9 Simple Car Seat Cleaning Tips
9 Simple Car Seat Cleaning Tips
If you use your vehicle for work, recently transported your vehicle to another state, or simply have kids, there is no doubt that cleaning your car is a priority. In the same way you should perform routine vehicle maintenance with oil changes and tire rotations, regularly cleaning your car's interior is the best way to avoid getting a tough stain in your covers and padding that might never come out. Therefore, prevention is the best way for your car's interior to stand the best of time.
The truth is you should ideally have your car detailed every 4-6 months, or 2-3x a year. That means getting a deep clean on dirty seats, a protective coating on the exterior, and spot cleaning anywhere and everywhere your vehicle needs some love should be viewed as routine maintenance. If you are like me, a person who travels a lot with kids in the car, baby car seat cleaning feels mandatory. Especially, with all the goldfish crackers and snacks littered on the floor. However, finding car seat cleaning near me isn't always easy, so here are 9 awesome tips every parent needs to know about keeping a car clean!
Let's start from the beginning!
1. Vacuuming Your?Car Interior
?
The first step to cleaning your vehicle is removing excess toys, tools, or trash and then focusing on vacuuming the top of the leather or cloth seats down to the floor mat. Handheld vacuums are the perfect tool for collecting dust, pet hair, small pieces of trash, or any random thing your child may have brought from the environment into your vehicle. Another benefit of vacuuming is it stops debris from getting pushed deep into cloth seats or upholstery. Here are some awesome vacuuming tips from Meguiar's blog:
Related Article: 8 Best Magnetic GPS Car Trackers?
2. Stain Treatments
If you've taken your kids to the park, on a beach trip, or fast food drive-thru, there is no doubt your car upholstery has paid the price for your adventures. Lasting marks on a baby car seat, or dirty car seats in general, only get worse when not addressed. This is why you need stain treatments. Here are some awesome tips from the cleaning pros at?Molly Maid about stain removal:
3. Experiment With Homemade Solutions
If you are skeptical of household products due to potential chemicals that could be hazardous to you or your child the best thing to do is experiment with some homemade solutions. Here is a simple recipe for a cleaning agent you can make in your kitchen that is equally effective as many all-purpose cleaners for spot cleaning.
*Mix the above ingredients into a spray bottle and prepare yourself to clean cloth car seats!
This recipe is far more organic than a spray-on fabric protector or chemical products designed for removing stains. The next step is to lightly spray your organic mix on any tough stain or dirty spot, and gently scrub the area with clean warm water. Finish it off by using a microfiber cloth to dab up any excess moisture.
领英推荐
4. Be Conservative With Water & Cleaning Agents
When pre-treating stains or using any cleaning solution it is important to be conservative. Warm water and all-purpose cleaners are easily absorbed into car upholstery and that means they won't dry quickly.
Using something as simple as a dry foam cleaner on cloth seats will allow you to work on deep stains without using too much water. Mold growth can be a real concern if you saturate cloth seats so remember that less is more when it comes to cleaning your upholstery.
If you have leather seats then you will want to opt for a leather cleaner & conditioner. If you want clean car seats that are leather the first spots you want to focus on are areas where hair and skin make contact with the upholstery, as well as any hidden creases in the vehicle.
5. Start Cleaning From The Top To Bottom Of Car
As we mentioned earlier in the article, you want to start with vacuuming and then perform spot stain treatment. The next step is a thorough washing of the vehicle. The best practice is to start at the top and work your way to the bottom. The reality is detailing your car shouldn't be a job you rush through so take your time and remember that detailing means focusing on the details!
6. Clean The Hidden Spots
Sure, we all know to use our homemade solutions or stain treatments on the headrest, back of the seat, glovebox, center console, and other visible spots. However, when cleaning your car's interior, don't forget to spot-treat your seatbelt, buckle, and sun visors.
If you have a baby or toddler, make sure to clean your car seats with baby wipes or something non-toxic. Also, make sure you read the owner's manual of the car seat manufacturer so you follow all proper procedures.
7. Dry The Interior Thoroughly
When deep cleaning your car there is bound to be a little excess moisture in the vehicle. Therefore, you will want to make sure your cleaned car seats have the opportunity to dry for a couple of hours (or preferably overnight). If you are worried about mold or are short on time we recommend removing any excess moisture with a microfiber cloth.
8. Treat Leather Seats Differently Than Cloth Seats
You do not want to treat cloth seats with the same cleaning product as leather seats. Leather interior requires upholstery cleaner that is formulated for leather. Also, don't forget to finish off the deep cleaning of your car with a leather conditioner. This will help prevent cracking and offer UV protection to help your leather interior maintain its original coloring.
9. Invest In Seat Protectors
Consistent cleaning will help your car seats maintain their original look, but?seat protectors?can also provide added protection.
Amazon offers a wide variety of universal seat covers that will fit any make and model of vehicle. Please check your car seat manual to make sure that the covers won't have a negative impact on airbags or seat belts. The owner's manual might also offer recommendations on seat covers or dimensions if you want to seek an after-market seat cover.
How Often Should I Detail My Car?
Automotive experts say that you should routinely clean your vehicle every 2 weeks and have a deep clean or professional detailing done 2-3x a year. Deep cleaning your car reduces bacteria build-up, extends the life of your upholstery, and keeps your car looking nice.
This article was originally published on https://gpstrackershop.com