Talking About Cars

When you keep your car upholstery clean, it will look better, last longer and help maintain the value of your car.  If your upholstery is dirty or damaged, you first have to see just how bad off it really is.  There are replacement options out there, but if a good cleaning is all that’s needed, there are several approaches you can take.

And when it comes to cleaning your upholstery, you shouldn’t immediately discount the professional option.  Every major city has car detailers who will do a wonderful job for a reasonable fee.  In fact, if you’re getting the car ready for resale, a professional detailer might be money well spent.  And if you have an especially tough stain, the pros may be the way to go.  They have a lot of tools at their disposal and many people find it to be well worth the cost.

Or, if you’re going to clean the upholstery yourself, you need consider your specific options as they relate to the stain.  For lipstick – a common car upholstery stain – rub with white paste toothpaste on the stain and then wipe it off with a damp rag.  In the case of battery acid, make a paste of baking soda and place it on the stain as soon as you can.  Then, just it wipe away.   There may be some stain left, although that should clean up with a commercial upholstery cleaning product.

Gasoline can also be a big problem for the interior of motors.  Fortunately, there’s an easy solution – mix two teaspoons of white vinegar and dish soap into about a quart of water.  Scrub the mixture into the stain with a soft brush and then let it dry.  If there’s any stain left, repeat the process.

In addition, crayons are a wonderful way to occupy a child on a long car trip, although your child may actually be more occupied with getting crayons on your seats or your car seats for baby.  In that case, scrape off the largest part of the crayon.  Then, use WD-40 on the stain and let it stand for a few minutes.  Take a stiff brush and work on the stain, frequently wiping with a towel.  After this, apply the WD-40 again and place some liquid dish washing liquid on top of that and work again with the brush.

Eating in the car is also a reality – but so are the stains that result.  As quickly as possible, get all the excess liquid up to prevent it from soaking in.  Now, get out the upholstery cleaner.  If you don’t have one at home, you can rent one from your local hardware store.  Wait a few minutes and then scrub the stain with a clean, old tooth brush.  Wipe the soap away with a clean cloth, then repeat as necessary.

Ink can also be especially challenging.  First, don’t wipe, but instead blot away any excess ink.  Now, take hairspray and cover the stain heavily.  Let it set for a few minutes.  This will seal the stain and prevent the ink from spreading.  Next, apply a commercial cleaner to remove the remaining ink.  Just be sure to use a lot of paper towels to clean the stain frequently.  With a little elbow grease, your upholstery will be good as new.