Most of us use our cars every day to commute to and from school or work. It is hard to get around without one. During this daily use, life happens, and our car seats can get dirty very quickly. Check out our guide to cleaning every type of car seat, so you can keep them looking fresh.
As much as we might try to keep our car seats clean, spills occasionally happen. We live an on-the-go lifestyle that does not mix so well with our car seats. The most common stains we encounter are coffee, grease, pet hair, oil, ink, and food.
A great way to avoid these types of stains is to invest in car seat covers. In the meantime, these stains can be difficult to remove, especially grease, coffee, and food stains. It often happens when you are driving and trying to quickly finish your lunch.
Household Products For Cleaning Badly Dirty Car Seats
How to Clean Car Seats (Easy DIY Steps For All Materials)
No matter what type of car seat or stain you have, we’ve got you covered. You should always take care of stains immediately to avoid long-term damage to your car seats. We also recommend cleaning your seats regularly to avoid lasting dirt and grime build-up. Check out our guide below to learn how to get stains out of car seats.
How to Clean Leather Car Seats
Before cleaning your leather car seats, you should be familiar with the different types. The common ones are aniline, semi-aniline, faux, and pigmented.
Pro Tip: To clean white leather car seats, you should use a leather cleaner, conditioner, and scrub brush. This will help remove stubborn stains.
How to Clean Cloth/Fabric Car Seats
How to Clean Suede Car Seats
- 1Wipe down the seats using a special suede brush and eraser. You can target light stains using the suede eraser.
- 2You can use lemon juice to remove stains from the suede or use a dedicated suede cleaning product.
- 3If you want to use lemon juice, you should create a solution with a ¼ of lemon juice and 1 cup of warm water.
- 4Rub a small amount of the solution onto the stain.
- 5Make small gentle circles over the stain with your suede brush.
- 6Use a towel to dry the area completely.
- 7If you can still see the stain repeat this process.
How to Clean Vinyl Car Seats
- 1Vacuum your seats thoroughly to get rid of large dirt and debris.
- 2Vinyl seats are fairly easy to clean. You will need a soft bristle brush. We recommend using a vinyl seat cleaner or a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and water.
- 3If you use a vinyl cleaner, simply scrub the area with a soft brush and the cleaner. To create a DIY vinyl cleaner, first, apply baking soda and water to the stain.
- 4Let it sit for 30 minutes, then wipe it off. Apply a vinegar and water mixture to the stain and scrub with a soft brush.
- 5Wipe down the area with a towel and let it dry.
How to Clean Car Seat Straps/Seatbelts
- 1Pull the seatbelt all the way out of its reel and place a clip to prevent it from moving.
- 2For general cleaning, mix a solution of warm water and dish soap.
- 3Use a scrub brush to clean the length of the seatbelt from top to bottom.
- 4For odors and tough stains, mix a solution of 1 cup of warm water, ¼ cup of vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap.
- 5Scrub the seatbelt with a brush from the top to the bottom.
- 6Dry the seatbelt with a towel.
How to Clean Baby Car Seats
- 1Remove the car seat for easier access.
- 2Thoroughly vacuum the car seat to remove all the crumbs and other debris.
- 3Many car seats come with removable interior padding. Remove the padding and set it aside. You can also wash the padding on a delicate cycle, which makes things easier. Check the manufacturer’s instructions before washing.
- 4To wash it by hand, we recommend mixing a solution of Dawn soap and water. Scrub the padding with a soft brush or sponge.
- 5Let the padding dry thoroughly. To clean the buckles and straps, we recommend soap and warm water. Scrub the buckles with a brush to remove tough stains.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
What is the best stain remover for car seats?
The best DIY stain removers are soap and water or vinegar, baking soda, and water. You can also use lemon juice to remove stains. You can find commercial car seat cleaners, which have extra ingredients to protect your seats.
How do you get the smell out of car seats?
We recommend using a solution of vinegar and water to remove odors from car seats. It will work well on any car seat type. Vinegar is a natural deodorizer.
What are some tips to keep your car seats cleaner for longer?
The best way to keep your car seats clean is to buy car seat covers to prevent spills and stains from penetrating the seat fabric.
How do you clean between your car seats?
When cleaning between car seats, we recommend removing the back seats to allow for full access. To clean between the front seats, you should use a damp towel to reach between the crevices. You can use a thin brush to get between the hard-to-reach spots.
How do you clean pee out of car seats?
You should mix a solution of warm water, vinegar, and dish soap. Use a scrub brush to apply the mixture thoroughly. You may have to scrub and rinse a few times before the smell will dissipate. Use a deodorizer to help eliminate the odor.
Conclusion
At Mechanic Scout, our goal is to provide you with the best information on how to take care of your vehicles. In this guide, we have provided you with a detailed description of how to clean car seats of all types. To ensure your car seats last a long time, we recommend buying car seat covers.