Cleaning seats please help!

[croftylad]

I would be grateful if some of you detailers out there could point me in right direction with regards cleaning seats. Just recently bought a Primera wagon and the seats could really do with a shampoo or something. I have tried a steam cleaner but that didn't make a lot of difference. Not sure what to use or how to go about it. All help gratefully received. Thanks in advance.
Antony

[xbl]

Do you have a wet vac? If you do then a liberal dose of your chosen all purpose cleaner followed by a good scrubbing then extract all the gunk. If you only have access to the steamer you can use the same apc then steam it, this needs to be dried with a cloth after to absorb the gunk.

[Rich]

Remove the covers and put them through the washing machine. It’s worth it. They will come out like new.

[comfortablynumb]

Jun 16, 2021 20:57:57 GMT Rich said:

Remove the covers and put them through the washing machine. It’s worth it. They will come out like new.

Id be very wary of that, tried it on an old recaro, they shrunk to the point of not fitting any more, even on the coolest setting ☹️

[Rich]

Jun 17, 2021 4:55:41 GMT comfortablynumb said:

Jun 16, 2021 20:57:57 GMT Rich said:

Remove the covers and put them through the washing machine. It’s worth it. They will come out like new.

Id be very wary of that, tried it on an old recaro, they shrunk to the point of not fitting any more, even on the coolest setting ☹️

Sorry to hear that. I’ve not had issues with it in the past but I suppose it is something to be wary of.

[croftylad]

Thanks for your ideas. What kind of soap or shampoo should I use?

[xbl]

Any all purpose cleaner, I like the red flash stuff because it smells nice.

[jgtr]

Interior shampoo (I use Autoglym), soft bristle brush to agitate, damp micro fibre cloth, keep rinsing the cloth in clean water. The microfibre cloth will remove the dirt.

[kabman]

Rinsing the dirt out is key. Otherwise you're just moving it about. Get hold of a wet vac or, as I did, a cheap carpet cleaner off Ebay (3 quid!!!) and suck until almost dry. I use ordinary liquid laundry detergent, diluted in a squirty bottle. If it can clean my pants it can clean car seats. Smells fresh.

[winchman]

Autosmart Brisk in a wet vac and G101 in a trigger spray a small amount as its not for fabric.
Talk to your local Autosmart rep the stuff is great

[macgyver]

Not suitable for every seat or situation but if there are no electrics, airbags etc then I just take them out and pressure wash them. Takes 5 mins and then leave them in full sun for a day to dry and they look like new.

[squonk]

I use Vanish domestic upholstery and carpet cleaner and have had great success with it. Seems to work far better than automotive specific cleaners. If I've had stains that are really refusing to budge I have used white spirit and a flannel.

[shin2chin]

I was shown by an old school upholstery guy years ago. Bucket of warm water with washing up liquid and a course cloth. Dip in the water and squeeze it out until almost dry. Rub on the seats in a circular pattern and see the amount of dirt it pulls out.

[jgtr]

Jun 18, 2021 18:09:36 GMT shin2chin said:

I was shown by an old school upholstery guy years ago. Bucket of warm water with washing up liquid and a course cloth. Dip in the water and squeeze it out until almost dry. Rub on the seats in a circular pattern and see the amount of dirt it pulls out.

I use this method, spray with shampoo then a damp microfibre cloth, sucks the dirt straight out of the fabric.

[dodgerover]

Scrub with very diluted traffic film remover and then wet vac
G101 is fantastic stuff if you can get it, used to be my go to choice