Cleaning Car Upholstery

What more dreadful can it be to buy a new stunning car and turn it into a rusted one, looking older than a 100-year old vehicle, in just a few weeks! All thanks to the drive-thru food, drinks, sticky candies, runny ice creams and drooling pets!  What’s more, cigarette smoke stains, dirt, grease and grime further add to the dirtying of the upholstery. Whether leather, cloth or carpet, any car interior would look beaten and worn out, if exposed to such adulteration. Know that cleaning car upholstery isn’t a sponge, detergent and hose affair, as it is with the exteriors. The interiors demand intricate cleaning procedures. While the best way to keep your upholstery tip-top would be to prevent it from getting dirty in the first place, in case your interiors have gone all filthy and grimy, fret not as there are ways that can help you remove the dirt off your car upholstery and keep it clean and tidy. Read through the following lines to learn some simple steps to clean car upholstery.

 

 

The first step towards cleaning your car upholstery is to clean the carpets and seats thoroughly by vacuuming them. Though scrubbing is deemed as an effective way to clean the car, grains of sand, food crumbs and other debris might damage the seats or get embedded in the carpet in the process. Hence, vacuuming the interiors is essential to get rid of the dirt that is deeply ingrained into the fabric. Get hold of a high-powered vacuum, those available at gas stations or car wash stalls, for best results.

 

The worst affected upholstery in a car is the seats that develop stains and odor. Get a spray cleaner from any automobile store, designed especially for the fabric in your car. Generously spray the seats and leave it for sometime, allowing the spray to penetrate deep into the fabric. Thereafter, scrub the seats with a damp cloth and wipe them dry using a dry cloth. For complete drying of the upholstery and to prevent mildew from developing, keep the windows open.

 

Cleaning car upholstery made of vinyl is the easiest as it does not trap or retain stains. For cleaning vinyl fabrics, all you have to do is buy a vinyl cleaner from any auto parts store and spray it liberally on the vinyl seats. Wipe the seats with a dry cloth. Finish off the cleaning by applying a UV protectant to the seats to prevent them from cracking under direct sunlight.

 

Cleaning leather upholstery is also easy, but it is relatively difficult to maintain and care for it. The fabric is exposed to sun spots, cracks and tears easily. Clean the seats with a leather cleaner and wipe them dry using a dry cloth. For getting rid of dirt that has penetrated deep into the fabric, scrub a slightly damp cloth in circular motions. Wipe the seats with a dry cloth and maintain the softness and pliability by applying a coat of leather conditioner. Keep your seats protected from sun spots and cracks by applying a UV protectant.

 

If you enjoy cleaning the carpets of your home, you will probably find cleaning the car carpets, too. In case the carpet has been stained, apply a spot remover and leave it for sometime, allowing the solution to penetrate deep into the fibers. Now, use your carpet cleaner with an attachment to scrub the carpet. In case you do not have an attachment available, use a stiff nylon brush on the carpet cleaner to scrub the carpets. Leave the carpets to dry out completely setting the windows down. This will also prevent the carpets from developing mold and mildew.