Tips for You When Getting Water Stains Out of Car Seats

Simple advice straight from the pros for how to clean water stains off from car seats as well as other upholstery.

It's never the same: the one time you leave your windows closed overnight, and it starts to rain. If you don't remember to set it, the rear windows open completely as you drive over to the vehicle wash. Although the wash is "just water," your seat, be it cloth or leather, appears like someone attempted to apply watercolor paint to the upholstery.

The good news is that it's possible to clean it using a few ingredients and a little bit of patience. Here's how you can get water stains off of car seats, as per the experts.

Move Quickly

As with all stains, the more quickly you respond, the better off you'll be. The longer the stain sits on the furniture, the longer it'll set and get more difficult to remove.

Before you tackle the stain, make sure that you don't contribute to the mess. Remember: Blot, don't rub. Rub, and you run the risk of pushing the stain deeper into the fibers and making it harder to wash away.

Vacuum Up Debris

Experts agree: Begin by cleaning your vehicle seat with a thorough cleaning. This will take out all dirt and dust particles and will make wiping the seat surface much easier in subsequent stages of washing.

Sometimes, these particles or dirt could cause the stain to become more difficult to remove once they've become wet, so it's best to take your time and eliminate them prior to beginning the process of deep cleaning.

Evaluate Your Cleaners

We recommend starting with the tiniest products first before taking out the more powerful ones when the stain is difficult to remove. However, for any stain, experts suggest staying clear of harsh solvents like alcohol, kerosene, and acetone cleaning products.

Pre-treat Darker Stains

An effective initial step, especially for darker stains, is to gently rub about a teaspoon of white vinegar on the stain using a clean microfiber cloth. It should be left for approximately five minutes before wiping it away and then transferring it to shampoo.

Others suggest a mixture of 1 gallon of drinking water, 1 cup of vinegar, and one teaspoon of dish soap for car seats. Note that both these methods are designed for upholstery fabric, not leather.

Shampoo the Upholstery

The solution to any error that you make with pleather or leather car seats is to use the Lexol line. We've tested a lot of products for cleaning and conditioning leather, but Lexol is our top choice by an inch. It's simple, quick, and it can correct a world of wrongs.

Spray and clean using the cleanser with the help of a microfiber towel. This will get rid of dirt and watermarks. Wipe off any excess and let it dry, and then apply the conditioner. Rub it in and let it soak for a couple of minutes, similar to a hair conditioner. Wipe it off using your microfiber towel. POOF!

To clean upholstery, you can use Woolite Upholstery & Carpet Foam. It's a foam-based cleaner that allows you to reduce the amount of product you use and also not accidentally push a ton of soap down into the cushion of your seat. Then a Woolite to be safe to color and safe for fabric. Blot using a microfiber cloth for finishing.

If the fabric appears to be sturdy, lightly employing an upholstery tool to clean any staining that is stubborn from the crevices is okay. Be careful not to overdo it.

Prep and Protect

Once you've removed the stain, remember to plan and secure it in the event that it happens again.

As with cleaners, there are numerous sprays for fabric protection and waterproofing available. Be sure to ensure whether it's suitable for the material in your vehicle. Make sure to try the product in an isolated area to make sure it's compatible with the upholstery. Make sure to maintain the leather.