How to Clean Car Seats

If you prefer to do a lot of your car care yourself, or if you’re looking to save some money on a few service tasks, cleaning your car is a lot easier than many Boca Raton area drivers may think. To make things easier, the experts at the Jaguar Palm Beach service center has your step-by-step guide on how to clean car seats, including how to clean leather seats, so you can keep your Jaguar vehicle looking fresh and clean! Don’t hesitate to reach out to our service center if you have any questions.

How to Clean Leather Car Seats

Supplies you’ll need to clean leather seats:

1. Leather cleaner, saddle soap, mild leather soap, or one-part white vinegar/two parts linseed oil solution
2. Microfiber towels
3. Interior brush (soft-bristled, NOT a stiff carpet brush)

Step-by-step instructions for cleaning leather seats:

1. Refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for instructions for your model and possible products NOT to use.
2. Vacuum the seats to remove all particles. Be careful that you don’t scratch the leather. Use the smaller attachments or an air compressor to get into the cracks of the seats.
3. Spray the leather cleaner on the microfiber towel, and wipe the seats clean to remove any surface dirt and oils.
4. Spray cleaner onto the seats (if your seats are perforated leather, spray the cleaner onto a brush), and gently scrub the surface with the brush.
5. Wipe the seats using a clean and dry microfiber towel.

How to Condition Leather Car Seats

It’s recommended to apply a leather conditioner regularly to prevent any dryness or cracks. It also preserves the softness of the leather for much longer.

Step-by-step instructions for conditioning leather seats:

1. The leather conditioner should only contain natural ingredients. Avoid products with ingredients like petroleum distillates, waxes, and silicones.
2. On a clean and dry microfiber cloth, apply a small amount of conditioner.
3. Work the conditioner gently into the leather in a circular motion.
4. Allow the conditioner to soak into the leather for about an hour before touching it.
5. Keep the seats out of the sunlight during this stage, as the material needs to soak up the conditioner completely before drying early.
6. Once the seats have fully absorbed the conditioner, gently buff them with a new microfiber cloth.

More Leather Care Tips

1. Try to have microfiber cloths and a cleaning solution in your car to clean your seats of dust, spills, and debris. This prevents long-term damage to the interior.
2. If you have a garage, store it in there as often as possible. This protects your vehicle from extreme temperatures and prolongs the life of the leather.
3. When driving around the Wellington area, park in the shade whenever you can to reduce sun bleaching or damage to the seats.

How to Clean Fabric Car Seats

Supplies you’ll need to clean fabric seats:

1. Cleaning solution spray designed for fabric (NOT an all-purpose cleaner)
2. Interior brush (soft or medium-stiff bristles, NOT a stiff carpet brush)
3. Microfiber towels
4. Enough time for the seats to dry before driving the car anywhere

Step-by-step instructions for cleaning fabric seats:

1. Vacuum the seats to remove all particles of dust, dirt, and hair. The smaller attachments are perfect for getting into the cracks and seams of each seat.
2. If you have a lot of pet hair in your car, wipe down the seat with a lint roller or special pet hair removal tool.
3. With the doors or windows open for ventilation, lightly spray the cleaning solution onto the area you need to clean. Do not saturate the fabric because you don’t want any mildew issues.
4. With the interior brush, massage the cleaning solution into the fabric.
5. When the suds appear, wipe them out of the fabric with the microfiber towel. If the fabric dries before you do this, the dirt just gets pulled back into the fibers.
6. Continue this process until the area is clean, then move on to the next section. Do this until you are happy with how your seats look.
7. Vacuum the seats again to expedite the drying process. Do not use the vehicle until the seats are dried.

Alternatives to Fabric Cleaner

1. Baking Soda: Mix ¼ cup of baking soda and one cup of warm water. Using a toothbrush, scrub out the tough stains. After scrubbing, let sit for 30 minutes, then use a clean cloth or towel to blot away the stain.
2. Club Soda: Use a spray bottle to apply a light layer of club soda to the fabric. Use a soft-bristle brush to scrub out the stains. Be sure to wipe away the dirt as it comes to the surface.
3. Laundry Detergent: Mix detergent with hot water and apply the solution with a spray bottle or sponge. Use cold water on a microfiber cloth to scrub and wipe the dirt away.
4. Vinegar: Mix one cup of vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and a gallon of hot water, and dab it onto the seats and scrub with a brush. Use clean water and a microfiber towel to remove the dirt and suds.

Get More DIY Cleaning & Car Care Tips With Jaguar Palm Beach

After learning how to clean car seats and how to clean leather seats specifically, the team at the West Palm Beach service center is here to help if you don’t have time to clean your vehicle’s interior. Give us a call or schedule a service appointment online. We’ll take care of the rest!