How to Clean Car Seats | Car Care Tutorial

If you want to keep your car interior looking like new for years to come, learning how to clean car seats at home in Columbia is definitely worth your time. Not only will your car seats be better for it, but you’ll also save money on professional service.

Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for how to clean leather car seats, as well as fabric seat upholstery. If you have any other questions about DIY care for your Ford vehicle, don’t hesitate to contact the Jim Hudson Ford service center for expert advice!

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How to Clean Leather Car Seats

Supplies

Leather cleaner
Saddle soap
Mild leather soap or a solution of 1 part white vinegar/2 parts linseed oil
Clean microfiber towels
Soft-bristled Interior brush (NOT a stiff carpet brush)

Instructions

Check your owner’s manual to see if certain products are unsuitable for cleaning the leather in your car.
Carefully vacuum the seats to remove loose dirt and debris, taking care not to scratch the leather. Get into the cracks using the smaller attachments or an air compressor.
Spray leather cleaning solution onto a microfiber towel and wipe the seats clean of surface dirt and oils.
Spray your cleaning solution onto the seats and gently scrub the surface with the brush. If you have perforated leather seats, spray onto the brush rather than directly onto the seats. This will prevent leather cleaning from leaking through the perforations.
Use a dry microfiber towel to wipe the seats once more.

How to Clean Fabric Car Seats

Supplies

Cleaning solution spray designed for cleaning fabric (NOT an all-purpose cleaner)
Soft- or medium-bristle Interior brush (NOT a stiff carpet brush)
Clean microfiber towels
Enough time for the seats to air-dry completely

Instructions

Vacuum the seats to remove loose particles of dirt, dust, and pet hair. Use your vacuum’s small attachments to reach into the cracks between the seats and seams of each seat.
If you’re like many Iromo drivers, you may be dealing with excess pet hair stuck to the car seat fabric. If this is the case, it helps to clean the seats with a lint roller or special pet hair removal tool before you apply the cleaning solution.
Open the vehicle’s doors or windows for ventilation. Then, lightly spray the cleaning solution onto a small area. To prevent mildew growth, take care not to saturate the fabric.
Massage the cleaning solution into the fabric using the interior brush.
When you see suds, use a microfiber towel to wipe them out of the fabric. Only clean a small area at a time so that the fabric doesn’t have time to dry before you can wipe away the suds. If allowed to dry, the dirt will be pulled back into the fibers.
Continue applying solution, scrubbing, and wiping away suds until the area is clean.
Move to another small area and repeat the cleaning princess until your car seats are clean.
You can accelerate drying by vacuuming the seats once more. Leave the doors open and allow the seats to fully air-dry before using your vehicle.

Alternatives to Fabric Cleaner

Spills happen -- and not always at a convenient time and place. If you need to clean up a mess before it stains your car seat fabric, you’ll probably want to know how to clean car seats without the proper cleaning solution. Fortunately, you can find these supplies at most convenience stores around Chapin:

Laundry Detergent -Mix 1:1 with hot water and apply with a spray bottle or sponge. Use cold water on a soft cloth to scrub the fabric and wipe away dirt.
Vinegar - Add 1 cup of vinegar and a few drops of dish soap to a gallon of hot water. Then, dab onto the seats and scrub with a soft-bristle brush. Use clean water and a soft towel to remove dirt and suds.
Baking Soda - Combine ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 cup of warm water. Use a toothbrush to scrub out tough stains and let sit for 30 minutes. Then, use a clean cloth or towel to blot away the stain.
Club Soda - Pour the club soda into a spray bottle and apply a light coating to the fabric. Use a soft-bristle brush to scrub out the stains, making sure to to wipe away dirt as it comes to the surface.

Rely on Jim Hudson Ford for Professional Car Care in Lexington

Now that you know how to clean leather car seats and fabric upholstery at home, why not pick up a few more DIY car-care skills? Whether you’d like to check your oil or install a new car battery, we’re always here to help! Call us today at 803-359-4114, or stop by our service center located just a short drive from West Columbia and Sumter.

Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, and all information and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. All vehicles are subject to prior sale. Price does not include applicable tax, title, and license charges. ‡Vehicles shown at different locations are not currently in our inventory (Not in Stock) but can be made available to you at our location within a reasonable date from the time of your request, not to exceed one week.

Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, and all information and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. All vehicles are subject to prior sale. Price does not include applicable tax, title, and license fees. ‡Vehicles shown at different locations are not currently in our inventory (Not in Stock) but can be made available to you at our location within a reasonable date from the time of your request, not to exceed one week.