Can You Clean Car Seats With Dish Soap? Try This Method

There are countless supplies used to clean car seats, including vacuums, stiff bristle brushes, laundry detergent, and various soaps. However, some harsh chemicals can cause permanent damage to your car seats. Dish soap could be the quickest, most affordable solution.

You can clean car seats with dish soap by mixing one teaspoon of dish soap with one cup of white vinegar and a gallon of warm water. Dip a soft sponge in the solution and gently scrub all stains on the car seats. You can scrub the entire seat, then use a car seat freshener afterward.

Throughout this article, you’ll learn how to clean your car seats with dish soap, whether or not it’ll ruin the upholstery, and what soaps are safe for car seats.

How to Clean Car Seats With Dish Soap

To clean car seats with dish soap, follow these instructions:

1. Stir one teaspoon of all-natural dish soap into a bucket or bowl with one cup of white vinegar and a gallon of warm water. Steer clear of dish soaps with dyes and harsh chemicals. I’d advise against using dish soap that has antibacterial additives, too.
2. Soak a puffy sponge in the aforementioned solution for 30 seconds. Try the Carrand Yellow Bone Sponge. This soft sponge is perfect for cleaning the inside and outside of your vehicle without leaving abrasive scuff marks and scratches. You can also use it around the house.
3. Scrub the soaked sponge all over the car seat to remove stains and foul odors. Make sure you don’t use an abrasive sponge. Also, don’t pour dish soap directly on the car seats. The thick liquid will soak into the upholstery and cause bigger problems.
4. Turn on the air conditioner or use a chamois to dry the car seats. Running high-powered fans will also dry the soaked seats. I recommend doing this process when it’s warm outside to prevent the cold temperatures and humidity from causing mold and mildew on the car seats.
5. Repeat steps two through four to spot-treat tough stains on the car seats with dish soap. There’s no need to go overboard on the dish soap; a little goes a long way. The last thing you need is to have to scrub dried soap out of the car seats.

Quick Tip: Use Velcro strips to remove dog hair from your car seats. Pet hair can get caught in the fabric, making it nearly impossible to remove it by hand. You can also try using duct tape or a lint roller if you don’t have Velcro patches.

Will Dish Soap Ruin Car Upholstery?

Dish soap won’t ruin car upholstery unless you use it incorrectly. Applying dish soap directly to the car seats can cause damage. The soap soaks into the seats and gets under the fabric, making it impossible to remove without tearing the seats apart. Instead, mix the soap with lots of warm water.

New Gates School highly suggests washing your car seats when they’re warm. They’re much easier to clean, not to mention the fact that they dry much quicker when it’s hot outside. You won’t have to deal with soaked seats or unwanted bacterial growth.

Keep these tips in mind to prevent dish soap from ruining your car seats and upholstery:

• Cut the dish soap with white vinegar. Vinegar works wonders when it comes to eliminating bacteria and gross smells. It goes away eventually, so you don’t have to deal with the sour, sharp scent for too long.
• Only use a very small amount of dish soap. It’s best not to use more than a teaspoon at a time. Many people have had luck with using a couple of drops of dish soap, especially if they only need to clean a small stain on their car seats.
• Apply the soap solution with a soft sponge, not a rag. Rags and abrasive sponges damage the car seats and loosen the fabric.

It’s equally as important to ensure that you’re using the right kind of soap for your car seats. There are hundreds of dish soaps, most of which are fine for your car’s upholstery. That being said, using the wrong ingredients can ruin your car seats. Let’s dive into the best soap options for your car seats below.

What Soap Is Safe for Car Seats?

Dish soap and Castille soap are safe for car seats. Many car cleaning companies sell soap specifically intended for car seats and upholstery. Always mix any soap with water before using it to clean your car seats; otherwise, it’ll damage the fabric.

According to NY Times, Castille soap is one of the best solutions for cleaning car seats. Mix it with warm water for a quick and easy cleaning method. Castille soap is generally a safer, cleaner alternative to a lot of harsh chemicals designed for car cleaning.

For example, Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Soap has nothing but all-natural ingredients. You can use it around the house or in your vehicle. This soap cuts through grease, grime, and other debris on your car seats for nearly instant results.

Before using any soap, make sure you contact the manufacturer. Plenty of people have used Castille soap and dish soap to clean car seats, but some materials aren’t as durable as others. You wouldn’t want to ruin high-end car seats with low-end, harsh dish soap.

When you’re done with this process, you could add various car fresheners. I use the car trees, but you could also use sprays, cleaning liquids, and so on. Keep in mind that the vinegar scent from the previous solution will go away after a couple of hours. However, the clean soap scent sticks around for a bit.

Wrapping It Up

Maintaining a clean car feels and looks great. It all starts with the interior, so make sure you use some of the tips found above to clean your car seats with dish soap. If you want to wash the outside of your vehicle with household cleaning products, try cleaning your car windows with Windex. Make sure you choose the right type, though.