Cleaning interior.....any tips???

[KenSekiguchi]

Hey, I have decided to clean the carpet and cloth seats in my 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX. I have never thoroughly cleaned cloth seats or the interior before and I would like to do a great job the first time around. Any tips or suggestions? Thanks.

[vms150]

rent a steam cleaner

[noTe]

If the seats are really bad, you could take them out and high pressure spray them at a car wash bay. Spray them with soap then rinse. Use the vacuum to get some of the water out and let them dry.

[habitatxskate]

call your local carpet cleaning company (or stanley steamer) and ask if they have a stair tool or upholstery tool, explain that you'd like your interior steam cleaned and ask if they could work out a price.

my father owns a carpet cleaning business and i do a lot of work cleaning and i doubt they'd take the job since its so small and would prob cause more $$ than u'd expect so you should offer to meet them at the place of business so they don't have to come to you.

[pacer07]

Originally Posted by noTe

If the seats are really bad, you could take them out and high pressure spray them at a car wash bay. Spray them with soap then rinse. Use the vacuum to get some of the water out and let them dry.

Noooo! Dont do this.

If its minor use a warm damp microfiber on the seats and make sure you scrub them evenly and keep rinsing your towel and going back over the seats. You can use some velour type cleaner as well. A steam cleaner is ok for seats but you must spend time to get the water out for them to look even. For carpet do the same unless they are heavy soiled then use a steam cleaner with some mild carpet cleaner.

[Kean]

....the following thread may be helpful:

http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...detailing.html

I would suggest starting there since it outlines the general process pretty well. ....and please don't listen to the advice about hosing down your seats. .....holy cow.

[V6TurboTA]

Originally Posted by noTe

If the seats are really bad, you could take them out and high pressure spray them at a car wash bay. Spray them with soap then rinse. Use the vacuum to get some of the water out and let them dry.

Dont do this... EVER.

[SubieGenius]

Originally Posted by noTe

If the seats are really bad, you could take them out and high pressure spray them at a car wash bay. Spray them with soap then rinse. Use the vacuum to get some of the water out and let them dry.

And thats why drugs are bad ladies and gentlemen.

[itskrees]

I personally use Meguiar's APC+ diluted 20:1 and agitate the carpets and seats (not leather obviously) with an upholstery brush. Afterwards, I go over it with my shop vac to remove the remaining liquid and they come out good as new.

[KilroyNo1]

If your cloth seats are quite badly and stained, use TSP (trisodium phosphate). There are the granule and the white powdered types, you want the white powder. Put a little in a bucket of warm water and dip a small scrub brush into it and then go at it on your seats. Any stains will just disappear. Have a white drying cloth handy for when you are done scrubbing and wipe it over your seats until they are relatively dry, then take a look at the cloth and see just how dirty your seats were. You'll need to let the seats air dry for a few hours to get them perfectly dry afterwards.

[sittinsideways]

if your just doing your seats most detailing places wont charge you more than 25$ 30 bucks just for your seats to steam clean them. id just take it there and let them worry about it unless your that set on doing it your self.

[RossLH]

Originally Posted by sittinsideways

if your just doing your seats most detailing places wont charge you more than 25$ 30 bucks just for your seats to steam clean them. id just take it there and let them worry about it unless your that set on doing it your self.

I've heard steam cleaning our seats is a big no-no.

[spooledyou]

vacuum the carpets, then use a carpet cleaner, and then put them in the washer. Not sure what to do about the seats, I usually just vacuum mine.

[boostdog]

i just completely cleaned my wife's car last week and spot treated the seats/carpet..here's what i did and it worked vwey well. interior looks brand new. pulled the front seats out to get to the center console and entire carpet. vac. everything very good using our hyla vac ( like a rainbow ) then used stanyley steamer carpet cleaner in a spray bottle with hot water and went to the stains.. believe me the back seat and carpet where my son sits was very dirty! after a few sprays and using the vac to pull the water out so did the stains..did this to all the seats too as well as the floor mats. we also used magic erase sponges to get out the dirt and grime on all the panels. this car was horribly neglected over the past 6 months, as i never drive it and didn't realize how bad it was. honestly the car has 45k miles on it and it looks as good as the day we bought it.

then we hit the entire interior with meguiers detail spray. looks great! now she doesn't want to trade it in...

