If something spilled in your car and resulted in an unsightly stain, your first instinct might be to call a professional upholsterer to take care of it. However, this can be time-consuming and expensive, and in the meantime, the stain sets in deeper and becomes more difficult to remove. That’s why a wide range of home remedies exist to help you get rid of stains from your car’s upholstery, leaving it looking brand-new and ready for the next use.
You can get rid of many surface-level stains with a quick deep-cleaning of your upholstery. Optimally, you should deep-clean about every three months, and you can make your own deep-cleaning agent by mixing a cup of vinegar, some dish soap, and a gallon of hot water. Scrub the mixture into the upholstery with a hard-bristle brush, and let it sit for half an hour, then rinse off the extra soapy layer on top and wipe it dry with a paper towel.
You can also clean specialized materials in your car, such as leather and vinyl, separately from fabric upholstery. Use low-pH soap and a cloth soaked in water for leather, while you should opt for baking soda and a damp rag for vinyl. Remember to condition your leather to prevent it from drying out and cracking, and avoid using oil or mineral-based cleaners on the vinyl.
For deeper stains that won’t come out easily, try using glass cleaner (on fabric only). Make sure that it won’t damage the material by testing a small spot at first, and then soaking the whole stained area in glass cleaner for five minutes before wiping it off. You can clean off ink by using hairspray, and blood by making a paste of cold water and powdered laundry detergent.
If you have tried to address the stain yourself with little or no success, you can call a professional upholsterer to take care of the issue for you. That way, you can know that your car is in good hands and will soon look good as new! Make sure that you determine the person’s experience and whether it is even possible to remove the stain at this point.
