How to Clean Your Car Carpets and Upholstery

All vehicles have some form of carpet and upholstery. If you want to buy carpets and upholstery for your car or equipment to clean them, you should visit Car Smart. 

Of all the areas in your car, the carpets and upholstery might be the most difficult to clean. Since they are inside the car, they receive a tremendous amount of dirt. 

Moreover, different types of upholstery require different cleaning equipment and methods. That makes it harder for you to clean them than any other part of your vehicle. 

The following tips should make it easier for you to clean your vehicle’s carpets and upholstery: 

Get the Right Tools

Vehicle interiors are made from a wide variety of materials, including fabric, leather, or vinyl. Some of the materials used to make a vehicle’s upholstery will require more than one type of cleaner to clean them effectively.

You should invest in the right tools to keep your car’s upholstery clean. Multipurpose equipment such as a 3-in-1 upholstery cleaner that is versatile will prove very effective. 

Other tools you will require to effectively clean your car’s upholstery are carpet cleaners, microfiber towels, scrub brushes, and a car vacuum.

Remove Stains Immediately

If you want to keep your vehicle’s upholstery in pristine shape, you should always clean stains immediately. The longer you leave them to settle, the harder they are to remove.

You can use common household items to remove stains from your car carpets and upholstery. Examples include hairsprays and baking soda. 

You should ensure that you buy chemicals that are effective in removing stains from your vehicle’s upholstery. One such chemical is paint thinner, which quickly removes moderate stains.

For stains that are harder to remove, alcohol, foaming cleaner, and other specialty products will be indispensable. Biodegradable mechanic hand cleaner is incredibly effective in removing stains caused by grease and road stains. 

Test Cleaning Chemicals Before Using Them

It would be best if you got into the habit of testing carpet and upholstery cleaners on a disposable item or a different surface before using them on your car’s interior. Otherwise, you may buy a cleaning product only for it to damage your vehicle’s upholstery.

You should always spray such chemicals onto a cloth and use them to clean the surface before instead of directly spraying them onto your car’s upholstery. Some chemicals may damage your car’s upholstery if you leave them on for too long.

Some of the chemicals used in car cleaning products are very potent. It would be best if you rinsed the upholstery immediately with a clean damp cloth after cleaning to avoid any damage.

Guard Your Upholstery

If you want to protect your vinyl, leather, or fabric upholstery and extend its lifespan, it is best to guard them. You can do so by adding an extra layer of protection.

One of the most common ways to do so is to scotch guard your upholstery. It involves covering them with a protective material such as plastic.

Any dirt or liquid will not touch your upholstery directly but the guard material. Therefore, you will clean the exterior material instead of cleaning your upholstery directly.