, using laundry detergent, applying baking soda, using ice, or washing them with an all-purpose cleaner.

Vacuum Your Seats

It’s always a good idea to vacuum your seats before applying any cleaning solution. This ensures you don’t spread hair, crumbs, dust, and other small debris while wiping the seats down.

You can use a handheld vacuum cleaner or connect the long attachment to your household vacuum. While you’re at it, you might as well clean the crevices and small spaces inside your cabin.

Use a Vinegar Solution

Vinegar is five percent acetic acid, which helps break down the structure of dirt, oil, films, stains, bacteria, and other debris. Its natural acids make it a good alternative cleaning agent because it’s less likely to cause damage to surfaces.

To make your own solution, mix one cup of vinegar with one gallon of water and add a splash of dish soap. Spray the solution onto your seats, and use a soft brush to scrub away the dirt.

Use Club Soda

Pour some club soda into a spray bottle and spray it onto your fabric car seats. Use a soft brush to rub the liquid in and loosen any dirt. Afterward, use a clean towel or cloth to wipe away the remaining moisture.

Steam Clean the Seats

If your car seats are dirty and have a foul odor, then it might be time to use a steamer. Steam cleaning removes stains by blowing hot water deep into the fabric surfaces, killing off bacteria, grime, mold, and the like.

Before blasting the seats with hot steam, vacuum them first to remove any loose dirt.

Fill your steam cleaner with water and give it time to warm up. Once it’s warmed up, attach the standard cleaning brush to the steam cleaner and press the trigger to release steam. Be thorough and make sure you get every inch of the car seats.

Use Laundry Detergent

You can also use laundry detergent to clean your car’s upholstery, specifically a seat with a slight stain. Simply make the solution by mixing in liquid or powdered detergent with warm water.

Pour some of the solution onto the seat and let it seep in. Use a clean cloth to gently scrub the stained area of the seat. Once the stain starts to fade, soak a different cloth in cold water and use it to remove the remaining residue. It’s a good idea to let your seats air-dry by leaving the windows open.

Apply Baking Soda

Similar to club soda and vinegar, baking soda is a natural, effective, non-toxic, accessible, and relatively cheap cleaning product. What makes it a good cleaning agent is the fact that it is a mild alkali, which means it helps dirt and grease to dissolve easily in water.

If you want to give it a shot, pour 1/4 cup of baking soda into a small bowl and mix it with warm water. Apply it to your car seat and use a brush to loosen dirt and remove stains.

If the stains are tougher than expected, let the solution sit for at least an hour before scrubbing it off.

Use Ice

For more solid stains, such as chocolate or gum, you can freeze them before scraping them off.

Simply use an ice pack or ice cube and let it rest over the stain for at least ten minutes. Once the stain is frozen, it should come off on its own. For any remaining residue, use a butter knife or a metal spatula and scrape it off.

Wash With All-Purpose Cleaners

Most people find it more practical and convenient to buy car cleaning products off the shelf. There are products specially concocted to remove tough stains and dirt from your vehicle’s interior. They may cost you more than homemade solutions, but they’re easier to use because they’re already pre-formulated.

To use an all-purpose cleaner, apply the prescribed amount onto the seats. Let the solution sit for five minutes, then use a wet cloth to wipe the stain away.

When push comes to shove, use a soft-bristled brush to scrub the area. After scrubbing, rinse the same area with a little bit of water to remove any remaining residue.