Car stains are probably a regular occurrence in your car, particularly after a long trip, or when you have a family of little ones in tow.

But the good news is, cleaning your car and revamping your car seats back to their former glory is achievable with some handy stain removal tricks and tips – find out more below.

What Are Common Car Seat Stains?

It’s almost unavoidable, so don’t despair if you are the victim of a spill or stain inside your car. In fact, there are many types of likely stains clinging to the interiors of your car. We can name at least 7…

1. Drinks stains
2. Food and grease stain
3. Makeup spills
4. Dirt and dust
5. Baby fluids and leaks
6. Pen stains
7. Pet hair and mess

As well as not looking or smelling unpleasant, especially to passengers – car stains damage the value of your car. Maintaining your car’s appearance is all part and parcel of having an enjoyable journey, so knowing how to clean those stubborn car-stained seats is important for all car owners.

How to treat a car upholstery stain

It’s time to tackle those stains, and procrastinate no longer!

As with all spills and leaks, it is always best to treat them as soon as possible to avoid a stain from setting in. Treating your car upholstery immediately will avoid unpleasant smells from occurring, as well as stop permanent staining.

What you need to remove car seat stains

Getting your hands on the best kit to clean stains from car interiors is the first step to success. Acting quickly is the second!

Using a selection of products and tools suitable for different stain types will have a result on the end results. Here is a rundown of handy tools to use and make the job of cleaning car stains easier.

• Warm water in a spray bottle
• Quality car seat cleaner fluid
• Hard and soft bristle brushes
• Microfiber towels
• Car vacuum and small nozzles

How to clean car stains

There are many likely stains in your car, but the majority of stains will take the following approach to remove them.

1. Vacuum away any excess dust and dirt – especially when removing dried mud from the scene, to avoid working mud back into the fabric
2. Spray the affected area lightly with warm water to loosen the stain from your car seat upholstery, particularly if the stain has been left to set for some time.
3. Leave for 5 minutes, before gently blotting the stain with a microfiber cloth to see if it is loosening from the fabric.
4. Apply seat cleaner solution after diluting it to the recommended strength of the supplier’s instructions. Cover the car stain thoroughly a this will lift the stain away from the seat.
5. Gently use your brushes to dislodge stubborn stains, working on the stained area before scrubbing out and away from the stain to clean the surrounding area with the cleaning solution as you wish, taking care with brushes in those worn areas of the seat.
6. Check the stain has been removed – for stubborn stains reapply the solution and soak again.
7. Use a microfiber towel to lift the water and solution away from the seat thoroughly until the seat is free of water, solution and stain.
8. Leave to air dry as required.

Don’t Make These Common Car Cleaning Mistakes!

The last thing you want to do is make any further mess when attempting to clean your car of stains.

Here are some common cleaning mishaps and tips on what not to do to avoid damaging your car seat interiors when cleaning your car at home.

• Excessive scrubbing – Going in too heavy-handed could not only damage the material but risk working the stain further into the car seat. After leaving the stain to soak in cleaner fluid, always blot to check the stain is lifting before applying any pressure. Scrubbing stubborn stains with brushes is advisable after checking with gentle blotting first.
• Soaking with water – Always use a spray bottle to control how much water you use, as overwatering could leave you with a wet seat and bottom for quite a few days!
• Using hard stiff brushes – avoid harsh tools, especially on worn delicate areas f your car seat. Always use a soft brush first to test the area for its response.
• Not patch testing – Always carry out a clean in a test area, ideally at the edges of a seat which are always more resilient to pressure, before bringing your cleaning technique inwards and then onto the stain itself.
• Ignoring the stain – Leaving the stain to set in for days, weeks or even months will not make it any easier to get out and risks unpleasant smells, germs and permanent stains.
• Missing machine washable – Always check which fabrics can be removed and machine washed. After months of having car seats, we forget how functional they are and which parts are handy covering that can be taken off. Always remove the entire car seat from the car when tackling a mess too as it will make your life so much easier.

If you need further help with scratches or dents that need removing, don’t hesitate to contact us to have your car looking as good as new.