Detail the Upholstery as Part of Good Car Care
Car Seat Cleaning is Important Vehicle Maintenance
Sep 15, 2009
A dirty car interior is unsightly plus it is likely that dirt and sand will reduce the use the vehicle will receive. Ground in dirt and sand particles eat away at the textile fibers of the car seats and carpet. Whether the car owner intends to use the vehicle for a short time and replace it or the plan is to drive it until the wheels rust off - maintaining the interior with proper cleaning is a good idea. A mild cleaning will be sufficient most of the time but an occasional deep cleaning is a smart choice for an owner to make.
When to Schedule Car Cleaning
Detailing the car interior should ideally be a part of the vehicle’s regular scheduled maintenance. Unless the vehicle gets extremely dirty the basics should be done around the time oil changes are due – about every three months. The basics include simple tasks like vacuuming the carpet and the seats. Wiping the dash with a moisturizing cleaner and polishing the inside of the windows with glass cleaner are also included in basic cleaning.
Deep cleaning the car seats and vehicle carpet should be scheduled every year if basic cleanings are skipped. If basic cleanings are done according to a maintenance schedule then deep cleaning can wait as long as five years. Interiors that are not maintained according to this kind of rigorous detailing maintenance schedule show more wear than properly maintained vehicles. Whether the goal is having a car that lasts for years or reselling the vehicle it is worth the time and effort it takes to clean the vehicle properly.
Detailing Car Seat Upholstery
There are many great car seat cleaning products available commercially. Cleaning products are as easy to find as making a trip to the local car parts store or department store. There is another thing that is extremely effective for cleaning car seats; laundry soap, a scrub brush, and warm water. It is best to test a spot under the the seat for colorfastness before washing the whole seat. It is also important to avoid the kind of laundry soap that contains bleach to avoid fading valuable upholstery fabric.
The easiest way to thoroughly detail the car seats is to remove them from the interior of the car. It is easier to see spots in brighter external light. Car seats will also dry more quickly in open air. Normally four bolts hold the seat in place. Bolts will be very tight and the work space is tiny. Remove the bolts and carefully unplug any wire harnesses found under the seat. The wires usually attach to the light in the dash that turns red if seat belts are unfastened or to electric seats. The back seat will lift out of most cars with a little bit of wiggling and lifting.
Carpet Cleaning in the Vehicle
The perfect time to clean the carpet is while the car seats are out of the vehicle. Commercial cleaners work well for carpet cleaning - but laundry soap, scrub brush, and water are also very effective. After vacuuming, pre treat any spots or stains, and then scrub the carpet. It is best to avoid completely soaking the carpet because drenched carpet will take a very log time to dry. A circular motion works best because scrubbing in a circular motion helps to fluff the nap of the carpet and keep it looking its best. If the carpet is unusually wet or taking too long to dry it is safe to blot it with absorbent cloth or towels.
To finish the interior detailing - replace the car seats, re-hook any wires that were detached, and securely replace bolts. This type of car care is a detailed process and is somewhat time consuming but it is worth taking the time to do.
 |
