How to Clean Cloth Car Seats

Co-authored by Chad Zani

Last Updated: October 2, 2022 References Approved

You don’t have to take your car to get detailed to get clean cloth seats. You can easily clean cloth seats yourself. To clean the seats, vacuum the seats, use a light layer of cleaning solution, use a brush to scrub the stain, and then wipe away the excess water and suds with a towel.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Removing Stains

1
Vacuum the seats. Before you clean your cloth seats, you need to remove all debris, dirt, and crumbs. Vacuum the seats well. Make sure to get into the seams. Use your fingers to separate the seams and stick the nozzle of the vacuum into the seams to remove any loose debris.
2
Spray a light coat of cleaning solution on the seat. You should use a fabric or cloth cleaning product to clean cloth seats instead of an all-purpose cleanser. Lightly spray the solution over the area that you want to clean. Try four to five sprays over the area.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Make sure not to spray so much that you saturate the area. This can lead to mold and smells on the cushion underneath the cloth.
Advertisement
3
Use an interior brush on the area. Before spraying cleaner on a new area, work on the area you just sprayed. Work on one area at a time, immediately brushing the area after spraying. Use a soft or medium stiff interior brush to massage the cloth seat.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Don’t use a stiff carpet brush on cloth interiors. This can mess up the cloth fibers on the seat.
4
Wipe away dirty suds with a microfiber towel. Massaging the cloth helps bring dirt to the surface. When the suds start to gather with dirt in them, use a microfiber towel to wipe away the dirty suds. Make sure to do this before it dries, which will put the dirt back on the seat.^{[3]
X
Research source}

EXPERT TIP

Chad Zani
Auto Detailing Expert
Chad Zani is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. Chad is based in the Los Angeles, California area and uses his passion for auto detailing to teach others how to do so as he grows his company nationwide.

Chad Zani
Auto Detailing Expert

Only use a clean microfiber cloth. Make sure the cloth is clean and won't add to the dirt or stain problem on your car seats. It helps to use a light-colored microfiber cloth, that way you can see whether or not you're removing the stain.
5
Repeat until clean. Repeat this same process, spraying, massaging, and wiping, until the area is clean. Remember, the key is light coats before you brush instead of saturating the fabric with solution. It may take three to six coats to remove the stain.^{[4]
X
Research source}
6
Vacuum again after you’re finished. When you’ve finished removing the stain, use the vacuum on the area again. This helps dry up any wet saturation that has accumulated and dry the fabric. Let the seats finish drying before driving the car anywhere.^{[5]
X
Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Alternatives to Fabric Cleaners

1
Try laundry detergent. If you want to try something in your home before buying a specific fabric cleaner, you can try laundry detergent. Mix laundry detergent with hot water. You can place it in a spray bottle or dampen the seats with the solution with a sponge.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- To help rinse the laundry detergent, wet a microfiber towel with cold water. Squeeze out the excess water and scrub the seat to remove dirt and detergent.
2
Use vinegar. White distilled vinegar can be used to make a fabric cleaner. Mix one cup or 250 mL of vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and a gallon or 4 liters of hot water. Dab this mixture onto the seat and use a brush to clean the area.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Use clean water to rinse the solution. Use a microfiber towel to remove any dirty suds.
3
Make a baking soda solution. Baking soda can be used as a cleanser and help get rid of unpleasant smells on cloth seats. Mix ¼ cup or 60 mL of baking soda with one cup or 250 mL of warm water. Place a light layer of the solution on the seats. Use a toothbrush to work over the stain.
- This can help with really difficult stains. Leave on for 30 minutes for tough stains that are stuck in the cloth. After half an hour, blot away the stain with a clean towel.
4
Use club soda. Club soda can be used to get rid of stains on cloth seats. You can spray a light layer of club soda on the stain and use a brush to remove the stain. Reapply as needed, making sure to wipe the excess as it comes to the surface.
- Club soda is good for vomit stains.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Cloth Car Seats

1
Vacuum your car often. Vacuuming your car seats can help keep them clean. Vacuuming up debris and dirt can help prevent things from getting stuck in the upholstery. Consider getting your car vacuumed every one to two weeks, depending on how much dirt is inside.^{[8]
X
Research source}
2
Clean spills and stains as soon as they occur. Another way to help avoid stains on your cloth car seats is to clean up any spills as soon as they happen. You should also deal with debris that causes stains immediately, like mud, blood, or grease.
- As soon as a spill occurs, use a towel or cloth to soak up the mess.
- If something like mud, food, or makeup gets on your seats, clean it with a fabric cleaner as soon as you get home.
3
Set rules for your car. If you are concerned about stains on your cloth seats, consider setting car rules about what you allow in your car. For example, you may not allow people to eat in your car, and only drink beverages that have a lid.
- If someone has mud or dirt on their shoes, you may ask them to remove them and place them in the trunk or in a plastic bag.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I remove laundry detergent from cloth car seats?

Uglymug18

Community Answer

Upholstery cleaner will work. Just spray and scrub. It might take a few tries, but it will come out.