How to clean your car seats like a boss: the complete guide

Let's not lie to ourselves: cleaning the exterior of your car is mostly about keeping it looking good. but the interior can quickly make driving a hassle if it’s not well maintained.

This is especially true for fabric seats, which are notorious for stains and bad smells!

And it’s pretty obvious why when you think about it: they come into direct contact with the passengers’ behinds, and we often drop food and drinks on them... not exactly a recipe for freshness.

But don’t worry, I asked all the best car interior cleaner available on Yoojo to give me all their best tips for seats cleaning.

In this guide, you'll find everything you need :

What products and equipment do I need to clean my car seats?

Before starting, a good worker always gets their tools ready!

So, here I’ll explain all the equipment and products you'll need for a thorough fabric seat cleaning.

Whether it's for a quick tidy-up or a deep clean after years of neglect, these lists will make sure you don’t keep running between the garage and kitchen! let's get kitted out.

For a quick clean:

If you regularly maintain your car or it’s not too dirty, the following list will be enough to clean your seats.

Dor a deep clean:

The equipment and products below aren’t necessary but will drastically reduce the time you spend cleaning your seats.

You can find them at a specialised auto shop :

How do I clean fabric car seats: step by step

I’m all kitted out and ready to scrub? here’s how to properly clean a car seat:

TIME NEEDED: around 2 hours

In an ideal world, I’d remove the seats and take them out of the car. it’s much easier to clean them thoroughly and they’ll dry quicker. because yes, the seats will get soaked, so it’s best to clean them in the morning on a day when I won’t be using the car.

1/ I always start by vacuuming all the parts of the seat, using the different attachments. if I skip this, I’ll risk damaging the seats when I start scrubbing with leftover dirt and crumbs.

2/ if the car smells bad, I’ll sprinkle some baking soda and let it sit for 15 minutes. then I’ll vacuum again.

3/ for stubborn stains, I spray some stain remover onto my brush and scrub the stained area and the surrounding parts to avoid colour differences.

then, I use a microfibre cloth to absorb any leftover stain remover.

BONUS: I’ll explain how to deal with different types of stains further down in this guide.

4/ next, I take my shampoo (or a soap-water mix) and spray it onto the brush. now it’s time to really scrub deep to get rid of all the dirt and smells that have built up in the fabric.

I rinse and repeat with clean product until the seat stops releasing dirt.

BONUS PRO: if I’ve got an injector-extractor or shampooer, now’s the time to use it. it’ll save me loads of time compared to scrubbing by hand, but these tools can be pricey.

5/ I go over the seats with microfibre cloths to absorb as much moisture as possible

6/ if smells persist, I use my special odour remover and repeat step 4.

Ask for help from an expert car cleaner

Cleaning seats with steam: good or bad idea?

You’ll notice I haven’t mentioned steam cleaning yet!

It’s not a bad option as it kills 99.9% of bacteria.

It’s also a good idea if your seats aren’t very dirty. it’s a quick way to clean everything and your fabrics will dry much faster than with shampooing.

But be careful with the intense heat that could damage your seat fabric. don’t forget to use a special car seat nozzle or place a towel between the steam cleaner and your seat.

How to remove specific stains from a car seat

Some stains just won’t go away… they’ll keep coming back and make you want to throw your seats out the window.

But don’t worry, for every problem, there’s a solution! I’ll show you how to deal with them right here:

How do I remove watermarks from a car seat?

Do you know those pesky watermarks on seats? they look like this:

These are the most common stains that appear whenever you spill any liquid on your seats: water, sweat, ketchup, soda… it doesn’t matter, you’ll get watermarks!

The trick to getting rid of them is quite simple in the end: it’s time to pull out the baking soda!

Steps to follow:

1. put on your cleaning gloves

2. fill a bucket with about 1 liter of lukewarm water

3. dissolve two tablespoons of baking soda in your bucket

4. take a soft-bristle brush and dip it in your mixture

5. scrub the whole area where the watermarks are

6. absorb the excess with a microfibre cloth

7. repeat the process a few times with your magical mixture

8. let it dry with all the doors open

9. vacuum to clean up the baking soda

if the watermarks haven’t completely disappeared, you can also try the same process but with a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar.

