cleaning seatbelts?

[shaunls1]

Hey guys I got a question for ya.

I got a 04 escalade ext with the tan/shale interior

and when I got my truck the seat belts are dirty in some spots and they

Don't come out there mounted in the seat so what's the best way to get

Them like new?

my Camaro also has the same problem but.im redoing the whole inside

but the.truck is the one that bothers me.



Thanks

 

[Lonnie]

Some detailing/cleaning pros use steam or a high-pressure washer on them. Pull them out as far as possible, close the door, and let 'em have it. Sounds "stupid" until you see the results.

I've tried Meg's AP and Oxy-Clean mixture on some dirty ones, using a tooth brush to aggitate the really dirty areas, with limited success. Once you do get a belt wet, common sense would dictate leaving them pulled out to dry rather than letting them retract into the side-post and become moldy/mildewy or rust (or corrode) the retracting mechanism and reel. Some people are a little leary about using cleaning chemicals on belts and the effect they have on the fabric webbing and sewing thread. Again, I would use common sense and rule out using something that is caustic to aluminum (Like OTC Simple Green) or REAL bleach.

A more serious threat to the integrety of a belt is the everyday wear-and-tear belts are subjected to. A visual inspection is all one needs determine the condition of a belt. This tends to be an over-looked area on high-mileage used cars that are sold.

 

[Accumulator]

Hey guys I got a question for ya.

I got a 04 escalade ext with the tan/shale interior

and when I got my truck the seat belts are dirty in some spots and they

Don't come out there mounted in the seat so what's the best way to get

Them like new?

The belts in my '04 Yukon XLD came clean with some soaking in, IIRC, APC. I pulled 'em out, put some clips on them to keep them from retracting, and soaked them for a good long time. Also used the steamer. Heh heh, what I remember being the PIA was rinsing out all the suds!



The ones on my beater-Tahoe (also light gray, but much worse) are resisting my efforts, so I might just eat the ~$250 and get new ones. Yeah, the belts *do* come out, it's just a hassle on some vehicles. I weigh the cost against my time/hassle and think about how I'll feel a year or two down the road...I usually forget the expense and appreciate the nice new stuff.