Best Way to Deep Clean Car Seats

If you’re anything like the average car owner, you spend at least a little bit of time in your car each day. 

And, unfortunately, between commuting to work, kid’s sports practices, and extracurriculars, your vehicle can quickly become a dumping ground. Plus, with so much time spent in the car, occasional food or drink spills are bound to happen.

To deep clean your car seats, start by thoroughly vacuuming. After your seats have been vacuumed, spot-treat stains. Afterward, work in sections from top to bottom, scrubbing your seats with upholstery cleaner. Finally, wipe up excess moisture and dirt with a microfiber cloth. Repeat as many times as necessary.

How to Deep Clean Car Seats

Deep Cleaning Leather Car Seats

If you have leather car seats, you’re in luck – they’re much easier to clean than cloth.

The first thing you need to do is thoroughly vacuum your car seats. You can do this with a shop vac, vacuum extension, or at a car wash. Make sure to suction all cracks and crevices. 

Once you’ve removed all loose dirt and debris from your seats, it’s time to deep clean. 

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Leather cleaner
• Soft-bristled brush
• Microfiber cloths

Deep Cleaning Cloth Car Seats

The first thing you need to do is to vacuum your cloth car seats thoroughly. If you’re not thorough in removing dirt, you’ll end up grinding it in your seats, causing them to look even dirtier.

After your cloth seats have been vacuumed, it’s time to clean.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Carpet and upholstery cleaner
• Scrub brush
• Microfiber cloth
• Bucket of Water

Start by pretreating any stains on the seats. You can do this by spraying the upholstery cleaner on the stains, working it in with your scrub brush, and letting it sit for five minutes or the recommended time for the product you’re using.

Once you’ve pretreated, start spraying your seats with upholstery cleaner, going from top to bottom and working in small sections. Work the cleaner in with your brush. (Dip the brush in the bucket of water to rinse when it gets dirty.)

Wipe down the seats with a dry microfiber cloth to absorb excess moisture and dirt.

Repeat this process as many times as necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use hydrogen peroxide to clean car seat stains?

Yes, you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean car seat stains. All you need to do is mix 1 part peroxide with two parts water. Spray the stain and let the solution sit for ten minutes. Rinse off with water and wipe with a microfiber cloth.

You’ll need to spot test your seats in an inconspicuous area before doing this since peroxide can lighten fabric.

How do you clean car seats with laundry detergent?

If you don’t have an upholstery cleaner and want to clean your car seats with laundry detergent, simply put a little bit of laundry detergent in hot water and dab on your stain. Scrub with a brush until the stain is removed. Rinse off the detergent with a wet microfiber cloth.

Can I use carpet cleaner to clean cloth car seats?

If you don’t have an upholstery cleaner on hand, you may be able to use carpet cleaner instead. But before you do, spot test in an inconspicuous area to make sure there are no adverse reactions.

Conclusion

If you want to deep clean your car seats, there’s no magic trick. The best advice is to use a high-quality cleaner and repeat the process as many times as necessary. If your seats haven’t been cleaned in a while or are really dirty, you’ll most likely need to clean them more than once.