Have everything cleaned by an expert

Help! my car seats smell like vomit

Parents and party-goers alike have been here before, trying to get rid of that lingering vomit smell in the car seats.

Needless to say, you shouldn’t wait too long to tackle a vomit stain… and let’s be honest, the smell is unbearable!

Steps to follow:

1. start by pouring sparkling water on the stain to help lift the vomit

2. then wipe away the residue with cloths or a sponge (which you’ll likely throw away afterward)

3. mix equal parts warm water and white vinegar

4. add a bit of black soap or Marseille soap to your mixture

5. use your mixture with a soft-bristle brush and scrub deep

6. rinse and repeat, then rinse one final time

7. while the seat is still damp, sprinkle a layer of baking soda on the vomit stain

8. leave the doors wide open

9. let it dry

10. vacuum to clean up the baking soda

11. your car seat should smell brand new

Get your car seats cleaned at home with Yoojo

How do I clean mould off my car seats?

If you live in a damp area, your car interior is likely to develop mould sooner or later. it usually shows up on the seats that absorb moisture and aren’t aired out properly.

Unlike vomit, which is just unpleasant, mould can actually be dangerous for your health… don’t wait to get rid of it! but no worries, here’s how I take care of those nasty spores:

Steps to follow:

1. put on a dust mask and cleaning gloves

2. move your car to a dry place, preferably in the sun

3. ideally, I’ll remove the seats and all mouldy parts for easier access

4. use an anti-mould spray from any auto shop

5. let it dry and repeat

6. prepare a 50/50 mix of borax powder and water

7. use a short-bristle brush and your mixture to scrub the mould stains and surrounding area

8. rinse

9. while the seat is still damp, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda

10. once everything’s dry, vacuum thoroughly

Find a cleaner to wash your car seats

How do I clean mud stains from my car?

Mud is probably the most common stain inside a car, especially for off-roaders who love getting dirty. it’s usually found on the floor mats, but sometimes it ends up on the seats too.

Lucky for me, it’s also the easiest to clean!

Steps to follow:

1. let the mud stain dry. this prevents spreading the mud everywhere

2. scrape the dried mud with a brush

3. wash the stain with soapy water (black soap or Marseille soap)

4. leave to dry with the doors open

And there you go, I’ve got all the tips I need to clean stains off my car seats.

Let’s discover a few “grandma’s tricks” and answers to some common questions in the next section.

Are there any “grandma’s tricks” for cleaning car seats? YES :

Let’s wrap up this guide with a few tried and tested tips shared by experienced car cleaners. 

In fact, some of the best house cleaners have shared their knowledge after completing hundreds of car seat cleanings jobs booked on Yoojo.

I’ll also bust a few myths about cleaning car seats… so I don’t make any mistakes!

Can I use ammonia on my car seats?

❌ Possible, but not recommended

Despite many websites recommending cleaning everything in your car with ammonia, I wouldn’t advise it for several reasons:

• while it does work, ammonia is very strong and can damage your car’s materials

• it’s harmful to your skin

• it’s dangerous for your lungs and your car is a closed space… best to avoid it

• there are better alternatives, so why not use them?

Can I clean my seats with baking soda: yes or no?

✅ yes, it’s possible!

as I’ve mentioned throughout this guide, it’s definitely possible to use baking soda to clean car seats.

generally, you’ll use it in two ways:

1. mixed 50/50 with water for deep stain removal

2. as a concentrated paste to tackle stubborn surface stains

Can I use white vinegar?

✅ yes, it’s possible!

there are a thousand uses for white vinegar around the house, and your car seats are no exception.

whether it’s for stains or smells, refer back to the tips earlier in the guide to know how to use it.

in any case, vinegar is moderately strong, so always test it on an inconspicuous part of the fabric first.

Is it worth getting my car seats cleaned by an expert?

If you’ve read through this guide, you’ll have realised that cleaning fabric car seats is time-consuming and tedious.

But, it’s possible to get your car cleaned from top to bottom without leaving your sofa (and get the exterior cleaned too): that’s the concept of Yoojo!

On our site, you can request a free car wash, specify all your needs, and set the price you’re willing to pay.

Our listed providers will get in touch with you, and you simply choose the one you like.

Request your interior car wash