[Subarudave09]

Originally Posted by RossLH

I've heard steam cleaning our seats is a big no-no.

airbag sensors in seat i dont wanna get wacked in the head while cleaning

[dlinares90]

just vacuum the inside with a skinny extension attached so you can get all the hard to reach places. Make sure you take your mats out and wash them down. I suggest to get some seat cleaner after you wipe everything down so it smells really good. If your floor is carpet based, then get some carpet freshner and spray it under the mats. Good luck

[noTe]

Originally Posted by pacer07

Noooo! Dont do this.

If its minor use a warm damp microfiber on the seats and make sure you scrub them evenly and keep rinsing your towel and going back over the seats. You can use some velour type cleaner as well. A steam cleaner is ok for seats but you must spend time to get the water out for them to look even. For carpet do the same unless they are heavy soiled then use a steam cleaner with some mild carpet cleaner.

If the seats are majorly horrible it is perfectly fine to do it. A friend and I just did this to a truck he was trying to flip and the seats came out great.

Originally Posted by V6TurboTA

Dont do this... EVER.

Wrong

Originally Posted by SubieGenius

And thats why drugs are bad ladies and gentlemen.

Yeah, because I've never done any illegal drugs in my life. Get a clue.

[V6TurboTA]

If you are powerwashing interiors bits... you might want to consider doing drugs instead.

Think

[pieces]

If you have the patience you can remove the seat cover and wash them in the washing machine. I'm assuming not leather. I did this to my old L a month or so ago and it was like having a new car again- till my wife tipped a coffee cup over yet again.

It is a bit of a PIA because you have to get in there with needle nose pliers and remove all the metal support work (rings and metal bars) from the foam. However, despite all the work once I put them back in I was very pleased. Also, thankfully the coffee only went on the floor mat so crisis averted there.

[Subi_Boy06]

Don't ever pressure wash any part of you car.... ESPECIALLY interior CLOTH parts... Steam clean would be the best if they are that bad... A pretty neat idea is to use sprayaway window wash squirt a little bit onto a microfiber cloth and rub the areas... I learned that from a professional detailer.

[V6TurboTA]

Originally Posted by pieces

If you have the patience you can remove the seat cover and wash them in the washing machine. I'm assuming not leather. I did this to my old L a month or so ago and it was like having a new car again- till my wife tipped a coffee cup over yet again.

It is a bit of a PIA because you have to get in there with needle nose pliers and remove all the metal support work (rings and metal bars) from the foam. However, despite all the work once I put them back in I was very pleased. Also, thankfully the coffee only went on the floor mat so crisis averted there.

That is the only way I would consider "washing" a cloth seat.

You want to avoid getting the foam wet at all cost. A powerwasher will saturate it to the point where it will probably not dry unless you cook it

[stierzy34]

Originally Posted by noTe

If the seats are really bad, you could take them out and high pressure spray them at a car wash bay. Spray them with soap then rinse. Use the vacuum to get some of the water out and let them dry.

bitch, are you retarded?

[STimul8ed]

I have an 05 sti and I have some kind of stain on my seat. Whats the best cleaner to use on the seat? I believe its suede and I hate to bleach it or ruin the seat all together. Thanks

[Kean]

Originally Posted by STimul8ed

I have an 05 sti and I have some kind of stain on my seat. Whats the best cleaner to use on the seat? I believe its suede and I hate to bleach it or ruin the seat all together. Thanks

....it's Alcantra (a fabric that has the look and feel of suede). The following link contains the care instructions from the company that brought the fabric to market:

http://www.alcantara.com/en/experien...anuale_eng.pdf

The English instructions start on page 10. ....for a light cleaning solution you may try a diluted mix of Woolite and water in a spray bottle (~6:1 - 10:1). I believe the key is not to over saturate the fabric and try less aggressive methods first (like a damp non-dyed/patterned towel or sponge). ....hope this helps.

[bigpatskize]

Originally Posted by Kean

....it's Alcantra (a fabric that has the look and feel of suede). The following link contains the care instructions from the company that brought the fabric to market:

http://www.alcantara.com/en/experien...anuale_eng.pdf

The English instructions start on page 10. ....for a light cleaning solution you may try a diluted mix of Woolite and water in a spray bottle (~6:1 - 10:1). I believe the key is not to over saturate the fabric and try less aggressive methods first (like a damp non-dyed/patterned towel or sponge). ....hope this helps.

Nice that was really helpful bro now I know what I will be doing this weekend.