How to clean car seats: cloth, leather, vinyl and kids’ car seats

Step by step: how to clean car seats

Safety first. Do not use bleach, hydrogen peroxide or ammonia-based cleaners on car upholstery; Consumer Reports warns they can damage seats and interior coatings. Keep doors or windows open while you work, and do not let liquid run into seat-belt buckles, seat controls or heated-seat elements.

1. 1

   Clear the car and vacuum the seats

   Take out mats, car seats and loose items. Vacuum every seat with the brush tool to agitate dirt out of the fabric, then use the crevice tool along seams, between cushions and under the seats. Slide the front seats all the way forward and back to reach both ends of the rails.

2. 2

   Check the label and test a hidden spot

   Read your owner’s manual for the seat material and any cleaning limits. Spray a little cleaner on a hidden area, such as the back of a seat base, wait a minute and blot. Move on only if there is no color transfer or spotting.

3. 3

   Clean cloth seats one section at a time

   Lightly mist one seat panel with upholstery cleaner or soapy water. Scrub in overlapping circles with a soft brush until it foams slightly, then work the whole panel seam to seam so you do not leave a ring.

4. 4

   Blot or extract the moisture

   Press a dry microfiber cloth firmly into the fabric to lift the dirty foam, refolding to a clean side each time. A wet/dry vacuum or spot extractor pulls out far more water and dirt. The cloth should come up only slightly damp when you are done.

5. 5

   Wipe leather and vinyl seats

   Dampen a microfiber cloth with water and a drop of mild soap, or use a leather cleaner, and wipe one panel at a time. Use a soft brush in the creases and on textured grain. Wipe again with a cloth dampened in plain water, then dry it right away.

6. 6

   Condition the leather

   Once the leather is dry, rub a small amount of automotive leather conditioner into each panel with a clean cloth and buff off the excess after a few minutes. It keeps the leather from drying and cracking. Skip it on vinyl.

7. 7

   Let the seats dry completely

   Leave the windows or doors open for several hours, or for a day if the cloth got wet, ideally on a warm, dry day. Damp cushions grow mildew and smell musty. Do not sit on cloth seats until they feel dry to the touch.

How to clean each type of car seat

Cloth needs moisture pulled back out, leather needs gentle cleaning and conditioning, and vinyl just needs a wipe. The same methods work for the rest of your car upholstery, such as door inserts, armrests and headrests. Your owner’s manual is the final word for your car.

Consumer Reports’ interior cleaning guide recommends simple water and a mild automotive cleaner, saddle soap or a little dish soap on leather followed by a conditioner, and warns against soaking cloth seats because damp cushions breed mold and odors.

How to get common stains out of car seats

Blot fresh spills straight away and treat the stain before the general clean, so you do not spread it.

• Coffee and soda: blot, then mist with cool water and a little upholstery cleaner and blot again. Our coffee stain guide has more on old stains.
• Grease and makeup: sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda on cloth, wait 15 minutes, vacuum, then clean with upholstery cleaner.
• Mud: let it dry completely, brush and vacuum off the crumbs, then treat what is left.
• Vomit, urine and milk: scrape and blot, then use an enzyme cleaner and let it dwell as the label says; enzymes break down the odor source rather than masking it.
• Gum: harden it with an ice cube in a plastic bag and pick it off before cleaning.

How to clean a child’s car seat safely

Follow the car seat manual, because harsh cleaning can weaken parts that protect your child. Consumer Reports’ car seat cleaning advice says removable covers can often be machine washed with mild detergent and air-dried, with no bleach.

• Spot clean harness straps and LATCH straps with a damp cloth and mild soap only; do not submerge them or put them in the dryer.
• Clean buckles with water as the manual directs, and press the button several times to clear crumbs.
• Wipe the plastic shell with mild soap and water, then wipe off any residue.
• If harsh chemicals were used, call the manufacturer about replacement parts.

Why you should air out the car after cleaning

A car is a small, closed space, so cleaner fumes and moisture build up fast. The EPA notes that cleaning products release volatile organic compounds indoors and that ventilation lowers exposure, so work with the doors open and leave the windows down until the seats are dry.

If a smell lingers after the seats dry, the source is often in the carpet or headliner. Our guide to getting rid of smoke smell covers odors that soak into fabric.

Mistakes to avoid

• Soaking cloth seats with water or cleaner, which wicks into the foam and causes water rings and mildew.
• Using bleach, hydrogen peroxide or ammonia cleaners on upholstery.
• Spraying cleaner straight onto perforated or heated leather seats.
• Skipping the leather conditioner, so the leather dries out and cracks.
• Machine washing or bleaching a child car seat harness.
• Closing the car up before the seats are fully dry.