Discover the Best Way to Clean Car Upholstery

When you get a new car, you want to do everything you can to protect the interior and keep your vehicle looking as perfect as the day you first bought it. Maybe that means disallowing beverages and snacks in the car, religiously tidying up your car interior, or installing all-weather floor mats. But no matter what steps you take and how careful you are, eventually your ride will end up in need of upholstery cleaning.

In this post, our team at Mobile Installation in Brooklyn Park is breaking down everything you need to clean your car’s interior and get it looking showroom clean once more. We offer a complete range of vehicle upholstery solutions for Twin Cities area drivers. To check out some of our great vehicle upholstery brands like Alea, stop by our online gallery or give us a call today.

Removing Stains

When it comes to tackling spots on your vehicle’s fabric upholstery, there are several different methods that all work equally well. When in doubt, go with what you have on hand, and if it’s an extra tough spot, you can move on to another option. Whichever method you choose, be sure to spot test it first.

●        Vinegar and Dish Soap: Some detailers swear by vinegar, but you may wish to use it sparingly due to the strong odor. However, if you’ve got a particularly tough stain, a few drops of liquid dish soap can be combined with a half cup of vinegar in a gallon bucket of hot water. Dab the solution onto the upholstery, gently blot, and then let it sit for a moment. Be sure to rinse it thoroughly with clean, cool water.

●        Baking Soda: Add ¼ cup of baking soda into a cup or so of warm water and stir. Gently apply the solution to the stain using a toothbrush and blot, then allow the solution to sit for around ½ hour. Rinse thoroughly.

●        Club Soda: Just as a little club soda can be effective at minimizing stains on clothing, using a towel and club soda can be effective for vehicle upholstery as well.

●        Laundry Detergent: A small amount of laundry detergent can be added to hot water and applied to stains. Blot gently using a towel before rinsing the stain thoroughly to make sure all of the solution has been removed.

Attacking Special Types of Stains

Certain types of stains need a special approach. Use this guide to attack these common types of stains:

●        Food or Lipstick Stains: Dilute a small amount of paint thinner with water and dab it into the stain with a cotton cloth. Be sure to test a small area first to make sure it won’t damage your upholstery. Sprinkle with cornmeal or salt and allow it to sit overnight, then vacuum in the morning.

●        Ink Marks: Remove ink stains using a small amount of alcohol diluted in water or spray hairspray onto the stain. Blot carefully, making sure the stain does not run or spread as you work.

●        Coffee Stains: Dilute the spill as much as possible with cold water and then blot with a paper towel. Agitate with warm water and dish liquid if the stain won’t come out easily.

Cleaning the Upholstery

Once you’ve removed any obvious stains, it’s time to clean the rest of your vehicle upholstery. If you’ve got the funds, you may wish to rent a steam cleaner. These can be incredibly effective and get your car looking great in a much shorter time frame.

Without a steam cleaner, you can still get your upholstery looking fresh with a little elbow grease. The key is to spray your interior and agitate the seats gently before rinsing them and using a vacuum to remove any excess water. Any store-bought or DIY upholstery cleaner will work just fine for this.

Once you’ve cleaned the upholstery, use a toothbrush to remove tricky dirt and debris from all of your seams before vacuuming. Finally, use a lint roller to remove any lint that’s been left over from the cleaning process and then vacuum your interior thoroughly using an attachment.

Get Your New Vehicle Upholstery

One way to keep your interior cleaner is having custom leather seats installed. To learn more, check out our online gallery to see our work in action and then call us at 612-986-3332 or connect with us online to get a free quote today.