Cleaning car seats?

away-with-the-fairies

Wasn't sure if this should be in the motor section but it relates to cleaning so I thought here?

Anyway. I have fabric car seats and I do appear to be a bit of a slob in my car.its usually only me in it but there are unexplained patches of something all over the front seats. I have tried a foam aerosol car interior spray whereby I sprayed, wiped and vacuumed but made no dent at all with the stain. I want to get it clean then get some covers on. I do have a steam cleaner but have no idea if this would be any good or not so I am interested in anyone's methods. The seats are a charcoal grey colour and the various stains may be anything to be honest!
Thanks

trailingspouse

We just bought a classic car, with the original fabric seats still in place. It was my job to clean them... 40 years of *ahem* grime. And some unfortunate looking stains.

I used very hot water and washing up liquid (under instruction from the man who re-stuffed them) - use a fairly rough cloth (an old face flannel is ideal). Make up a strong solution of washing up liquid, wet the cloth and wring it out until it is barely damp (very important, you don't want to soak the fabric). Then rub like billy-o, using a circular motion, in one direction and then the other. Once you've rubbed all over, do the same again with clean water.

Leave the doors open so that the seats dry - pick a sunny but breezy day, and they'll dry in no time.

PasturesNew

I think a lot of that "grime" is simply that you get in and sit on whatever dust is on the seat and press it down .... and, over time, you just create a layer of "thigh-pressed airborne gunk .... and a few bits of bread you might've dropped when eating a sandwich on the go".

trailingspouse wrote: »

Leave the doors open so that the seats dry - pick a sunny but breezy day, and they'll dry in no time.

That depends where you live ... you might find a passing van/bus has removed one door - and the other's enabled a passing scr0at to unbolt your (now clean and exciting) seats and do a runner. Or remove the stereo.

MMF007

A very good question, AWTF. I am hoping to clean DH's van seats as soon as there is a warm sunny day!
I reckon Trailingspouse is right, defo minimal water! I was once told the best thing for carpet stains is to make a paste using washing powder. You have little water but the powder has the cleaning agent and is a bit rough if not dissolved, so you get slight abrasion on the dirt. The idea of a rough bit of old towelling sounds a good one, too.

Yes, it is not always convenient to leave the car doors open but if you found somewhere quiet and safe to park you could sit in the back reading while the front dried out?? I use a relative's driveway!

trailingspouse

I wasn't expecting you to leave the car unattended!!

Ideally, you should take the seats out, but that's easier said than done.

teddysmum

We have a Rugdoctor machine (blue version) , with upholstery attachment and requisite fluid.

away-with-the-fairies

I will have a go at the easier suggestion first and try a damp neArly dry cloth. Hopefully can tackle this on Friday so will let u know how it went!

away-with-the-fairies

Update-did the slightly damp cloth and sponge routine and am happy to say the stains are out! Treated car to cheap seat covers and now my car looks clean and tidy instead of the right mess it usually looks