DIY – How to Clean Car Interior Fabric

Is your car starting to look grungy? Has it been a while since you cleaned the interior? Have you been putting off cleaning it because you don’t want to pay a lot of money? If so, it’s probably time clean the interior fabric of your car.

Step One: Empty the Interior

You need to clear out your car before you can clean it. Remove trash and other items from the interior of your car. Then use a small vacuum to clear up any dirt/junk that’s left behind. You can rent a carpet cleaning machine from a grocery store for about $40/day, and use it to thoroughly remove dirt. Don’t forget to clear out all the nooks and crannies. Remove floor mats and lift seats (where possible) – it’s amazing how much dirt will collect in hidden areas.

Step Two: Sponge it Up

Now that your car is cleared out, and you have cleared out the surface level dirt, it’s time to do a deep clean. Dip a sponge in a mixture of hot water and laundry detergent, and use to scrub down your seats. Feel free to use a different cleaning product, but remember, always test some solution on a small, inconspicuous part of your car’s interior to make sure it doesn’t damage your fabric. After you’ve made sure the product won’t harm your car, scrub every inch of it from the seat backs to the head rests. Use a toothbrush to work on the hard-to-clean seams where the upholstery has been sewn together along the sides of your seats.

Step Three: Spot Check

You’ve tackled the big issues – now it’s time to hit those tiny final details. Use a stain remover to rub out small stains in your upholstery. Different stains call for different removal methods, but an all-purpose remover is to mix warm water with soap. If you the DIY path, you can try hairspray to remove ink stains, and watered down paint thinner to remove greasy food stains. There are also commercial stain removers and car cleaning products that you can purchase for a relatively inexpensive price.

Step Four: Protect your Cleaning Job

You just spent all that time cleaning your car out, and you want the results to last as long as possible. The answer to your problem: Auto Upholstery Protector! Buy a spray bottle of Auto Upholstery Protector, and apply generously to your car’s interior fabrics. Will it prevent every future conceivable stain? No. But it will significantly reduce future staining and allow your cleaning job to last much longer.

Step Five: Enjoy a Clean Car!

Your car is not simply a valuable asset – it is your daily travel companion, and, depending on your commute/lifestyle, you probably spend hours in your car every week. Guess what? Those hours are now going to be much more enjoyable because you are going to be travelling in a clean, fresh vehicle. Enjoy your refreshed ride!