Published
Coffee, grease and salt stains on car seats: how to clean them
A stain comes out most easily if you deal with it straight away: blot up the liquid by pressing, and do not rub. Use only a little water and test every cleaning product on an inconspicuous spot first. If a stain has already dried into fabric upholstery, wet cleaning of the seats usually removes it better than home remedies.
First aid: blot, don't rub
Press clean paper or a cloth onto the stain and move to a fresh part as it gets wet. Rubbing spreads the stain and pushes it deeper into the fibres. If you clean the stain with a damp cloth, work from the edges towards the centre so it does not spread.
Before you use any cleaning product, test it on the bottom edge of the seat or another spot that does not show. If colour comes off on the cloth or the surface changes, stop.
Coffee and other drinks
A fresh black coffee stain often comes out of fabric upholstery with just lukewarm water: dampen a cloth, press it on the stain and blot again with a dry cloth. If the stain does not come out, use a cleaner made for upholstery.
Drinks with milk or sugar in them need more careful cleaning. Sugar leaves a sticky patch in the fabric that attracts dirt, and milk residue starts to smell. Do not use hot water on a milk stain, because heat sets the milk proteins into the fabric.
Grease
Grease does not dissolve in water alone. First remove the excess carefully with the edge of a spoon or by blotting, then wash the spot with a mild detergent diluted in water. Use only a little detergent, because any left in the fabric attracts fresh dirt.
Salt stains
In winter, road salt carried in on shoes leaves white marks on the mats and the edges of the seats. First vacuum up the dry grit and salt. Salt dissolves in water, so a damp cloth and lukewarm water are often enough. Finally, press the spot as dry as you can.
Leather and faux leather
On leather and faux leather, liquid usually stays on the surface, so wipe it off straight away with a damp cloth. For a grease stain, use a cleaner made for leather. All-purpose cleaners, alcohol and solvents can dry out or dull the surface. You will find more detailed advice in our article on cleaning leather seats.
Avoid these
- Too much water. Water soaks into the padding under the upholstery, which dries slowly. The damp can cause a musty smell, and as the spot dries, a ring is often left around the edge of the stain.
- Bleach and strong solvents. They can fade fabric and damage the surface permanently.
- Hard brushes. They make fabric bobble and scratch leather.
When a stain will not come out
A dried or old stain is hard to remove with home remedies, and too many attempts can spread it. Total interior cleaning (€189–229) includes full interior cleaning and wet cleaning of the seats. Leather seats are cleaned too, using a different method from fabric seats. The job takes 4–8 hours. Tell us about the stains in the Message to the shop field when you book, and mention if you have already tried to clean them with a product.
Some stains will not come out completely whatever the method, especially if they have been in the fabric for a long time. That is why quick first aid is the best remedy.
Wet cleaning for your seats
Total interior cleaning €189–229, including wet cleaning of the seats. Book online or call us.