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  1. #1
    mrclean81's Avatar
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    Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    This has been a tough area for many of us for years. There are a few different ways of going about cleaning cloth seats but they all have their fall backs. Anyone who has tried to remove water rings, soda stains, or anything for that matter from cloth seats know that its not as easy as it sounds. The first thing we go for is normally an extractor if one is available. While this will usually take care of the original stains, the chances of you soaking and extracting evenly is slim. This will cause NEW stains and more problems for you. In some extreme cases Ive known of folks pulling the seats out and pressure washing the entire seat. The drawbacks to that method are obvious so I wont go into that. Another way is to use a stain remover or dry foam and scrub them by hand. While this will also work, the down side is the same as using an extractor. Your not likely going to clean them evenly so they wont dry evenly. Vapor steamers will usually do a great job, but honestly how many noobies or weekend warriors own one?
    After running across seats like this over and over and trying everything I could think of with little luck, I decided to think WAY out of the box and I came up with this method. Its been in the experimental stages for almost a year now and Ive had very good luck and very good results from it. I wanted to do a wide variety of different manufactures seats before claiming its safe. So far so good, but I claim no responsibility for what you do to your car.

    Here are a few shots of some seats before using this method just to give you an idea of what Im trying to remove.




    Things you`ll need - A rotary or DA polisher, a clean, dedicated pad (wool works best but foam will work. (Dedicate this pad strictly to seats. You dont want to reuse this pad on your paint the next day), spot or stain remover of your choice, and a couple cans of dry foam such as Blue Corral Dri-Clean or Tuff Stuff.

    The process is fairly simple but it does make a bit of a mess so make sure you havent dressed the interior or cleaned the windows yet.

    I start off by spraying each stain or problem area with a spotter or stain remover and let it stand for a few minutes. I`ll normally go over every seat before moving on to the next step. This in theory should be breaking down the stains while your working on your first seat.


    Next, prepare your pad. I prefer wool pads but Ive also used foam pads with success as long as they arent super soft. Make sure the pad is clean and free of anything that may cause staining or damage.


    Since your spotter has already been sprayed on the trouble spots, coat the entire seat with dry foam and let is set for a minute or so. Dont wait until the foam has entirely disappeared. Using your machine on a low setting, slowly scrub the foam into the seat. It really doesnt matter if your using a rotary or a DA. All you need is the circular motion and the power of the machine. Continue to scrub the entire seat. Dont forget head rests, along with the sides and back. Theres more to a seat than where you plant your butt



    Once you`ve scrubbed the entire seat and the foam is gone, the seat should be a little damp but not wet. Take a clean and dry microfiber towel and wipe the entire area around the seat down, including the seat. Within an hour of being done they should be dry enough to sit in. Shampoo seats with an extractor and your looking at hours of drying time so thats another plus for this method.

    Once your done, the results should come out something like this.






    I still consider this method to be in the experimental stages, and I do request that if anyone tries this, to please post some before and afters. Id love to see how this works out for others.
    Likes SweatTheDetails liked this post

  2. #2
    Iomcamaro's Avatar
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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    This looks promising.

  3. #3
    Auto Detail & Restoration Concours.John's Avatar
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    I`ve heard you mention this. The results look great. Your using twisted wool right?
    One day I`ll get to do my own car.
    Concours.John Facebook

  4. #4
    CCH Auto Appearance, LLC C. Charles Hahn's Avatar
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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    Didn`t you once mention using the foamed wool for this?
    Charlie
    Automotive Appearance Specialist - Serving Greater Lansing, Michigan
    http://www.cchautoappearance.com/

  5. #5
    mrclean81's Avatar
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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    My favorite pads to use are the foamed wool ones. Thats what I started out using, but decided to try out different ones and honestly they all worked about the same. When I took these pics I didnt have a foamed wool pad with me.

  6. #6

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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    This sounds great.Ill have to try it . Some people use a extractor and end up soaking the seats. I usually just mix up a ammonia and water solution and just wipe down the seats. That also pulls out a lot of dirt . I also use spray foam at times.

  7. #7
    mrclean81's Avatar
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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    Yes the pad I used on these was twisted wool. I like them because they are thicker than the foamed wool and absorb a lot of the cleaners. The only down side is they will at times shed some of the wool and throw it all over the car. Ive had this happen twice. Not really a huge deal if you have an air compressor to just blow it back out, but if someone didnt have air it could cost them a few minutes of time wiping everything back down.

  8. #8
    Rasky's Auto Detailing RaskyR1's Avatar
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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    Gina seems to really know her stuff when it comes to stains like these....


    Talk about water spots - Truth In Detailing Auto Detailing Forum

  9. #9
    mrclean81's Avatar
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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    Quote Originally Posted by RaskyR1 View Post
    Gina seems to really know her stuff when it comes to stains like these....


    Talk about water spots - Truth In Detailing Auto Detailing Forum
    Those are really gross. I run across seats like that pretty often since I do so much low end wholesale cars and trucks. I didnt see her process though..curious as to how she does hers.

  10. #10
    Rasky's Auto Detailing RaskyR1's Avatar
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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    Quote Originally Posted by mrclean81 View Post
    Those are really gross. I run across seats like that pretty often since I do so much low end wholesale cars and trucks. I didnt see her process though..curious as to how she does hers.
    Yeah, she`s pretty tight lipped about the actual process. They are using expensive CFR extractor machines. Getting it clean and then dried quickly to reducing wicking is about all the info she gives.

  11. #11
    polisher's Avatar
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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    nice do u have a good method for leather cleaning too??i am getting some cracks
    Lexus Rx300

  12. #12
    mrclean81's Avatar
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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    Quote Originally Posted by polisher View Post
    nice do u have a good method for leather cleaning too??i am getting some cracks
    Keeping a good conditioner on leather is just as important as wax on paint. Without it your seats dry out and crack. Once the damage is done, all you can really do is start regular conditioning to keep it from getting worse. Im about to give the Zaino Z9/Z10 combo a whirl. Poorboys Leather Stuff is great too. I would try that first.

  13. #13
    Just One More Coat Beemerboy's Avatar
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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    Quote Originally Posted by polisher View Post
    nice do u have a good method for leather cleaning too??i am getting some cracks
    Leatherique is what I use for cleaning and conditioning. The cracks are not going to go away by cleaning or conditioning, its part of what leather will do with normal wear and tear. If you leather seats are getting some age on them, the foam cushion might be compressing, and the leather will look loose, that can increase the cracks. The solution is to replace the foam cushion.

    Not sure if AG handles Leatherique but they have their own web site with tons of good info on it.
    Old Enough To Know Better, Too Stupid To Care....

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  14. #14
    CEE DOG's Avatar
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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    Excellent article! Thank you

  15. #15
    mrclean81's Avatar
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    Re: Shampooing Cloth Seats (according to me)

    Quote Originally Posted by CEE DOG View Post
    Excellent article! Thank you
    Thanks. I hope someone gets some use from it

 

 
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