whats the best upholstery cleaner for really grubby car interior

trixyben

have tried loads o products in the past and to be honest i wasnt impressed with any and with most at €10+ plus ive a collection products worth over €150 gathered in the shed...so is there really any products out there that really do what they say on the tin?

MASTER...of the bra

Is Autoglym in your shed?

This thread.

EPM

I use the meguairs leather cleaner and it works well on the leather in my car.

I use the term leather very loosely mind.

Mar4ix

My cars upholstery is very dirty, i am consider take seats out, split them, and take upholstery off seats (if its possible) .... must be some way take them off !!! Otherwise ... seats off the car (4 bolts to remove only)... proper clean and dry. Dont know what use yet... will follow this thread

_Nuno_

Just get a carpet cleaner. Harvey norman has these VAX 6131 carpet cleaners for 99 that will do the job very nicely.

colm_mcm

I've taken the covers off a few cars and machine washed them. Came out lovely.
Beware side airbags.
Set aside a full day for the job. I tumble dried them too.

Did it on:
FTO
Starlet
Xsara
323
2 micras
Accent

With no problems, don't know about other cars that might bobble

_Nuno_

colm_mcm wrote: »

I've taken the covers off a few cars and machine washed them. Came out lovely.
Beware side airbags.
Set aside a full day for the job. I tumble dried them too.

Did it on:
FTO
Starlet
Xsara
323
2 micras
Accent

With no problems, don't know about other cars that might bobble

But how do you take them off? Do you have to sew them back after you put them back?

colm_mcm

Generally the covers have piping on the inside with metal rods through them. The rods are hooked on to the frame of the seat.
No sewing required, usually start at the seat back, remove the headrest, unhook the trim at the back of the seat, back half of the seat is usually hollow, cut off the metal rings holding the rods that the material is attached to. The cover will just pull off then.

Bottom half is easy, material is usually just clipped on from underneath, there may be rings holding rods in too. Unclip and remove.

You may need to detach the seat back from the squab as sometimes the material surrounds the hinge. Easy peasy though.

Generally, anywhere you have a crease in the seat, there's a metal rod behind it pulling the fabric into the foam.

You can use the opportunity to fix any breaks in the bolstering foam. I generally use cable ties and silicone sealer to get it back into shape.

I use cable ties to replace the rings I removed.

Must repeat to be very careful with side airbags in the seat and make sure material is put back the way you found it.

MetzgerMeister

Would it not be a better idea to get the interior valeted? They say that if you are washing a car carpet, to leave it in place in the car in case it shrinks from being in the washing machine.

I'd be of the opinion that this may well happen if you take the covers off, put them in the washing machine and then tumble dry them. They might not fit properly afterwards. I know colm did this with several cars but just be aware!

colm_mcm

You wouldn't clean your clothes with an upholstery cleaner while still wearing them :-)

I have had cars valetd professionally before but never got as good a result.
I know its not the easiest way of doing things, and It's probably a little risky.

Mar4ix

colm_mcm wrote: »

Generally the covers have piping on the inside with metal rods through them. The rods are hooked on to the frame of the seat.
No sewing required, usually start at the seat back, remove the headrest, unhook the trim at the back of the seat, back half of the seat is usually hollow, cut off the metal rings holding the rods that the material is attached to. The cover will just pull off then.

Bottom half is easy, material is usually just clipped on from underneath, there may be rings holding rods in too. Unclip and remove.

You may need to detach the seat back from the squab as sometimes the material surrounds the hinge. Easy peasy though.

Generally, anywhere you have a crease in the seat, there's a metal rod behind it pulling the fabric into the foam.

You can use the opportunity to fix any breaks in the bolstering foam. I generally use cable ties and silicone sealer to get it back into shape.

I use cable ties to replace the rings I removed.

Must repeat to be very careful with side airbags in the seat and make sure material is put back the way you found it.

Thanks for info. Very useful. I have fiat punto, seats never been cleaned since left factory. cheers

trixyben

tried the washing power method mixed in a sprayable bottle did work fairly well took out plenty of dirt, but im looking for the showroom clean on the interior...for example when i looked at a few older used cars at a local dealers the interior fabric is spotless and does really look new...how do they do it? what do they use?

rubensni

trixyben wrote: »

tried the washing power method mixed in a sprayable bottle did work fairly well took out plenty of dirt, but im looking for the showroom clean on the interior...for example when i looked at a few older used cars at a local dealers the interior fabric is spotless and does really look new...how do they do it? what do they use?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNMAmhGrxR8

MetzgerMeister

rubensni wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNMAmhGrxR8

Not only is that video very informative, it's also very humorous which is what you want! Great find!