Are you looking for an affordable and effective way to clean your leather and cloth car seats? Learn how to clean car seats with household products and save money on expensive detailing services.
Maintaining your car’s seat can be more challenging than it sounds. Because a) you don’t spill things on purpose and b) it’s not always possible to get the cleaning done right away. There are only a few options left when you accidentally spill drinks or food on your car seat.
So what’s the best way to clean car seats?
Even though you can get rid of the mess with a tissue, the stain will remain. But you can use some of the methods we have demonstrated in this post to get rid of a stubborn stain from your car seat. Today we will show you how to clean car seats with household products. You will have to gather the right ingredients and some patience, and that’s all.
How to Clean Leather Car Seats with Household Products
Leather car seats look luxurious, and thus, they are high maintenance too. Leather car seats are famous for their pricey nature and durability. However, how long your car’s leather seat will last depends on how much care you show.
If you have recently spilled something on your car’s seat, here are some remedies you can use to make it look new.
Solution #1: Using Water and Dish Soap
There are some household items that you already have at home that can help you get rid of a stain from your leather seat. And Dish soap is one of the most helpful and best household products for cleaning leather car seats at home. Here is how to clean leather car seats at home with water and dish soap.
Things you will need:
- Warm water but not boiled.
- Liquid dish soap.
- 2 Microfiber cloths or clean towels.
After gathering all these ingredients, you can go ahead and follow our instructions on how to clean car leather seats with household products:
- Step 1: Put a container in the oven and heat it. Put some water in the container along with the dishwashing solution you have. Make sure the water and soap have a 5:1 ratio.
- Step 2: Now get a microfiber cloth and dampen it with that water and dishwashing soap solution. While damping the cloth, focus on not completely soaking the cloth with the water. Squeeze out all the excess water the cloth has absorbed.
- Step 3: Use that dampened cloth to wipe your leather car seat. Thoroughly clean out the surface where you have spilled the food or drink. After one round, you can rinse the cloth and dampen it again with the same water solution and re-wipe the seat.
- Step 4: Use a dry and clean cloth or microfiber cloth for car to dry off the leather car seat. And the stain shouldn’t be there anymore.
Solution #2: Using Vinegar and Olive Oil
Since you are searching for the best way to clean leather car seats, don’t leave the vinegar and olive oil out of the picture. Vinegar is a natural solvent that can deeply clean any leather item. Because it has the ability to reach deep down into the pores of the leather and dissolve dirt and grease.
A combo of vinegar and olive oil is a great home remedy for cleaning car seats which can not only remove any stain but also disinfect the surface. With vinegar, you can clean the surface and leave a nice and fresh smell on your leather.
With olive oil, you can make the texture of the surface smoother. Have a look at the step-by-step procedure for cleaning leather car seats with vinegar and olive oil.
Things you will need:
- A quarter cup of olive oil.
- Half cup distilled white vinegar.
- Two microfiber cloths or lint-free towel.
- A spray bottle.
Once you gather all these essential items for cleaning leather car seats with vinegar and olive oil, follow these step-by-step instructions:
- Step 1: Open the spray bottle and pour 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 olive oil.
- Step 2: Shake the bottle to mix the substances thoroughly.
- Step 3: Take out the microfiber cloth and spray the solution on it, then use it to wipe the leather car seat.
- Step 4: After wiping the seat, allow the solution to sit for about 15 minutes..
- Step 5: After 15 minutes, use one of those dry microfiber cloths to clean off the seat. It will bring out the newness to it.
Solution #3: Using Lemon Juice and Cream of Tartar
Since you are asking, “What can I clean my car seats with?” try lemon juice and cream of tartar. If the stain on your car seat is tough, lemon is the safest bet. However, make sure that the leather of your car seat is not deeply coloured; otherwise, this approach won’t work.
We use lemon juice because it has antibacterial properties, and its citric acid can easily remove any stain from leather. And the cream of tartar is a powder that contributes to a thorough cleaning process. So, when you mix these two elements, it will work as a great home remedy for cleaning car seats.
However, this remedy is recommended to apply on light-coloured leather because both of these ingredients together increase the pH level of the leather. Have a look at the way you can use this solution.
Things you will need:
- A lemon.
- Cream of tartar.
- A bowl and a spoon.
