If you haven't taken a close look at the upholstery in your car lately, it may surprise you. If you have kids, then there are probably crumbs in every crack and crevice in your car's interior. Dog hair also collects easily on fabric upholstery, and you may have a lot of grass, leaves, dirt and gravel collected on your carpeting.
To get your upholstery clean, you'll have to do a bit of work. See below for tips and tricks to get your upholstery clean and to remove any stains.
Cleaning Upholstery
Cleaning your upholstery should be done at least every couple of weeks, but a deeper clean needs to be done at least once a month. Here are some of the basic upholstery cleaning tasks you should be aware of.
Pick Up
Pick up garbage and other items that don't belong on your car's seats or carpeting. Picking up anything that doesn't belong in your will prevent a backlog of junk from accumulating in your car, which can begin to stink or damage the interior of your car, not to mention that you may begin to look like a hoarder. Pick up everything in your car each time you get home.
Vacuum
Vacuum your car with a shop vacuum, handheld vacuum or take it to a car wash facility, where you can have it vacuumed for you or do it yourself with one of the vacuum machines. Vacuuming gets rid of the dirt and debris from your upholstery and carpeting to prevent anything from getting ground into the upholstery. Doing it more often makes it a little easier on you.
Wipe Down Leather
Wipe down your leather seats to not only give them that nice shine but also to keep them supple and hydrated to prevent cracking. You can use leather wipes that can be purchased from your local automotive or big box store.
You can also make a homemade mixture to clean the leather using two parts olive oil and one part white vinegar. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray a clean microfiber cloth, then apply it to your leather seats blending it in evenly.
Scrub Upholstery
Give your fabric upholstery a good cleaning using a soft bristle scrub brush and a mixture of gentle dish detergent, water and white vinegar. Combine all of the ingredients into a spray bottle, then lightly spray it onto your fabric. Use the scrub brush to gently scrub your seats. It helps to clean off everyday dust and dirt and gives it a brand new look.
Remove Smells
If you happen to have a foul odor in your car, from water or a buildup of garbage, you can remove the smells using baking soda sprinkled on either your seats or your carpeting. Allow the baking soda to set and soak in the odors (about 15 minutes), then vacuum up the baking soda.
You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the baking soda if you would like. For a clean scent, use lemon, peppermint or lavender.
Removing Stains
Stains are caused by a number of reasons. Rainwater from an open window, muddy soccer cleats or spilled milk from a leaky sippy cup can all cause stains on your upholstery. Whatever caused your stains, you can easily remove them using a mixture of dish detergent (a few drops), white vinegar (1/2 cup) and club soda (1/2 cup).
- Combine the ingredients into a spray bottle and spritz the stain until damp.
- Use a soft bristle scrub brush to gently scrub the stain.
If this doesn't remove the stain, you can also try to use baking soda and white vinegar. Allow the mixture to bubble and then leave it to sit for about 15 minutes. Vacuum up the mixture and repeat if necessary.
Your car is a big investment, so you should keep the interior and exterior clean to protect it. Take your car to Grand Prix Car Wash San Pablo
for a professional clean both inside and out.
