How to Clean Car Seats

There’s not much worse than owning a nice car or truck and realizing your seats are a bit dirty. At Fort Dodge, we know you want your vehicle to be as clean and like new as the day you purchased it. But there is always that fear of trying to clean a seat and ending up making it worse rather than better. So what is the best way to clean car seats? Let’s go over some of the basics.

Leather Seats

Leather can be easier or more finicky, depending on the type of leather.

A typical slick leather can usually be cleaned with a damp cloth, leather cleaner, or by using a vinegar mixture of a cup of vinegar, a few drops of dish soap and about a gallon of hot water in a bucket.

If you have a suede-type of leather, dabbing leather cleaner with a soft cloth or simply using water on a soft cloth is usually your best bet.

Cloth Seats

For other materials, such as cloth, using an all-purpose cleaner can do the trick, but always try the cleaner out in an inconspicuous spot first to make sure that it doesn’t remove any color, leave a stain, or change the look or feel of the material.

If you are really worried about cleaning your seats, you can always resort to a soft cloth dampened with water only. Another option is to have your seats cleaned professionally by a company you trust.


Clean Immediately

If Possible The biggest note on keeping your seats clean is to clean a stain as soon as possible, especially if the weather is hot. Never let a spot set in and start with dabbing, not rubbing!

Also make sure to vacuum your seats regularly so that crumbs or other debris does not get rubbed into your upholstery either.  

Keeping your seats clean is important, but following these easy tips should make it easier!


If you have any questions about how to clean your car seats, stop in or call us at Fort Dodge Ford in Fort Dodge, IA today! You can check out our current inventory online as well!