The Best Way To Clean Your Dirty Car Seats, Whether They're Cloth Or Leather

Between kids, pets, and the occasional spilled latte, car seats can get downright gross. You don't necessarily have to hire a professional detailer — the internet is full of step‑by‑step guides and hacks for cleaning them yourself, whether they're cloth or leather.

Let's begin with some upholstery cleaning basics. Start by vacuuming to remove loose debris, but go gentle if your seats are leather. This prevents dirt from turning into mud. No matter the material, always start at the top of the seat and work your way down. Dirt falls with gravity, and cleaning top to bottom means you won't re-soil clean areas. Go easy on the water, to dampen but not saturate. Excess water can seep into the foam and padding, leading to mildew or a musty smell you won't be able to shake. When you're done, finish with one final vacuuming to get rid of any dirt that worked its way loose during the cleaning process.

Now that we've outlined the essential rules, here are some of the best techniques we've found to get rid of grease, grime, and whatever nasty messes your car seats have managed to acquire.

Cleaning cloth seats starts with vacuuming with an upholstery tool attachment to get into seams and cracks where hair and crumbs hide. Pretreating especially pernicious stains is a good idea. You can use a bleach-free laundry powder to make a paste, then lightly work it into the stain with a small brush or damp cloth.

Following up with a mild upholstery cleaner ensures a clean seat without damaging the fibers. Lightly mist the area and scrub gently with a soft brush in circular motions, then rinse by wiping with a damp microfiber to gather residue. Make sure you give fabric seats plenty of time to dry, with windows cracked or a fan going to prevent mildew growth.

Leather requires a gentler touch. Begin with a mild vacuum or soft brush to lift surface dust. Instead of direct sprays, apply a pH-balanced leather cleaner onto a microfiber cloth and wipe the surface in small circles. Harsh chemicals like ammonia, bleach, or heavy-duty cleaners can strip leather of its natural oils and damage the finish, so it's best to avoid them entirely. After cleaning, follow up every few months with a leather conditioner to maintain suppleness, help prevent cracking, and protect against sun damage. 

You don't need expensive specialty products to handle the mess in your car. Many of the common products you can clean household stains with can also be used in your car. White vinegar is a star when mixed with water and a dab of dish soap — it tackles odors and fabric stains effectively. 

For quick cleanups, club soda works just as well on car seat stains as it does on clothes. Just lightly dab it and blot — it won't over-wet the area and helps remove stains gently. Baby wipes also offer a mild yet highly effective solution, handy for small, fresh messes when you're on the go. However, do keep in mind that these methods are temporary fixes, not replacements for a full clean.

On the flip side, there are things to avoid. Household bleach, petroleum-based cleaners, and harsh solvents can severely damage both fabric and leather. Leather in particular should never be sprayed directly. Always apply cleaner to a cloth first to prevent saturation around seams. Finally, while steam cleaners are effective on cloth, the temperature is too high for leather and can cause the material to warp.

The key to maintaining clean, long-lasting car upholstery is really about building small, consistent habits and reacting quickly when messes happen. One of the smartest things you can do is tackle spills and stains immediately. It might seem harmless to leave that splash of soda or drop of coffee until later, but time is your upholstery's worst enemy. The longer a substance sits, the more it soaks into fabric fibers or penetrates the pores of leather, allowing stains and funky odors to bond with the material, which is not a good look for any car.

Keeping a few basic cleaning tools in your car like wipes or a spot treater can make all the difference. By addressing stains quickly, you prevent long-term damage and keep your interior looking sharp. Applying the same standard of consistent care to the interior of the car that you do under the hood will ultimately help your vehicle last longer and hold its value.