How to clean cloth car seats: A Comprehensive Guide

Car seats can quickly become dirty and stained with everyday use, especially if you have children or pets!

Keeping your car seats clean, can be difficult - especially if you eat in your car.

In this guide to cleaning your seats in your car- we'll show how you can properly clean and maintain fabric car seats,  keeping your vehicle's interior looking fresh and smelling clean.

We will show 3 different methods for cleaning your cloth car seats - both with and without a carpet & upholstery cleaning machine. 

It doesn't have to be expensive to get a beautiful and inviting car interior.

Key Takeaways

• Regularly vacuuming your car seats is the first step to maintaining a clean interior.
• Spot treat stains on cloth car seats with a designated fabric cleaner.
• Maintaining clean car seats fabric requires regular cleaning, prompt stain removal, and protective measures.

Best way to clean car seats fabric: Effective Methods and Tips to remove stains

There are 3 ways to clean fabric car seats.

They all involve using the best upholstery cleaner / fabric cleaner - Auto Glanz FabriClean. A product we have developed to remove different kinds of stains from car seats.

An effective upholstery cleaner is the essence of getting your seats clean. If it can't dissolve the dirt and bring it to the top of the fabric - then none of the 3 methods will work. 

So make sure:

That you use a high quality fabric cleaner to clean dirty car seats!

The 3 methods to clean fabric seats are:

• Cleaning your car seats at home without a vacuum (a general clean with only microfibre)
• Clean car seats stains using a Drill Brush (Specific stains or general)
• Clean the seats using a car cleaner for seats (Using a carpet & upholstery cleaning machine)

Before using any of the suggested methods, make sure to thoroughly vacuum the seats / areas fabric you want cleaned. This essential step helps remove loose dirt, crumbs, and debris that, you don’t want to push into the fabric and stitches while cleaning. 

Please note: Test the fabric cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area before applying it to the entire seat.

Cleaning your car seats at home without a vacuum (a fabric cleaner with only a microfibre cloth)

The simplest way you can clean your seats is using our upholstery cleaner (FabriClean), along with some good quality microfibre cloths. 

Using these 2 products alone will allow you to get the top layer of fabric clean. There will be some manual scrubbing, and you will have a hard time getting bigger stains out.

However:

You will get a noticeable difference.

This is how you do it:

• Apply Fabriclean to the entire surface, ensuring good coverage. (Work with only one seating surface at a time)
• Rub with one microfibre cloth into the fibres of the seat. 
• Take a new cloth and dry out as much as possible of the remaining fabric cleaner by blotting the seats.
• Allow the seats to dry completely before using them again.

Clean car seats stains using a Drill Brush (Specific stains or general)

If you want to get more dirt out and shift some of the manual labor to automated, you need a Brush that you can attach to your Drill. This is especially recommended for tough stains in order to get stains out permanently.

This way you will be able to process the seat much quicker than using only a microfibre cloth. Be careful around the stitching and avoid scrubbing too vigorously, so you don't damage the fabric. 

You will be able to see how much dirt it releases, when you dry up using a microfibre towel.

This is how you do it:

• Apply FabriClean to the entire surface, ensuring good coverage. (Work with only one seating surface at a time)
• Using the Drill Brush, process the whole area. The product will foam a bit which is normal. 
• Take a microfibre cloth and dry up the foam
• Take a visual inspection and if necessary repeat by applying more FabriClean and going with the Drill Brush again
• Dry up as much as possible using dry microfibre cloths by blotting the seats.
• Allow the seats to dry completely before using them again.

 

The first step in cleaning cloth car seats is spot treating any stains. For this, you'll need a suitable upholstery cleaner. Apply the cleaner directly onto the stained area and gently blot it with a clean microfiber cloth.  Repeat the process until the stain is no longer visible.

Clean the seats using a car cleaner for seats (Using a carpet & upholstery cleaning machine)

If you're dealing with stubborn stains that won't come out with spot treating alone, a carpet and upholstery cleaning machine can be a game-changer.

These machines use a combination of water, cleaning solution (FabriClean), and suction to deep clean the fabric. 