- Two microfiber cloths.
After acquiring all the necessary supplies for cleaning leather car seats using lemon juice and cream of tartar, proceed by following these detailed instructions:
- Step 1: Add an ounce of lemon juice and an ounce of cream of tartar into the container and use the spoon to make a paste. Stir the spoon for some time until the paste becomes appropriate to apply to your leather.
- Step 2: Apply the paste directly on your leather car seat where the stain is and leave it for about 10-15 minutes.
- Step 3: Take a microfiber cloth, dampen it with regular water, and remove the paste with it. You might have to run the cloth a couple of times to ensure no paste remains.
- Step 4: Once done, use a dry microfiber cloth to dry off the leather seat.
Solution #4: Using a Baking Soda Solution
Spilling something oily or greasy accidentally on your leather couch can make the car seat glued. It doesn’t even have to be a liquid. If you have accidentally spilled your dinner on the car seat while driving, it can quickly catch a stain.
But you can apply the cleaning car seats with the baking soda method to eliminate that greasy feeling from your leather. You won’t have to take your car directly to the detailer to remove that stain. Follow our tips instead.
Things you will need”
- Enough baking soda to cover the whole stain.
- A soft brush (toothbrush might work).
- Two microfiber cloths.
- A soft dry cloth.
Once you’ve obtained all the essential items for cleaning leather car seats using the baking soda solution, adhere to these step-by-step directions:
- Step 1: Sprinkle a little baking soda over the greasy stain. The baking soda has to cover the whole stain.
- Step 2: Let the baking soda alone for a whole night. If you don’t have a whole night, at least leave it off for several hours. The baking soda will absorb the greasy substance.
- Step 3: After waiting, use the soft brush to brush off the baking soda that has collected oil.
- Step 4: Take out a microfiber cloth and wipe off the baking soda from the leather car seat.
- Step 5: The microfiber cloth you used to wipe off the baking soda; you must rinse it now.
- Step 6: Then use the dampening cloth to wipe the leather seat off again.
- Step 7: Now, use a dry towel to dry off the seat.
Solution #5: Using Non-Gel Toothpaste
What’s the best way to clean car seats? Use toothpaste without gel in it. Toothpaste has a reputation for cleaning out the most stubborn stains from kitchens and bathrooms. And it works for leather car seats as well.
Toothpaste also contains baking soda and is the best answer for how to condition leather car seats naturally. And most importantly, it works best on patent leather, natural leather, and vinyl leather. But it does not work on suede leather because of its matte fibers that can get contorted with the contact of toothpaste.
So, if you think you can use non-gel toothpaste on your leather car seat to remove stains, here is the procedure.
Things you will need:
- Non-gel toothpaste (fluoride free toothpaste).
- A soft bristle toothbrush.
- A lint-free towel or rag (microfiber cloth will work best).
After gathering all the necessary materials to clean leather car seats using non-gel toothpaste, implement these instructions sequentially:
- Step 1: Pour some toothpaste on the discoloured zone of your car seat.
- Step 2: Take out the toothbrush and use it on the stain. Use the bristles to scrub on the stain using a circular motion.
- Step 3: Wipe the toothpaste off with a soft towel or the microfiber cloth you have.
In simple words, cleaning your leather car seats with household products and simple ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, olive oil, lemon juice, and non-gel toothpaste is one of the most effective and budget-friendly solutions that help you maintain the look and feel of your car’s interior.
By learning these expert tips and techniques on how to clean car seats with household products, you can remove stains and grime from your leather seats without damaging the material and keep them looking great for years to come.
You might also like: How to Get Water Stains Out of Cloth Car Seats (6 Best ways)
How to Clean Cloth Car Seats with Household Products
Cleaning cloth car seats is harder than cleaning leather car seats. It’s usually true because the stain tends to get easily stuck in the cloth’s fabric. And after removing the substance from the seat, the colour of the cloth seat can change into something else.
However, there are a few quick ways to remove any stain from your cloth car seat effectively. Have a look at these amazing homemade solutions and the best product to clean cloth car seats that we have explained here for your convenience.
Solution #1: Using a Baking Soda Solution
Even if you don’t have any chemical solutions, such as an upholstery cleaner, you don’t have to rush to the supermarket to bring one. Instead, you can use the baking soda that you have at home and apply it to the stain on your car seat.
