While time on the road is a perfect opportunity for quality time, it can be messy business. Whether you’ve got kids dropping crumbs between the seats or pets shedding hair on the upholstery, your car will likely need a thorough clean before you head off and when you get home.
Here are our top tips for keeping your car looking its best, as well as the ultimate cleaning solutions to get the job done.
Vacuuming the seats
The easiest way to pick up crumbs, hair and other dry mess off your car seats is a quick vacuum. A cordless hand or stick vacuum will be your best friend when cleaning your car, eliminating the need for long power cords or outlet swapping.
A compact model like the Vax Quick Flip Pro Hand Vacuum Cleaner will allow you to easily manoeuvre around your car’s interior, with its mini powerhead ideal for cleaning car mats and removing pet hair from upholstery. Alternatively, a 2-in-1 cleaner like the i-Vac Animal Stick Vacuum Cleaner transforms quickly from a stick vacuum to a hand vacuum, offering you the same level of convenience.
Both these handy cleaners also include a dedicated crevice tool, which is perfect for getting down between seats and into all your car’s hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.
Removing upholstery stains
Spills are a common occurrence while driving, and without immediate action they can often form sticky spots or stains. For fabric seats, you can treat these stains in a similar way that you would your carpet.
A compact carpet shampooer like the Bissell Little Green® Portable Spot Stain Carpet Cleaner features a flexible hose to target mess in cramped spaces, while a pretreatment spray trigger allows you to give particularly stubborn stains a little TLC.
After a thorough shampooing, ensure your car has enough airflow to dry completely. Wet seats can cause mould and mildew growth if left for too long.
Cleaning leather seats
Shampooing leather is never a great idea. Water can cause damage to your seats, warping them and ruining their appearance. If you’ve spilled anything on your leather interior, opt for a steam clean instead.
The Hoover Heritage Hand Steamer is a compact cleaner that will target stains, dirt and grime without the use of chemicals. Steam helps to shift mess without direct water contact, while also sanitising and eliminating unpleasant odours - particularly helpful for cleaning up after pets.
Steam clean sparingly to minimise the risk of water-logging your leather.
For more cleaning solutions to keep your car in top shape, shop our wide range here.
