How to Remove Liquid Spills from Fabric Vehicle Upholstery

Last Updated: September 12, 2019 References

Over time car owners may experience spilled coffee while going over a bump in the road, leaks from a child's sippy cup, or a punctured gallon of milk in the back seat. If spills aren't cleaned quickly, liquid may soak into the seats, resulting in stained and dingy seats and an unpleasant smell. They can even reduce your car's value. Avoid the hassle of deep-cleaning stubborn stains, and remove liquid spills from vehicle upholstery as soon as you notice the mess has been made.

Steps

1
Dab the spill with a dry washcloth or paper towel to absorb as much of the liquid as possible.^{[1]
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2
Spray vehicle upholstery cleaner onto the spill, or dab it on with the washcloth.
- You can purchase upholstery cleaner formulated for car interiors, or use 1 part laundry detergent diluted in 2 parts warm water.
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3
Follow the instructions on the bottle of your upholstery cleaner. Some may need to be vacuumed up after a certain amount of time setting into the spill. Others, including laundry soap and water, should be scrubbed into the spill.^{[2]
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4
Scrub the spill using a dry terrycloth towel or a soft-bristle scrub brush.
5
Blot excess cleaner or soap with a clean, dry paper towel or washcloth.
6
Soak a washcloth in lukewarm water, and dab it over the spill to wipe away any leftover soap residue.
7
Park your car outside with the windows down to quickly dry the area of the spill.^{[3]
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8
Examine the spill once it has been cleaned and allowed to dry completely. If you can still see staining, repeat the process of scrubbing, rinsing and drying.^{[4]
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Community Q&A

Question

Will this work on cocktail juice stains?

Community Answer

Those stains are a bit harder to remove, but it should still do a pretty good job with removing them.

Warnings

Review your vehicle owner's manual to make sure your seats aren't covered in any special material that requires a certain cleaning process or product.

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Only use manufactured stain removing cleaners that specifically list they are meant for use in vehicle upholstery. Some cleaners may cause damage if they are used on fabrics they aren't intended to clean.

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