Cleaning Cloth Seats

[negusm]

The 85 coupe cloth seats I got off from ebay are in fantastic condition except they do need a cleaning. The back seats are like new except for a slight stain along the bottom area...hardly noticeable when installed I think. The fronts are "lightly" used and just have a hint of dirt about them...no real stains except where the two pieces attach and there is a bit of grease at the hinge location which I think could be gotten out with simple green.

Should I just leave them and put them away (the dirt/stains have probably already been on for years) or clean them and then put them away. I imagine its better to get the dirt out sooner than later.

So what the best way to do an over all cleaning of cloth seats? I have used simple green on carpetting with good success but was wondering if I should try something a bit gentler.

Mike Martinelli had suggested that cleaning down carpets with Tide was good...I was thinking that using Tide and a soft brush all over would be the best...then let them sit in the sun to dry.

Should I try and get them professionally steam cleaned? Dry cleaned? Ideas?

-Mike

[Sandy]

Steam Cleaned or Dry Cleaned might ruin them.

You NEED Spray-9. Spray-9 is a product that I am never without.
I have used it on both leather & cloth with equal results. It's gentle,
*AND* very very effective. Has it gotten out every stain I have ever tried it on? NO, it has not. But it has had a minimum effectiveness rate of at least 85%. It's not something you leave on for a long time. You spray on a very liberal (not political) amount, and mush it around with a soft brush. I like using a tooth brush. If you are doing a large area, you'll want a much larger brush. Just don't buy one with stiff bristles. SOFT & very flexable bristles is much much better. Around here, by me, only 1 store carries it, and that store is not by you.
You can call the mfgr. and ask where by your zip code they sell it - OR - perhaps they will UPS it to you. Here's the place that makes/distributes it:-
Knight Marketing Corporation
251 North Comrie Avenue,
Johnstown, New York 12095

Tele:- 1-518-762-4591

[negusm]

I grew up 30 miles away from there. Spray Nine is well known to me. And I think I have some at home.

-Mike

[bigzeke42]

I use a product called TUFF STUFF MULTI-PURPOSE FOAM CLEANER good for fabric, carpet and vinyl. It's works good for me.



















i

[n20capri]

I'd spray them with superclean and then "buff" the area with a clean terry cloth towel. Keep turning the towel to the clean side and you will see the towel turning brown. Buff several times with clean side of towel and let dry...repeat if necessary...

[negusm]

I'd spray them with superclean and then "buff" the area with a clean terry cloth towel. Keep turning the towel to the clean side and you will see the towel turning brown. Buff several times with clean side of towel and let dry...repeat if necessary...

Super clean is pretty strong. It won't hurt the fabric?

How do you "buff" fabric? Just press the towel onto the chair?

-Mike

[n20capri]

I'd spray them with superclean and then "buff" the area with a clean terry cloth towel. Keep turning the towel to the clean side and you will see the towel turning brown. Buff several times with clean side of towel and let dry...repeat if necessary...

Super clean is pretty strong. It won't hurt the fabric?

How do you "buff" fabric? Just press the towel onto the chair?

-Mike

No it won't hurt the fabric...dilute it 50% if you want. Buff as in get a nice square of the towel and rub the area back and forth. You don't have to press down too hard just rub back and forth. When that square gets dirty fold it around to get a clean part and buff some more...do that a few times and let try. Repeat as necessary.

[CHAZ]

That cloth material is hard to damage but what does end up happening when people try cleaning them on their own is they are not able to extract what they apply to do the cleaning and leave a residue behind that can't be removed without a defoaming agent. My advice would be that depending on the cond. of the material and how long it sat - go with a reputable steam cleaning co.(i.e. Stanley Steemer) - Dont go cheap because in the carpet and furniture cleaning ind. you most definately get what you pay for and end up calling back the more expensive guys to clean up the mess anyway. Without seeing them in person - you can do it yourself if you have a home unit or even a shop vac- just AVOID SHAMPOOING. Use rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle with club soda (75% alc/ 25% club) mist the seats - do not stream - until they are damp then use a soft brissle brush to agitate the surface of the cloth then vacuum, drying time is extemely minimal and won't leave a residue- neither will steam cleaning -if done by the right company. Sorry for being long winded - but have been around the biz a long time and this is a subject that merits a full explanation.

