How to Care For Your Car Seats Depending on Their Material
Because the seats in your car stand a lot of wear and tear, including pet hair, food stains, drink spills, and grocery mishaps, you need to clean them regularly. Car seats need proper maintenance and care to keep the interior of your car looking tidy and clean. To help you keep your car seat mess-free, we’ve listed some useful tips on how to clean them according to their material.
CLEANING FABRIC CAR SEATS
Most car seats are made of fabric because it’s extremely comfortable to sit on, and lasts longer than other materials. But cleaning a fabric car seat is a hassle unless the seat covers zip off for easy cleanup. Follow these simple steps to clean fabric car seats to get your car as good as new:
Step 1:
If you own a smaller car, you can remove the seat to allow for easy access.
Step 2:
You should vacuum the car seat first and try to get deeper into the crevices.
Step 3:
Use a cleaning spray or mild soap and apply it all over your car seats, especially focusing on stains.
Step 4:
Use a cloth or bristle brush to gently scrub the car seat and then wipe off any excess moisture.
Step 5:
Make sure that the seat is completely dry and then reinstall it in your car.
CLEANING LEATHER CAR SEATS
Because many manufacturers prefer using high-quality, stain-resistant cloth fabrics, only a few cars have leather car seats these days. You need to follow slightly different instructions to clean leather car seats and should commit to cleaning them more often.
The bottom line of leather car seats is that they last longer if you take good care of them. Don’t let your seats get completely soiled between cleaning because if they do, you’ll be tempted to use leather car seat cleaner, which can result in fading, scratches, and staining.
Follow these simple steps to clean leather car seats regularly:
Step 1:
Remove the seat from the car and vacuum it to remove crumbs and debris that can scratch the leather during scrubbing.
Step 2:
Make a leather car seat cleaner by mixing two parts of white vinegar and one part of water. You can either apply this solution with a cloth or spritz it on the seat.
Step 3:
Before using any homemade or commercial leather car seat cleaner, you should test it on a small area.
Step 4:
Gently rub the solution all over the leather seat and use a bit of extra elbow grease if needed.
Step 5:
Take the leather car seat cleaner off and towel dry the excess moisture, especially from those hard-to-reach crevices.
Step 6:
Don’t leave the seat in direct sunlight and reinstall it when it’s completely dry.
HOW TO GET RID OF STAINS FROM LEATHER CAR SEATS
If your car seat has got just one or two stains, you might be tempted to use a leather car seat cleaner or a stain remover for spot cleaning. But remember to use mild cleaners because the seat directly comes in contact with the skin.
A safe bet is to use a homemade leather car seat cleaner. Spritz vinegar on the stain and sprinkle some baking soda on it. After that, let the solution dry and vacuum it to get a squeaky clean seat.
HOW TO SHAMPOO A CAR SEAT
If you’ve ever read a car seat safety manual, you might already know that many manufacturers discourage the use of harsh chemicals. Commercial leather car seat cleaners can break down the seat’s material and shorten its lifetime, which can also compromise your child’s safety.
Experts recommend using a gentle baby shampoo mixture to clean the car seat. Simply mix any shampoo with two cups of warm water, and apply it to the seat using a sponge or rag. Just remember that you can’t tumble dry the seat, so use just the needed amount of liquid to speed up the cleaning process.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Cleaning cloth or fabric car seats is easier as compared to leather ones. The process allows for different alternatives, which means you won’t have to spend extra money on specific cleaning solutions. If you thoroughly clean your car regularly, you can get it rideshare-ready in just a few minutes.