How to Clean Car Upholstery

A well-maintained and stylish car can be enticing from the outside, but what matters the most is how pleasant and clean the interior is. A clean car interior is not only satisfying, but also good for health and hygiene. We clean and wash our cars everyday, just to keep it shining, but we forget the most important part, that is the car upholstery.

There are many who use car as a mini living room, and those dirty stains keep increasing with time. Cleaning the upholstery is not a very difficult task.

Liquid stains not only emit foul odor, but they are also tough to clean. Many of us ignore liquid stains and leave them over for a long time, which damages the upholstery. Leaving it for a long period of time also makes it tough to clean. So, cleaning your car's dirty upholstery immediately is the best thing to do.

Not cleaning the interiors of your car for a long time leads to accumulation of dust, dirt, and crumbs, and vacuuming is the best method to avoid accumulation and deterioration of the upholstery. The cleaning agents can cause the dirt particles to stick to the seats, and also get deep beneath.

So, starting the process by vacuuming the dirt and dust is always better. Moreover, vacuuming and light brushing on weekends can get rid of the dirt, before it gets embedded in the fibers of the fabric. Steam cleaners for car upholstery are also available in the market. They are fairly easy to use and are also effective.

Applying deep leather conditioning formula can work wonders. Make sure the solution is diluted, and apply it in a circular motion. Leave it for 10-15 minutes, and gently rub it with a soft and dry cloth. Leather upholstery will get a lustrous look. To maintain your leather upholstery in the best condition, you can apply this conditioner 3-4 times in a year.

Baking soda is also effective for brightening the leather. Prepare salt water by adding four tablespoons of sea salt into a cup of water. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of flour to the salt water. Mix it well, and wipe the seats using a wet cloth. Use a dry cloth to wipe off the mixture. This will help to maintain the leather quality.

Cleaning grease stains with water will not be good for the fabric, as it spreads. Instead of water, try dabbing the spill with a rag till the grease dries. Allow the stain to settle down for about two days. The oil from the stain will settle down, leaving little or no mark on the surface. Soft leather cleaners can also be used for removing these stains.

For large stains, blot it well with a rag, then use upholstery attachment of an electric cleaner to draw the liquid. Apply and rub appropriate cleaning agent on the stain. Suck the liquid by pressing down the attachment head of the cleaner. Drawing as much liquid as possible can get rid of the stain. Remember to do this as soon as there is a spill.

For removing ink stains, using some vinegar or alcohol is effective. Rub the stain with a cotton rag dipped in vinegar. After that, dry the spot with a blow dryer, and hopefully, the stain will disappear.

Window spray cleaner is effective for coffee and soda spills. Blot the stain with a rag, and spray the window cleaner and brush gently. After spraying, blot it with a clean rag or paper towel. To avoid any chances of discoloration of the fabric, first try all the solutions on an old fabric.

Car is probably the most prized possession for a person, after his/her house. So, giving some time for car cleaning every weekend will help to maintain your dream machine.