Baking soda has been proven to be a better product for cleaning cloth car seats than chemical solutions. There are two reasons that back this statement, a) it is inexpensive, and b) it’s a time saver. Let’s look at the ingredients you’ll need and learn the steps on how to clean car seats with baking soda.
Things you will need:
- 1/4 of a cup of baking soda.
- Warm water.
- A soft-bristled brush.
- Microfiber towels for cars.
These step-by-step instructions should be followed once you have all the essential items required for cleaning cloth car seats using baking soda solution:
- Step 1: Prepare 1/4 of a cup of baking soda.
- Step 2: Prepare 1 cup of warm water.
- Step 3: Pour the baking soda into the warm water and mix it until the soda gets dissolved completely.
- Step 4: Apply the solution to the stain immediately.
- Step 5: Scrub the affected area with the toothbrush until the stain fades.
If this solution doesn’t work for cleaning car seat fabric yourself, then go ahead and try the others we have mentioned below.
Solution #2: Using a Vinegar Solution
Vinegar is one of the most used kitchen ingredients that you can apply to that stubborn stain on your car seat. If the baking soda and warm water mixture didn’t give you the fix for how to remove stains from fabric car seats, then this one might.
To use this solution, you will need vinegar along with dish soap. Gather the ingredients first and then follow the steps to learn how to clean fabric car seats with household products.
Things you will need:
- A spray bottle.
- Regular water 1 cup.
- Hot water 3 liters.
- One cup of vinegar.
- Detergent (a mild dishwashing soap might also work).
- A soft toothbrush or car cleaning brush.
- A soft dry cloth or microfiber cloth for car.
Follow these detailed instructions once you have all the essential items required for cleaning cloth car seats using vinegar solution:
- Step 1: Mix the regular water with 1 litre hot water and add the vinegar. Keep some of the hot water for later use.
- Step 2: Add some detergent to the mixture. If there is no detergent, you will have to make a liquid solution out of the dishwashing soap and regular water and pour it into the mixture.
- Step 3: Pour the solution into the spray bottle and shake it thoroughly.
- Step 4: Spray the mixture on the car seat and allow it to sit for a while.
- Step 5: Use the brush to scrub it off to erase the stain.
- Step 6: Now pour some hot water into the stain to extract the soap.
- Step 7: Finally, use the dry cloth to remove the liquid as much as possible.
Solution #3: Using a Laundry Detergent
If you don’t have baking soda or vinegar at home, you must have laundry detergent. Detergent is the best product to clean cloth car seats easily. The ingredients needed in this method are similar to the vinegar solution. Except you won’t require vinegar in this.
Follow the steps below after gathering the ingredients, and you will be good to go with this homemade car upholstery cleaner solution.
Things you will need:
- Two tablespoons of laundry detergent.
- A spray bottle.
- Two cups of warm water.
- A soft and dry cloth or microfiber towel for car cleaning.
- A soft brush (toothbrush might work).
After gathering all the necessary supplies for cleaning cloth car seats using laundry detergent, proceed by following these step-by-step instructions. Here we go:
- Step 1: Pour the detergent into warm water and mix them nicely.
- Step 2: Pour the detergent and water solution into the spray bottle.
- Step 3: Spray the solution on the affected area on your car seat and allow it to sit for a while so that the solution absorbs the stain.
- Step 4: Use the brush to scrub the stain off of the seat.
- Step 5: Use the dry cloth to dry up the seat afterward. You can also use some warm water to make sure there is no residue of laundry detergent on your car seat.
How to Clean Car Seats with Household Products – Author’s View
Even though keeping your car clean is not always easy, it is an important job for every car owner who loves their vehicle and wishes to keep the car upholstery safe, secure, and shiny. And while you have these 8 incredible solutions for cleaning leather car seats and cloth car seats, you wouldn’t have to worry.
If you are wondering how to clean leather car seats at home, then our recommendation would be to use vinegar and olive oil because of their effectiveness. If you are wondering how to clean cloth car seats naturally, try using the baking soda solution to save more time. But feel free to try them all if you must and tell us about your experience.
From removing stains to freshening up the upholstery, these expert tips on how to clean car seats with household products will help you make your car look and smell great. Start cleaning today and restore your car seats to their former glory.
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