After a point in time, the car’s interiors including its upholstery get untidy. Upholstery is a fabric that covers the car interior including the seat, the roof and the floor. When it comes to cleaning the car upholstery removing water stains is a common problem. Water bottle spillage, wearing wet clothes that soak water in the seat’s fabrics and leaving the car window open while it rains are some of the causes that make the car upholstery untidy. We have compiled a list of useful ways to remove water stains from car upholstery.
Tips to Remove Water Stains from Car Upholstery
As water evaporates on car seats it usually leaves a mineral deposit that appears as dark stains. Moreover, water left on the car upholstery for too long seeps into fibres, which causes stains and discolouration. Moreover, if a wet car seat isn’t dried properly, it results in mould and mildew, which leaves an unpleasant odour.
Car upholstery water stain removal can be a little tricky, that said it is possible with the right approach. Try cleaning the water spots sooner than later. As it is easier to remove fresh water stains than old watermarks. Here are 5 useful ways to remove water stains from car upholstery.
Step 1 – Vacuum the Car Interior
Before removing water stains from car upholstery, remove any litter in the car including crumbs, dirt and debris from the seats with a car vacuum. If any of these items come into contact with moisture, they can develop more stains. Apart from vacuums, here is a list of other essential products for car interior cleaning.
Step 2 – Use an Appropriate Car Upholstery Cleaner
To remove water stains from car upholstery, choose a safe high-quality cleaner according to your car upholstery material. Consider if the type upholstery is of cloth, suede, vinyl, leather, etc and choose a cleaning solution accordingly. To give the entire interior a fresh look, clean all the car seats instead of the ones with water stains.
That said, go through the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and test the upholstery cleaner on a small spot and then use it for the entire upholstery. Steam car wash is also common to remove water stains from car upholstery. Steam dissolves stains effectively and it is safe to use on luxury leather and other types of upholstery. Moreover, go through this guide on car cleaning for more effective vehicle cleaning tips .
Step 3 – Dissolve the Cleaning Solution into the Water Stain
Work the car upholstery cleaner in the fabric with a soft-bristled brush. This ensures all leftover dirt, debris and traces of mineral deposits are removed. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing the car seats too hard to prevent damaging the material.
A homemade solution can also be used to remove water stains from car upholstery. Just mix white vinegar and water in equal parts in a spray bottle. Then spray the solution on the water stain and let it sit for a few minutes.
Next, blot the area with a clean towel. Keep repeating the process till the stain disappears. Test this on a small sport first before cleaning the entire water stain.
Step 4 – Wipe the Seats to Remove Water Stains from Car Upholstery
Wipe the seats with a clean, dry towel. After the towel stops soiling, you’ll know the car upholstery is clean. Some upholstery cleaners require a moist towel. That said, make sure to wring the towel properly to remove excess water. Don’t use a dripping towel on your newly cleaned upholstery. Here is how to clean car seats without leaving water stains.
Please note that in addition to removing water stains, you’ll need to sanitise the car to clean musty mould odours. Useful tips to make a car smell fresh include sanitization. It gives your car a fresh and clean smell. However, if cigarettes are causing an odour problem, here is how to remove the cigarette smell from a car.
Step 5 – Dry the Car Seats
Once done, allow the upholstery to dry completely. For a quick drying process, open the car windows. A pedestal fan or blow dryer can also be used to dry the seats. Parking a car under direct sunlight is not advised as the harmful rays can damage the car’s upholstery. You can park your car in the shade and leave the windows open to dry car seats.
Those were some effective tips to remove water stains from car upholstery. Remember, it’s better to prevent harm beforehand. Therefore, dry off any wet items such as water bottles, soft drink cans, juice boxes or frozen items etc before placing them on seats.
Besides, the car’s exterior surface can also have water spots, here is how to prevent water spots on a car.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s auto blog for more on car DIY solutions, car repair tips and much more.
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