How To Get Stains Out of Car Seats

Vacuum

Thoroughly vacuum all the car seats using a stiff brush attachment to remove any pet hair, food or dirt, and to loosen stuck-on residue. Think of this as pre-treating the upholstery. Once you lighten the layer, it will be easier to clean deep-set car seat stains. Also, learn about seat cover installation for protecting your car seats.

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Apply Cleaner

You don’t need expensive sprays to get stains out of car seats; you can make an effective cleaner with items from your pantry. For vinyl seats, Ruderman recommends using a mix of water and vinegar, or an all-purpose cleaner. For fabric seats, an automotive upholstery cleaner is your best bet. And as for leather seats, you’ll want a dedicated leather cleaner that won’t dry out the material he says.

“For a DIY option, a mix of mild dish soap and warm water works in a pinch, but just make sure to condition the leather afterward,” says Ruderman.

For coffee and blood, Koukia recommends using a specialized kit. “Dish soap can be used on some seats, but always spot test your cleaning solutions on a small, inconspicuous area before you apply generally,” he says. “From a car detailer’s perspective, I’d always prefer to steam, shampoo and extract seats for ultimate cleanliness and deep cleaning, but the above methods can solve the stain or at least reduce the severity of it before it’s deep cleaned.”.

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Scrub or Blot Stain

Once the cleaning solution has been applied to the stains, blot with a microfiber cloth until the stain is lifted. If the stain is more stubborn, “A soft-bristle brush is your best friend for fabric and vinyl seats,” says Ruderman. “It’s tough enough to work out stains, but gentle enough not to damage the material.”

As for leather seats, he recommends using a specialized leather brush with ultra-soft bristles to avoid scratches. “Microfiber cloths are great for blotting and wiping down all materials after scrubbing as well,” he says.

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Dry

It’s easy to wipe away leftover moisture from leather or vinyl seats, but you might have a few water marks if you have fabric seats. Use an old towel to absorb as much moisture as possible, then let the car air dry with the windows open. This is also a good time to recondition with leather care wipes and to fix any rips or holes in your leather.

“Remember to fully air your seats out if you’re using anything that’ll make them damp!” says Koukia.

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Additional Tips for Getting Stains Out of Car Seats

• To tackle stains as they happen, Koukia recommends keeping a half-finished roll of paper towels in the glove box. “It doesn’t take up too much space, it’s very absorbent and it has multiple uses,” he says. “Maybe splash out for the premium ones, as they’re good at not dripping everywhere when they’ve absorbed a lot of liquid.”
• If your car seats have deep, set-in stains, or you clean them frequently, you might want to invest in a portable carpet cleaner to make the job easier.
• Another option: Install car seat protectors that can be removed and washed.

Common Mistakes for Getting Stains Out of Car Seats

Koukia gives this parting advice:

• Don’t apply pressure to spills. This can push them deeper into the seat.
• Don’t use baby wipes or all-purpose cleaning wipes for spills. “They’re already wet and don’t absorb much, which means you’re likely to just move the mess around,” he says. “Also, all-purpose cleaning wipes can have pretty strong chemicals in them that might damage your upholstery further.”
• Don’t scrub stains across a wide area. This can spread the stain. Instead, blot at stains and keep it focused on the stained area.
• Don’t apply pressure to fresh spills or stains, as you risk pushing them deeper into your upholstery.
• Don’t use hot or warm water, it can set stains, especially blood stains. “Steam cleaning is exempt as it’s so powerful, and you can shampoo and extract alongside this method,” he says.

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About the Experts

• Tomer Ruderman is founder and owner at Car Keys Ottawa, where he works with various vehicles, auto repair shops, garages and organizations on projects large and small.
• Parham Koukia is lead detailer and operations manager at Panda Hub in Toronto. He has spent more than a decade mastering the art of car detailing, after turning his passion for automobiles into his profession.