Car seats and carpets collect dust, crumbs, spills and sweat, and after a few years they can look and smell much worse than the rest of the car. Here is how to clean fabric seats and carpets at home, and how to tell when it is time for a professional.
What you need
- A vacuum with a crevice tool and brush attachment
- A soft brush
- Clean microfibre cloths
- A cleaner made for car interiors
- Clean water
Step by step
- Remove everything. Take out floor mats, rubbish and personal items.
- Vacuum thoroughly. Work seat by seat, using the crevice tool along seams and under the seats. Dry dirt is far easier to remove before it gets wet.
- Loosen the dirt. Gently brush the fabric and carpet with a soft brush to lift what is trapped in the fibres, then vacuum again.
- Test the cleaner. Try it on a small hidden spot first to check it does not change the colour.
- Clean in sections. Apply a little cleaner, work it in gently, and lift the dirt with a clean, damp microfibre cloth. Do not soak the fabric, because too much water can seep into the padding and cause a musty smell.
- Let it dry. Leave the doors open or the windows down in a shaded, ventilated spot until it is fully dry.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using too much water. Soaked foam dries slowly and can leave a musty smell.
- Scrubbing hard. It can fray the fabric and push the stain deeper.
- Using household cleaners without testing. Some will change the colour of the fabric.
- Skipping the vacuum. Wetting dry dirt turns it into mud.
- Closing the car up while it is still damp. Let it dry fully with the doors open or the windows down.
Floor mats and carpets
Take the mats out and clean them separately. Shake and vacuum them, scrub them with a brush and cleaner, rinse them if they are rubber or plastic, and let them dry completely before they go back in. Dirty mats make a clean carpet dirty again quickly.
How to deal with stains
- Act quickly. Fresh stains come out much more easily than old ones.
- Blot, do not rub. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper and spreads it.
- Work from the outside in so the stain does not spread.
- Do not use hot water or harsh household chemicals. They can set some stains or damage the fabric.
Why home cleaning has limits
A cloth and a spray bottle clean the surface. They do not get to the dirt and moisture that have worked down into the foam and carpet backing. That is why a seat can look clean and still smell, and why old stains come back.
What an extraction clean does
An extraction clean works cleaning solution into the fabric and then pulls the dirty liquid back out with suction, taking the dirt with it instead of leaving it in the fabric. Our upholstery and carpet deep wash is an extraction clean, stain removal and a freshen up, from R600.
Keeping seats and carpets clean
- Vacuum regularly, before the dirt works its way in.
- Deal with spills straight away.
- Use floor mats and wash them often.
- Keep food and drink out of the car where you can.
When to call a professional
- Stains that do not respond to home cleaning
- A smell that keeps coming back
- Spills that have soaked deep into the seat
- A used car you have just bought
- Before selling the car
If the interior needs the whole treatment, our full valet detail covers it.