When using a cleaning machine, we recommend you still use the Drill Brush. This helps to loosen dirt and grime. 

After cleaning, blot the seats with a microfiber cloth to remove excess moisture and allow them to air dry completely.

This is how you do it:

• Apply FabriClean to the entire surface, ensuring good coverage. (Work with only one seating surface at a time)
• Using the Drill Brush, process the whole area. The product will foam a bit which is normal. 
• Use the carpet and upholstery cleaning machine to apply water and suck up the water/solution again.
• Take a visual inspection and if necessary repeat by applying more FabriClean and going with the Drill Brush and carpet and upholstery cleaning machine again.
• Allow the seats to dry completely before using them again.

Maintaining Clean Car Seats: Tips and Tricks for a Fresh Interior

Keeping your car seats fabric clean is not just about the initial cleaning process; it's also about maintaining that cleanliness for the long term. Here are some essential tips and tricks to help you preserve the freshness of your car interior and thereby a clean car interior.

Regular Vacuuming

Vacuuming your car seats regularly is crucial to prevent dirt, dust, and debris from settling into the fabric. Use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment or a handheld vacuum to remove any loose particles. Pay special attention to the crevices and seams where dirt tends to accumulate. By incorporating this simple step into your cleaning routine, you can significantly reduce the amount of dirt that accumulates on your car seats fabric. This will also prevent the dirt to settle if you spill liquids on top of it.

Using a Fabric Protector

Even though FabriClean does not leave behind a "dirt attracting surface"  - applying a fabric protector is an excellent way to safeguard your car seats fabric against stains and spills. A fabric protector forms a protective barrier that repels liquids and prevents them from seeping into the fabric. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to apply the fabric protector of your choice, ensuring complete coverage of the seats. By using a fabric protector, you can extend the lifespan of your car seats and keep them looking fresh and clean.

Fast cleaning

Blot the stain immediately with a clean cloth or paper towel to absorb as much liquid as possible. Avoid rubbing the stain without a fabric cleaner, as this can push it deeper into the fabric. Use a suitable fabric upholstery cleaner like FabriClean specifically designed for car seats fabric and follow the instructions carefully. Fresh stains are easier to remove.

DIY Car cloth Seat Cleaners: Alternative Methods for Stain Removal

While commercial upholstery cleaners are effective for cleaning cloth car seats, there are also DIY methods you can try using household ingredients.

Considering the small cost of a dedicated fabric cleaner that works - we'd advice you not to try it out.

But:

Some of the suggested methods are:

• Baking Soda and Vinegar
• Dish Soap and warm water

Best products to clean car seats

These are our recommended best products to clean your cloth car seats:

• FabriClean - Developed from the ground up specifically designed to work on delicate upholstery, not leaving any sticky residue behind
• Microfibre Cloths in good quality
• Drill Brush - To process the stains and general cleaning

Final Touches for a Pristine Car Interior

Once you have successfully cleaned your car seats fabric, it's time to give the rest of your car interior some attention. By following these final touches, you can ensure that every inch of your car is looking its best:

1. Vacuum the Carpets and Floor Mats: Start by thoroughly vacuuming the carpets and floor mats to remove any dirt, crumbs, or debris. Use a brush attachment to loosen embedded particles and pay special attention to the corners and edges. You can use FabriClean and Drill Brush on the fabric mats as well.
2. Wipe Down the Dashboard and Console: Using a microfiber cloth paired with interior detailer like mist, gently wipe down the dashboard, console, and other hard surfaces. Be sure to tackle any dust, fingerprints, or stains for a clean and polished look.
3. Clean the Windows: For sparkling, streak-free windows, use a glass cleaner like Moonshine paired with dedicated glass cloths. Start from the top and work your way down, ensuring every window is crystal clear both inside and out.

Completing these final touches will leave your car interior looking and smelling fresh, creating an inviting and pleasant driving experience - and that's how you clean car seats yourself!

VIDEO: How To Clean Car Seats Fabric

Watch this satisfying video where the interior of a filthy Fiesta gets completely revamped and gets the fabric seats extremely clean!