Once you discover a stain on your car upholstery, you must try to clean it up immediately. Sadly, if the stain was left to set, you need to work hard to remove it. Luckily, there are several techniques that you can use to effectively remove stains on your car seats. Read further to learn ways on how to remove stains from car seats.
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Steps on how to remove stains from car seats using commercial stain removers.
Let’s take a look at the steps on how to remove stains from car seats properly.
- Vacuum or scrape the stained area. Aside from spreading it further, it will allow you to remove any leftover substance while it is dry. Use a vacuum cleaner or a dull scraper.
- Blot the site with a paper towel or rag repeatedly. Continue blotting until the stain no longer transfers onto the paper towel or cloth.
- There are various upholstery cleaning products. Choose one based on the type of stain and upholstery. Make sure that you will follow the instructions on the packaging.
- After the stain is removed, rinse the site with a small amount of clean water. This will remove any leftover cleaner and debris. Rinse the site using a moist cloth.
- Use a towel or paper towels to remove any lingering moisture from the area. Press on the site and soak up as much liquid. Allow the area to air dry completely.
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How to get rid of stains from your car seats using household products
Aside from the commercial stain removers, there are several products at home that you can use to remove stains on your car seats.
- Baking soda. If there is a stain on your car seat, you can use baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda over the stained surface. Make sure that you will coat generously so that the stain will be soaked up.
- Detergent and vinegar. Prepare a mixture by combining a tablespoon of dishwashing soap and a cup of vinegar in a gallon of warm water. This solution will work on various types of stains, including greasy types.
- Isopropyl rubbing alcohol. If there are ink stains on your car seat, blot the site with rubbing alcohol to lift the stain. Use a cotton ball or cloth to apply alcohol on the stained area. You can also use hairspray directly on the stain since it usually contains a high concentration of alcohol.
- Dishwashing soap. For grease stains on car seats, you can dab a small amount of soap directly on the stain using a moist cloth.
- Cold water. Coffee and bloodstains can be removed by blotting the site with cold water. This technique works best on minor coffee or bloodstains. For stubborn stains, add a few drops of detergent or club soda directly on the stain and continue to blot with cold water.
How do you get stains out of cloth car seats?
If your cloth car seats end up with stains, you can deal with them. Simply follow these steps.
- Before cleaning the car seats, remove all dirt and debris using a vacuum. Make sure to reach the seams. Use your fingers to separate the seams and drive in the nozzle of the vacuum to pick up any loose debris.
- Spritz a light coating of cleaning solution. Be careful not to spray too much though.
- It is recommended to work on one section at a time by brushing after spraying. Use a soft or medium interior brush to massage the cloth seat.
- Wipe away the dirty suds using a microfiber towel. Take note that massaging the cloth brings the dirt to the surface. Do this before it dries up.
- Repeat the same process until the entire surface is clean. The key is to lightly coat before brushing. In most cases, it will take 3-6 coats to remove any stains.
How do you get stains out of leather car seats?
Leather seats add a dash of class to your vehicle. Since they come along with a high price tag, you must take proper care of them. Simply follow these steps when cleaning your leather car seats.
- Vacuum the leather seats to remove debris and dirt from the seams and crevices.
- Dab on a cleaning solution on the seats and emphasizing on stained areas. Avoid using ammonia-based or bleach cleaners since these can damage the leather. You can use a commercial cleaner or prepare one at home. Combine warm water and liquid dishwashing soap or even Castile soap in a bucket. Follow a ratio of 5 parts water to 1-part soap.
- Moisten a cloth or towel with this solution and wipe up the surface of the leather seats. Take care not to oversaturate since extra moisture can stain the leather.
- Wipe clean using another moist cloth and dry thoroughly with a clean towel or cloth.
Another alternative cleaning solution that you can prepare is mixing ½ cup of olive oil with ¼ cup of vinegar in a spray bottle. Apply on the leather seats and let it sit for 5 minutes and wipe down away.
What is the best stain remover for car seats?
Car upholstery seems durable but it requires regular care and maintenance to lengthen its life span. As part of the maintenance, you need a good-quality stain remover for your car seats.
Today, you can find a wide selection of products that are specially designed to keep your car upholstery clean and stain-free. These products not only remove set-in grime, but also any marks and spills that naturally occur every day.
- CarGuys Super Cleaner. This product is considered the most versatile and highly effective multi-surface cleaner in the market. It is designed to work on various interior and exterior surfaces. The product can clean fabric, upholstery, vinyl, leather, plastic, and rubber as well as remove grease stains and tree sap. It has a water-based polymer formula that is safe, non-toxic, and rinsing with water is no longer needed.
- Tuff Stuff Multi-Purpose Foam Cleaner. Among the top-quality grade car upholstery cleaners, this boasts a strong foaming action that can lift dirt and grime out of your car upholstery efficiently. The product is highly effective on various surfaces but made its mark as one of the best car seat cleaners in the market. It also provides good cleaning results when applied to harder materials such as vinyl and plastics.
- Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Upholstery Stain Extractor. This cleaner is specially made to deal with stubborn stains on soft fabrics such as upholstery and carpets, especially fresh ones. It comes in a trigger spray bottle that is easy to use. Spritz and lightly scrub using a brush to break up the stain and wipe away with a microfiber cloth. Additionally, it has anti-bacterial enzymes and an anti-odor compound that can effectively disinfect surfaces.
Final thoughts
Proper care and maintenance of your car seat are important. If you discover unappealing stains on your car seats, you can remove them using several cleaning techniques. With the methods described on how to remove stains from car seats, you can readily work on the stains and keep your car seats looking good as new.
