How do I clean the upholstery in my car?

The upholstery in the car is not only a habitat of mites and bacteria invisible to the human eye, but also is constantly exposed to stains and absorbing the unpleasant smell of sweat or cigarette smoke. In addition, dirt may become permanent on the surface of the seats under the influence of high temperatures and the sun falling through the glass, so vacuuming alone will not restore their freshness. We advise you on how to effectively clean seat covers, door sides and floor covering.

What will you learn from this post?

• How to clean the car upholstery from dirt?
• Are there home remedies for cleaning upholstery?
• Why is regular cleaning of the upholstery necessary?

Shortly speaking

Clean, well-groomed upholstery is a showcase of every driver, so it should be taken care of regularly. It is worth removing stains when they are still fresh, so they should not penetrate the material permanently and will not give off an unpleasant smell. Popular home remedies do not always cope with stubborn dirt. Then, foam, sprays and stain removers are available in automotive stores, and in the most severe cases - professional companies specializing in cleaning car upholstery.

Regular cleaning of the upholstery is an absolute must

Dirty, neglected upholstery is not only unhygienic and adversely affects the appearance of your car, but also fades faster than well-groomed, it is subject to chafing, and what is even worse - when it is made of leather - it cracks. Consequently, as its poor condition worsens, the value of the vehicle decreases.

In order for the upholstery to please the eye for a long time, any new dirt should be removed immediately, thanks to which the whole process can be faster and easier. The most stubborn stains are those caused by drinks based on milk and alcoholas they are a source of unpleasant odors that are difficult to combat. Fortunately, in most cases you can clean the upholstery yourself. Here are the means by which you can make this task easier for yourself.

How to independently clean the upholstery in the car?

Before you start cleaning the upholstery, take the floor wipers out of the car. The rubber ones should be washed with a sponge or a brush and allowed to dry, and the cloth ones should be carefully vacuumed. For this purpose, you can use a handy car vacuum cleaner or ordinary household appliances with a narrow cap (ideal for hard-to-reach places) or a brush that quickly removes the sand on the floor. When vacuuming, remember about seats, gear lever area and trunk, and ventilate the cabin thoroughly after cleaning for even more effective mite control.

Self-washing upholstery

Removing tough stains from fabric upholstery usually requires the use of special car cosmetics. They can take different forms strong stain removers with a brush, sprays or active foams. All of them are spot-applied to the dirt, rubbed, and then allowed to dry and dust the upholstery again. The price of this type of product usually does not exceed PLN 30.

However, the task should not end with the removal of stains - so that no ugly stains remain in their place, it is worth extending the cleaning to the entire element (e.g. armrest or seat), and then thoroughly drying them, so that no mold develops in their depths.

Home remedies to fight dirt

A car is an indispensable companion of your family travels and it happens that it replaces a tent during a camping trip? Well, sandwiches and drinks are nothing extraordinary in a car's cabin. We know several ways to ensure that the snacks in the car will not leave the slightest trace.

You can easily remove coffee and tea stains, rubbing them with a cloth soaked in water and vinegar. Grease stains should be sprinkled with talcum powder and, after a dozen or so minutes, vacuumed or try to remove them with a sponge and washing-up liquid.

In the case of strong dirt that does not disappear under the influence of chemicals and home tricks, it remains to hand over the car to a specialist company dealing in washing car upholstery. The cost of comprehensive cleaning starts from PLN 100.

Basic care of leather upholstery

Preparations dedicated to leather are ideal for removing difficult dirt from leather upholstery. When the dirt disappears from the seat surfaces, dry them welland then apply a layer of a protective agent on it, thanks to which it will regain its softness and become more resistant to the penetration of future contaminants.

Everything necessary to restore the glow, both inside and outside the car, can be found at avtotachki.com.

Also check:

How to prepare a car for sale?

How to freshen up your car in five steps

For a flash. How to clean the car step by step?

, unssplash.com.