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Car upholstery cleaning products – which one to choose?

Car upholstery cleaning

(photo Moje Auto)

Artur Owczarek
Artur Owczarek

Brand Product Manager Moje AutoHe has been involved in the automotive industry for years. He is passionate about cars and detailing. On his blog, he shares his knowledge and experience, offering tips on how to effectively care for your car and extend its life.

Chocolates, candies, sweet drinks, sandwiches - cleaning car upholstery is undoubtedly a serious challenge. Moreover, the upholstery absorbs moisture and in a car that has not been aired for a long time it begins to stink. Cleaning such upholstery is a complicated process. Appropriate cosmetics are intended for cleaning all types of car upholstery.

From the article you will learn:

  • What are the properties of velor and Alcantara upholstery?
  • What are the stages of comprehensive upholstery cleaning?
  • How to choose an upholstery cleaner
  • How to use cleaning products

These types of products are sold in bottles with a foam applicator or in a spray form. They help maintain and impregnate upholstery and eliminate unpleasant odors, e.g. cigarette smoke. Keeping the interior of your car clean is as important as taking care of its mechanical components. A clean and fragrant interior is also important when selling a car. Which upholstery cleaning liquid should I choose? We give you a hint!

Types of fabric upholstery – velvet and alcantara

It is worth remembering that the way in which it should be done washing car upholstery varies depending on the material. After all, you have to do it differently for velour than for alcantara. 

In some off-road vehicles we can find special upholstery that is easily washable and very easy to keep clean. Unfortunately, most cars have velvet or Alcantara upholstery. Velor upholstery, the more fluffy and soft it is, the more difficult it is to keep it clean. Velor upholstery is very pleasant to use, but cleaning such upholstery is a complicated process. The interior of the car must first be thoroughly vacuumed, because rubbish on the seats or in various nooks and crannies makes washing difficult. After washing the upholstery, it is worth ventilating the car thoroughly and making sure that all elements are dry. It is best to do laundry on a warm and windy day.

Alcantara upholstery it is practical and durable. Alcantara is a fabric used in the production of furniture, yacht, airplane and car upholstery. It is made of synthetic ultra-microfibers. It is characterized by softness, durability, ease of cleaning, abrasion resistance and high durability. It is made of very fine, specially woven polyester and polyurethane microfibers. Polyester gives the product durability and polyurethane makes it soft.  

First, vacuuming

Before we move on to removing dirt and grime, we need to vacuum the upholstery. This will allow us to superficially clean the surface of loose dirt. It is worth choosing a vacuum cleaner with high suction power. This is especially important if you are traveling with a pet that sheds fur. This way, you will effectively suck in the fine hairs that have penetrated the fabric. Be sure to reach every nook and cranny. Dust and food crumbs are definitely found in them. The longer they stay there, the more difficult it will be to remove them, and in the case of food, there may even be an unpleasant odor.

Why is vacuuming before washing the upholstery so important? This stage reduces the risk of leaks. Moreover, dirt that stays on the upholstery for a long time becomes embedded in the material over time, changing its color. This is why car upholstery cleaning should be treated in multiple stages. It is also crucial to objectively assess its condition, which will help in choosing the right cleaning product.

What will you need?

You already know that you definitely need a dry vacuum cleaner. It can be a handy, mobile, battery-powered device that you hold in your hand. A household vacuum cleaner will also work, if you have access to electricity. In addition, water is a must, preferably running water, alternatively a bucket of water. A good car upholstery cleaner wet. It can be in the form of foam or aerosol. Be sure to have microfiber cloths and a sponge or brush with soft bristles on hand. If you are doing a comprehensive cleaning of the interior of your car, check the weather. The upholstery will dry faster if it is warm outside and not raining.

Choosing a cleaning method and detergent for upholstery

The choice of cleaning method depends on many important factors, including the degree of dirtiness and the expected effect. We can decide on extraction washing performed by a professional company or do it ourselves. An important element is the selection of appropriate cleaning chemicals, only in this way will we achieve a satisfactory effect. It will therefore be necessary good car upholstery cleaner! The Moje Auto brand has such products in its offer. These are the Upholstery Washing Liquid + Stain Remover 2 in 1 and the Upholstery Cleaner in Aerosol. These products contain wetting agents and solvents that will perfectly cope with difficult dirt. 

Upholstery washing liquid + stain remover 2 in 1 is a strong detergent for cleaning. Effectively removes dirt and stains from deeper layers of fabric, making fabric seats, upholstery, vinyl upholstery and carpets look like new. Provides excellent cleaning results. In the case of single stains, it can be used as a stain remover.

Aerosol upholstery cleaning agent is a universal foaming agent for cleaning all types of upholstery. Strong foam ensures excellent cleaning results. Please remember to always test the product on a small area in an inconspicuous place so as not to damage the upholstery. Apply the product to the surface to be cleaned from a distance of approx. 20 cm. We must wait a while to allow the preparation to react with the dirty surface and then clean the surface using a damp sponge with large pores, a cloth or a brush. Rinse the sponge and wipe the cleaned surface again. The operation can be repeated if necessary.

It's always a good idea to have moisturizers on hand when traveling Upholstery and fabric cloths Moje Auto Softi brand. The cloths are used for express cleaning. They will help us quickly get rid of stains that suddenly appear while driving, e.g. spilled juice. They are safe for all surfaces in the car and remove difficult dirt.

Find out more about washing fabric upholstery in a car!

How to use car upholstery cleaners?

With each new product, we always check its performance by performing a test on an invisible surface. This is the best way to avoid unwanted effects. For particularly difficult dirt, choose upholstery cleaning liquid + stain remover 2 in 1. Apply a small amount of it to the vacuumed surface, holding the dispenser at a distance of approx. 20 cm. For the preparation to take effect, wait a few minutes. Thanks to this, it will penetrate deeper into the fibers and remove even long-standing dirt. Then clean the upholstery using a damp sponge, cloth or brush. The next step is to wipe the surface with a sponge rinsed in lukewarm water. If necessary, repeat the operation.

In a similar way, we use a universal upholstery cleaner in an aerosol, also remembering to do a test. Upholstery should be cleaned regularly. So don't wait until visible stains appear. Although good car upholstery cleaner should be able to handle most dirt, it is worth regularly vacuuming the car interior and wet removing current dirt.

It is worth remembering that cleaning is not everything. From time to time it is worth to focus on disinfection of car upholstery! After all, it's about our health. 

Summary – products for washing car upholstery

Regardless of the type of material, car upholstery gets dirty quickly and changes color. Even if the driver vacuums the interior regularly, dust quickly penetrates the seat fibers. Dirt in exposed places is additionally fixed by the high temperature to which the interior heats up when parked in the sun. To prevent this, it is worth systematically taking care of the car's interior. After appropriate treatments, the upholstery regains its properties, smells and is protected against further dirt.

  • Velor upholstery is more difficult to clean, while Alcantara is more durable and resistant to dirt.
  • The first step in comprehensive upholstery cleaning is vacuuming it to remove loose dirt and dust.
  • Want to get rid of stains? Choose a good car upholstery cleaner!
  • For difficult stains, choose upholstery washing liquid + stain remover 2 in 1, for regular cleaning, choose an aerosol upholstery cleaner, and when traveling, Moje Auto Softi upholstery and fabric cloths will come in handy.
  • Before using a cleaning agent for the first time, test its effect on a small surface of the material.

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