If the upholstery has been stained with grease, food scraps, chewing gum … and you don’t clean it quickly, there could be marks for life. We give you some tips to make it look like new and for good care.

In order to have the seats of your car in  good condition, the best thing, according to the experts, is to quickly remove any stain that falls on the upholstery -therefore, it is convenient to carry in the trunk a roll of absorbent paper , a sponge and liquid soap- and do a thorough cleaning every one or two months; You will find manuals on how to do it on this website on car care . If the upholstery of your vehicle is fabric , below we indicate, step by step, what to do to make it look like new. In addition, you can always use products that you will have at home.

For spot spots …

• MUD
  To remove it, use a dry brush and then clean the area again with the brush moistened with water.
• CHOCOLATE
  Use dry soap and rub hard on the car seat. Wait a moment and rub again. You can also use a stain remover on your clothes.
• GREASE
  It is one of the most difficult stains to remove -along with those of oil-. If it doesn’t go away with benzol, use dilute glycerin.
• BLOOD
  It is usually removed with dry foam mixed with salt water or a mild detergent. If the stain is dry, add a little glycerin.
• MAKEUP
  It is easy to remove with alcohol. If it persists, use washing machine detergent for delicate items.
• TEA OR COFFEE
  If it is recent you can remove it with blotting paper and then rub with ice; then, run a hot sponge. If it doesn’t go away, use benzine.
• THREW UP
  It is vital to wash it as soon as possible with soap and water . If left to dry, the color of the upholstery will be “eaten” … and its scent will last for months.

General cleaning for fabric seats

To clean the seats thoroughly, look for an airy place, so that the car ventilates quickly and does not leave the strong smell of the cleaning products you use.

Our recommendation? If you don’t have your own garage, the gas stations – where you will have a powerful car vacuum cleaner on hand, for € 1/3 min. – are a perfect place.

A. Take a deep breath

Surface dirt: To achieve a good result, first vacuum the upholstery -the more powerful the vacuum cleaner, the better-, paying special attention to the places where the bench and the backrest meet -where more dirt accumulates-. Do it from inside the seat to the outside, to ‘drag’ the dirt.

B. Clean with soap and water

With patience … After vacuuming, clean the fabric with a sponge, soaked in water and liquid soap – like the one used to wash clothes. Do not rub vigorously, as you can damage the tissue. Wipe the sponge, too, from the inside out, just like with the vacuum cleaner.

C. Rub thoroughly

Important … If there are still some stains, it is recommended that you clean it again using this time a dry foam for upholstery – for sale in automobile stores, for about 6 euros. Apply it all over the upholstery and leave it to act for about 10 minutes

D. … And finally

Spectacular result. Then, remove most of the foam with a cloth and, for the smallest residues, use a vacuum cleaner -if you have one of liquids , the better-: this way, you will eliminate the foam completely. Finally, wipe with a dust catcher to achieve a good result.

What if the upholstery is not fabric?

If your car has leather or Alcantara upholstery  , in addition to removing dust with a   soft brush –in drugstores  from 8 dollars– , you should apply a nutrient product to  it a couple of times a year  – there are specific ones for car seats  from 22 dollars , in automobile stores–; With this, you will lengthen the life of the skin and prevent it from fading or cracking. The steps to follow are those:

• First, remove dirt and solid debris. Special attention must be paid to seams and folds, which is where it usually accumulates the most.
• Then, remove the dust with the brush that we have previously discussed; but be careful not to damage the skin.
• Later, apply a specific cleaning product for this type of upholstery -with a soft brush and making circles. Remove the excess with a damp microfiber cloth, and then dry it with another. In addition to understandings dedicated to it, surely the manufacturer of your vehicle also markets a product with the appropriate characteristics.
• Finally, it is time to use the nutrition product for leather or Alcantara. Its application is the same as in the previous step and must be done with another dry microfiber cloth.