How to Clean Car Seats

If you are a do-it-yourselfer in Ames or Indianola, or you just want to save some money on service, cleaning your car seats at home is simpler than you might think! Follow our step-by-step guide to cleaning your car interior, whether it be leather or fabric, and contact us at DeYarman Automotive Group if you have any questions!

How to Clean Leather Car Seats

Things you’ll need: 

1. Leather cleaner, saddle soap, mild leather soap, or 1 part white vinegar/2 parts linseed oil solution
2. Microfiber towels
3. Interior brush (soft-bristled, NOT a stiff carpet brush)

Instructions:

1. Check your owner’s manual for instructions specific to your model and possible products NOT to use.
2. Carefully vacuum the seats to remove all particles, and be sure to not scratch the leather. Use the smaller attachments or an air compressor to get into the cracks. 
3. Spray your leather cleaner on the microfiber towel to wipe the seats clean and remove surface dirt and oils.
4. Spray cleaner onto the seats (if you have perforated leather seats, spray onto the brush to apply to the seats), and gently scrub the surface with the brush.
5. Wipe the seats with a clean and dry microfiber towel.

How to Condition Leather Car Seats

Applying leather conditioner regularly will help prevent cracks and dryness, and preserve the softness of the leather for longer. Here’s how to condition your leather seats:

1. Be sure the leather conditioner contains only natural ingredients–avoid products with ingredients like petroleum distillates, waxes, and silicones.
2. On a clean and dry microfiber cloth, apply a small amount of conditioner.
3. Work the conditioner gently into the leather in circles.
4. Let the conditioner soak into the leather for about an hour before touching the upholstery.
5. Try to keep the seats out of the sunlight during this stage, so the material can fully soak up the conditioner before prematurely drying.
6. Once the seats have fully absorbed the conditioner, gently buff them with a new microfiber cloth.

More Leather Care Tips

1. Keep microfiber cloths and cleaning solution in your car to clean your seats of dust, spills, and debris as they appear. This will prevent long-term damage to your car’s interior.
2. If you have a garage, store your vehicle in it as much as possible. Protecting your vehicle from exposure to extreme temperatures may prolong the life of the leather.
3. When driving around the Des Moines area, park your car in the shade as much as possible to reduce sun bleaching or sun damage to the seats.

How to Clean Fabric Car Seats

Things you’ll need: 

1. Cleaning solution spray designed for fabric (NOT an all-purpose cleaner)
2. Interior brush (soft or medium stiff bristles, NOT a stiff carpet brush)
3. Microfiber towels
4. Enough time for the seats to dry before driving the car anywhere

Instructions:

1. Vacuum the seats to remove all particles of dust, dirt, and hair. Use the smaller attachments on your vacuum to get into the cracks and seams of each seat. 
2. If you have a lot of pet hair in your car, you may need to also wipe down the seat with a lint roller or special pet hair removal tool.
3. With the doors or windows open for ventilation, lightly spray the cleaning solution onto an area you want to clean. Avoid saturating the fabric to prevent mildew issues.
4. Use the interior brush to massage the cleaning solution into the fabric.
5. When suds start to appear, wipe them out of the fabric with the microfiber towel. If the fabric dries before you do this, the dirt will be pulled back into the fibers.
6. Continue this process until the area is clean, then move on to the next section until you are satisfied with the condition of your seats.
7. Vacuum the seats once more to accelerate the drying process. Let the seats finish drying before using the car.

Alternatives to Fabric Cleaner

1. Laundry Detergent: Mix detergent with hot water and apply the solution with a spray bottle or sponge. Use cold water on a microfiber cloth to scrub and wipe the dirt away.
2. Vinegar: 1 cup of vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and a gallon of hot water can be mixed together and dabbed onto the seats and scrubbed with a brush. Use clean water and a microfiber towel to remove the dirt and suds.
3. Baking Soda: ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 cup of warm water mixed together can be used with a toothbrush to scrub out tough stains. After scrubbing, let sit for 30 minutes, then use a clean cloth or towel to blot away the stain.
4. Club Soda: Use a spray bottle to apply a light layer of club soda to the fabric, and a soft-bristle brush to scrub out the stains. Be sure to wipe away dirt as it comes to the surface.

Keep Your Vehicle In Top Shape with DeYarman Automotive Group

If you don’t have time to clean your interior yourself, schedule service with a DeYarman Automotive Group dealer and we are happy to do it for you! Get more car care tips from our knowledgeable staff, like how to fill tires with air, how to remove a car battery, and more!