Hi,
 

Had anyone got any experience of removing the seat covers so they can be cleaned? Front Driver, Passenger and Rears Seat and Squab  

Is it possible or is it a tricky job to de-trim them?

Thank you

Can anyone offer any advice or is it better to do this in situ with a steam cleaner / carpet cleaner? Thank you.

On 4/11/2024 at 1:44 PM, willdudeuk said:

removing the seat covers so they can be cleaned? Front Driver, Passenger and Rears Seat and Squab  

You will have to fully remove the seat from the car, and then dismantle it. Not a difficult job, more just time consuming.

The question would be how do you plan on cleaning the covers once removed ?

I think you would get almost as good a job cleaning them on the seat in the car with upholstery shampoo and steam clean.

Most people would wetvac them in situ.

You can either use a proper upholstery cleaning tool, or give them a scrub with a stiff brush and then use a basic wetvac to remove the water.

Any recommendations for a proper upholstery cleaning tool? Is there one you can hire from somewhere? I've never used a steam cleaner before either if that's any different?

They are two very different tools.  It's up to you which you choose.

An upholstery cleaner squirts soapy water which then gets agitated with the brush head.  The water has to be sucked off using the wetvac attachment afterwards and will be contained in a dirty water bottle to be disposed of after.

A steamer simply produces steam which dries within minutes, removes wrinkles from material and kills bacteria, but doesn't have a soaping agent to break down dirt and grease.

You probably can rent them, but tbh they're cheap enough to buy nowadays, assuming you've got space at home to store one.  Rug Doctors should come with an upholstery attachment if they're still available to rent.

Vax do a 'SpotWash' for under £100 which is small enough for car seats.  Though I went for a larger model that does floors as well.  I do my armchair with it occasionally as well.

Is there any reason the covers couldn't be put through a regular washing machine?

Wait for a warm day where they could be hung outside to dry.

I'd be worried about shrinking them in a washing machine and not getting them back on.  They're already a very tight fit to start with.  The airbag sections are also weakly stitched to allow the airbag to burst through, that may come apart with the mechanical action of a washing machine.

If it's an old car and not a daily driver it might be worth the risk, but I don't think I'd try it on a sole daily myself.

Just had a look at trying to remove the 60/40 rear seats and have no idea how they get the covers on them, they are a tight fit.

I think a VAX Spotwash is what I need or a Rug Doctor as you say @TomsFocus.

And yes...Rug Doctors are still available for rent at a reasonable price think it's about £30 for 48hrs though I am tempted to buy or rent a Spotwash.

Not sure which item is better.

Ideally an industrial upholstery cleaner would be what I want but would be expensive I think.