How to Clean Cloth Car Seats

• Clear the interior of your car and throw away any trash that might choke your car vacuum cleaner.
• Vacuum the car seats: the backs, bottoms and the backs of the front seats using your vacuum upholstery attachment. Push the vacuum nozzle down hard onto the upholstery to be sure you’re grabbing all the dirt. First vacuum in a single direction, then go against that direction, says Koukia. “You’ll prevent damage that way and get deep into the fabric with your vacuum,” he says.

Take care to thoroughly vacuum in and around them to remove particles that can scratch and damage the surfaces. “Dirt and debris can cause premature wear and tear on your car seats, eventually damaging the upholstery over time,” says Amy Brooks, National Sales Executive at Chase Auto. “Regular vacuuming helps maintain the cleanliness and lifespan of your upholstery, ultimately protecting your car’s long-term value. “

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Vacuum the Seat Crevices

• Install the crevice attachment and vacuum the hard-to-reach spots between the seat backs and bottoms and any other seams, nooks and crannies.

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Spot-Treat Obvious Stains

• Spot test your cleaner in an inconspicuous place before cleaning to be sure it won’t damage or discolor your upholstery.
• Blot the stain with a dry cloth if it is new and still wet, to absorb as much of the liquid as possible.
• Apply the upholstery cleaner, then let it sit for five to 10 minutes, which will help break down the grime.
• Blot the stain with a dry cloth to absorb as much as possible.
• Gently scrub the stain in a circular motion with a soft-bristle brush, then blot again with a clean microfiber cloth. For oil-based stains, sprinkle baking soda first to absorb grease before cleaning. This trick also works for stubborn odors, says Brooks.
• For ink pen stains, Richard McClellan, founder of Elite Customs suggests using hairspray. “Also, rubbing alcohol is a great spot cleaner that dries quickly,” he says.

“A big mistake that people make is going straight to scrubbing without properly prepping the area,” says Tomer Ruderman, founder and owner at Car Keys Ottawa. “Rubbing a stain too soon or too hard can push it deeper into the fibers, making it even harder to remove.”

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Treat the Upholstery on the Seats

• Apply the upholstery cleaner to the entire seat surface, taking care not to use too much. If the seats are heavily stained, two light applications of the cleaning product, with a vacuuming in between, is better than one heavy application.
• Scrub until all of the cleaner is rubbed into the cloth seat.

“People tend to over-saturate the seats, which will cause the moisture to go into the foam, causing it to resurface back into the cloth,” says McClellan. Also, be sure to use a cleaner that’s meant for upholstery otherwise it can discolor the materials and degrade the adhesive underneath, he says. “Believe it or not, Scrubbing Bubbles cleaner is really good for cloth seats.”

Whatever cleaner you use, test it on a small, inconspicuous area first, to make sure it doesn’t discolor the upholstery, and spray it onto a cloth vs. directly onto the seat, which will help you avoid over-saturating the fabric.

Veronica Graham for Family Handyman

Vacuum Again

• Vacuum the seats to remove any dirt the upholstery cleaner may have lifted.
• Repeat Step 4 if further car cleaning is needed, and vacuum yet again.
• Let the seat air dry.

After your car seats, you might want to thoroughly clean your car carpets, too.

Create A Cleaning Routine

Over time, your car upholstery will accumulate dust, oils and other grime, so getting in the habit of regular cleanings will prolong its aesthetics. Koukia recommends doing it monthly. “I prefer deep steam cleaning seats, since it kills bacteria and gets deep into the seat, plus the extractor helps remove the dirty water and avoids waterlogged seats,” he says. “Getting a home steam cleaner will be a game changer for you, as they’re multi-use, but you can also hire professionals to do this for you!”

Another key to keeping your car seats clean is to promptly clean up spills, says Brooks. “Immediately blot the area to absorb excess liquid, then apply a cleaning solution and blot again with a clean cloth,” she says. ”Also, make sure to regularly de-clutter the interior, shake off floor mats, wipe the windows down with glass cleaner, and polish hard-to-reach surfaces to ensure a thoroughly refreshed interior.”

Common Mistakes For Cleaning Car Seats

Avoid home remedies, says Koukia. “They’re nice and convenient but not as good as professional solutions,” he says. “I support getting creative, but please be careful. It requires far more effort to fix something gone wrong than doing it correctly the first time!”

Koukia also emphasizes following the instructions on professional kits. “This is a hard-learned lesson for many, and a lot of my biggest jobs are remedying the outcomes of these errors,” he says. “These steps are included for good reason.”

Finally, check your owner’s manual for specific instructions on cleaning the seats. “Cloth seats have lots of material variations and sometimes have panels made from different materials,” he says. “It’s well worth doing your research once, and benefiting every time afterward.”

About the Experts

• Tomer Ruderman is the founder and owner at Car Keys Ottawa, where he works with various vehicles, auto repair shops, garages and organizations on projects large and small.
• Parham Koukia is lead detailer and operations manager at Panda Hub in Toronto. He has spent more than a decade mastering the art of car detailing, after turning his passion for automobiles into his profession.
• Richard McClellan is a lifetime auto enthusiast and the founder of Elite Customs, a luxury car customization shop in Franklin, Tennessee
• Amy Brooks is National Sales Executive at Chase Auto, where she’s worked for 22 years overseeing retail and commercial business for dealer services.