Cleaning Fabric/Cloth Car Seats

  1. 1

    Vacuum thoroughly before any wet cleaning

    Vacuum the seats using a crevice tool to remove loose dirt, crumbs and debris from seams and creases. Wet cleaning without vacuuming first turns dry dirt into muddy residue that is harder to remove. Pay attention to the cracks between the seat and backrest.

  2. 2

    Apply upholstery cleaner and scrub

    Spray a dedicated car upholstery cleaner (Turtle Wax Upholstery Cleaner, Meguiar’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, or 303 Fabric Cleaner) onto the seat. Let it dwell for 1–2 minutes to penetrate the fibres. Scrub with a medium-stiffness brush in circular motions. For stubborn stains: let the cleaner sit longer before scrubbing.

  3. 3

    Wipe clean and dry

    Wipe up the cleaner and loosened dirt with clean microfibre cloths. Rinse the cloth and wipe again if needed. Open the car windows or doors to allow the seats to air dry fully — sitting on damp fabric seats causes mould and mildew odour. A wet-dry vacuum speeds drying significantly.

Cleaning Leather Car Seats

  1. 4

    Wipe with a barely damp microfibre cloth

    Vacuum first. Wipe leather with a microfibre cloth barely dampened with water — remove surface dust and grime. For more thorough cleaning: apply a small amount of dedicated leather cleaner (Lexol Leather Cleaner, Chemical Guys Leather Cleaner) to the cloth — not directly to the seat — and wipe in circular motions.

  2. 5

    Apply leather conditioner

    After cleaning, apply a leather conditioner (Leather Honey, Lexol Conditioner, 303 Leather Conditioner) with a clean cloth. This restores moisture to the leather, prevents cracking, and maintains its suppleness. Leave for 10–15 minutes then buff off any excess with a clean cloth. Condition leather seats every 3–6 months.

Treating Specific Stains on Car Seats

  • Coffee and food: Act quickly. Blot up excess, then use upholstery cleaner or a mix of dish soap and cold water.
  • Ink: Rubbing alcohol on a cloth, dabbed (not rubbed) at the stain. Test on a hidden area first.
  • Vomit: Remove solid matter first. Spray with a 1:1 white vinegar and water solution. Sprinkle baking soda, leave 30 minutes, vacuum up. Repeat with upholstery cleaner.
  • Grease: Sprinkle cornstarch to absorb. Leave 15 minutes. Brush off. Apply dish soap directly, work in, then clean with upholstery cleaner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Steam cleaning works very well on fabric/cloth car seats — the heat kills bacteria and odour-causing mould while the steam loosens embedded dirt. Not recommended for leather seats — excessive heat and moisture can dry out and crack leather. For fabric seats, steam cleaning followed by extraction (wet-dry vacuum) gives a thorough deep clean. Car detailers use this method professionally.
For general musty smell: sprinkle baking soda generously over dry seats, leave for several hours or overnight, vacuum up thoroughly. For cigarette smoke: wipe all surfaces with white vinegar solution, leave a bowl of activated charcoal in the car overnight. For pet smell: enzyme-based cleaner (Nature’s Miracle, Biozet Attack) breaks down organic compounds causing the odour. For severe odours: an ozone generator machine (hire from car detailers) is the most effective treatment but requires the car to be empty and unoccupied during treatment.