Can You Use Carpet Cleaner On Car Seats?
Is it safe to use a carpet cleaner on car seats? Yes, most car seats are made from durable upholstery fabrics, but over time, dust, grime, and stains are an inevitable part of daily use.
Fortunately, most carpet cleaners are formulated to also work safely on car seats with upholstery fabrics.
The key to ensuring that your auto upholstery remains fresh and vibrant is to take care of spots and stains as soon as they occur.
The longer these areas are left untreated, the harder it is to remove these stains, even with specially formulated cleaning detergents.
Using A Carpet Cleaner On Car Seats
Carpet cleaners are ideal and safe to use in your vehicle as long as manufacturer instructions are consulted and proper cleaning solutions are used in the cleaning machine.
In fact, most stains left behind by foodstuffs, messy kids or even eager pets are easily eliminated using these tools.
Additionally, certain cleaning solutions also have the ability to neutralize odors and remove lingering unpleasant smells.
For the best results, it’s advisable to purchase a portable carpet cleaner that has an upholstery cleaning attachment.
This will make it easier to access hard-to-reach areas while allowing for easy storage.
What’s more, carpet cleaners are great for removing germs that may make their way into your upholstery fabrics.
They ultimately refresh the seats while providing an ideal way to protect the overall resale value of your vehicle.
Is It Safe To Use Homemade Cleaners?
Though it is possible to create your own unique homemade cleaner using dish soap to clean your car seats, it’s often advised against.
Meanwhile, you’re unlikely to do any real damage to the upholstery, there’s a lot that can go wrong with the process.
For example, there’s no specific formula used to determine the amount of soap you will need to use.
This can often result in using too much soap that can seep into your upholstery fabrics and cause extensive suds.
This prolongs the amount of time and effort it takes for the affected areas to dry.
In some instances, using too much soap will leave behind white spots or stains.
If the wrong cleaner is used, there’s also every possibility that the interiors will not retain their original vibrant color.
In fact, it is possible to cause some damage in the form of fading.
Therefore, in short, it’s best to stick to either carpet cleaners that are okay to use on upholstery or natural cleaning solutions that have a safe list of ingredients.
How To Clean Stubborn Stains Out Of Car Seats
Before attempting to clean any stained areas, it’s best to remove potentially caked on dirt or dust.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a stiff brush attachment to get into all the nooks and crannies.
Baking soda is the ideal candidate for removing smaller stubborn stains on your upholstery.
Use about 1/4 cup of baking soda and mix with enough warm water in a bowl to create a paste.
Using a manual toothbrush, rub the stain in a circular motion until removed.
Any stains that aren’t easily removed, let the solution sit for at least 30-minutes.
Using Club Soda As A Stain Remover
Many car owners swear that club soda is perhaps the best and easiest way to remove stains.
It is essentially carbonated water with added ingredients such as potassium citrate or potassium bicarbonate.
All you need to do is to pour the club soda into a spray bottle and spray it onto stained area.
Let the solution sit, and if necessary, rub it into the fabric with an old toothbrush.
Then, simply wipe away excess moisture with a clean towel.
Using Vinegar As A Natural Stain Remover
Vinegar is another fantastic and completely natural cleaning solution.
To reap its benefits, you will need a gallon bucket of warm water with one cup of vinegar.
For a vinegar mixed solution, to achieve best results, allow it to seep into the fabric and saturate it.
Once enough time has elapsed, use a brush to scrub it into the fabric gently.
It is best to use a soft clean microfiber cloth to wipe away the cleaning solution.
As vinegar has a distinct smell, make sure to air out your car to quicken the drying time and ensure the smell dissipates.
How To Clean Car Seats Without Detergents
If you’re leery about using cleaning agents or detergents around your vehicle, steam cleaning is a great secret weapon.
Make sure you adequately clean out any dirt, trash or food remnants using a vacuum cleaner.
The great part about steam cleaning is that it not only effectively removes heavy staining, but it addresses odors and foul smells as well.
A steam cleaning machine uses hot water and suction on the surface of the fabric to remove years of grime from the fibers.
Cleaning your car seats is easy and there are many effective ways to do so.
From using specially formulated carpet cleaners to natural mixtures and steam cleaning, removing stains and odors will preserve the interior of your vehicle and increase its perceived value.