Charles

[n20capri]

That cloth material is hard to damage but what does end up happening when people try cleaning them on their own is they are not able to extract what they apply to do the cleaning and leave a residue behind that can't be removed without a defoaming agent. My advice would be that depending on the cond. of the material and how long it sat - go with a reputable steam cleaning co.(i.e. Stanley Steemer) - Dont go cheap because in the carpet and furniture cleaning ind. you most definately get what you pay for and end up calling back the more expensive guys to clean up the mess anyway. Without seeing them in person - you can do it yourself if you have a home unit or even a shop vac- just AVOID SHAMPOOING. Use rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle with club soda (75% alc/ 25% club) mist the seats - do not stream - until they are damp then use a soft brissle brush to agitate the surface of the cloth then vacuum, drying time is extemely minimal and won't leave a residue- neither will steam cleaning -if done by the right company. Sorry for being long winded - but have been around the biz a long time and this is a subject that merits a full explanation.

Charles

Yea sometimes if there is residue, once the area is dry, I re-"buff" the area with a wet (but rung out) clean terry clotch towel (no cleaning stuff this time). I'll do this a couple times to get rid of the residue.

[negusm]

I have this bissel spray and vacuum deal.

Should I use it? Fill it with 50/50 super clean and spray it on (lightly) and use the vacuum to pull it back out.

-Mike

[n20capri]

I have this bissel spray and vacuum deal.

Should I use it? Fill it with 50/50 super clean and spray it on (lightly) and use the vacuum to pull it back out.

-Mike

Well to me it sounds like they aren't quite that dirty...I'd just spray and buff! lol. I could make a video of what I mean if you want...lol

[n20capri]

I have this bissel spray and vacuum deal.

Should I use it? Fill it with 50/50 super clean and spray it on (lightly) and use the vacuum to pull it back out.

-Mike

Well to me it sounds like they aren't quite that dirty...I'd just spray and buff! lol. I could make a video of what I mean if you want...lol

I'm a dork I made a video anyway! lol. This is my Honda but the idea is the same.

Video of technique: (Make sure the bottle is on spray not stream to start )
(Right Click the Picture - Save Target As)



This is before (the black mark was worse than the pics shows...it was grease:


After (came out perfect):



This is the towel and how I fold it:


Hope this helps...works on anything cloth...Feel free to add to archives or post elsewhere...

[negusm]

Cool video. Thanks!

[randygarciargg]

The 85 coupe cloth seats I got off from ebay are in fantastic condition except they do need a Carpet cleaning brisbane . The back seats are like new except for a slight stain along the bottom area...hardly noticeable when installed I think. The fronts are "lightly" used and just have a hint of dirt about them...no real stains except where the two pieces attach and there is a bit of grease at the hinge location Carpet Cleaning Sunshine Coast which I think could be gotten out with simple green.

Should I just leave them and put them away (the dirt/stains have probably already been on for years) or clean them and then put them away. I imagine its better to get the dirt out sooner than later.

So what the best way to do an over all cleaning of cloth seats? I have used simple green on carpetting with good success but was wondering if I should try something a bit gentler.

Mike Martinelli had suggested that cleaning down carpets with Tide was good...I was thinking that using Tide and a soft brush all over would be the best...then let them sit in the sun to dry.

Should I try and get them professionally steam cleaned? Dry cleaned? Ideas?

-Mike

Hello guys just making use of this old thread. I need effective carpet and upholstery cleaner. I am not willing in investing professional cleaning services so please suggest some natural DIY cleaning methods and products

[tfs2121]

Tide laundry detergent.