How to Clean a Car Mattress

Taking care of the interior of a car is just as important as maintaining the exterior of the car. You sit in the car to drive around, and keeping it clean is both good for your health and gives you peace of mind. Fortunately, cleaning the mattress in the car is also quite simple thanks to many methods and specialized cleaning products specifically for car mattresses.

Table of Contents

Clean up stains

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Test cleaning products before use. You certainly don’t want a stain remover to damage your upholstery, so test it on an inconspicuous area before using it.

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Pre-treatment of stubborn stains on leather materials. For stains that are difficult to remove on upholstered mattresses, you need to first apply a leather conditioner, then rub the surface with a specialized stain remover. Wait 30 seconds and wipe off the stain remover.

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Remove ink stains. For ink stains on the surface of the mattress, use a hairspray or rubbing alcohol mixed with water. Spray hairspray onto the stain and carefully blot with a damp cloth to prevent the ink from spreading and dripping onto the mattress. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Remove grease stains. For oily stains on the surface of the skin such as lipstick or oil from food, you can use a cotton cloth and paint thinner diluted with water to clean. Pour a little paint thinner into the beaker and add an equal amount of water as the paint solvent. Dip a cotton cloth in the solution and rub it over the stain. Sprinkle salt or cornstarch on top and leave overnight. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Be sure to test the paint thinner on the mattress first to make sure the upholstery is not stained or damaged.

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Coffee stain remover. If you accidentally spill your coffee, dilute it with cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Spray glass cleaner and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Absorb again to remove stains. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Do not rub, just blot so that the stain does not penetrate deep into the car mattress.
If the coffee stain is still visible, you can rub some dish soap on it and wipe it off with warm water. Blot again with a paper towel. Use a hair dryer to dry. Remember to hold the hair dryer away from the mattress surface to avoid burning the mattress. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Clean up the vomit. If someone has motion sickness and vomits on the mattress or floor of the car, you need to clean it as soon as possible so that the dirt doesn’t seep into the mattress. Wipe the vomit and use cold water to dilute the stain. Wash the stain with mild soap and warm water, then neutralize the stain by pouring a little soda water on the rag and blotting the stain. ^{[5] X Research Sources} , ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Alternatively, you can use a paste of baking soda and water. Baking soda also helps absorb odors.

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Remove blood stains. Blood stains are often difficult to remove. Do not use hot water or soap to avoid deepening the stain. Dip a rag in cold water and blot the blood stain. Rinse the rag in cold water and re-soak until the stain is gone. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Clean upholstery material

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Use an all-purpose mattress cleaner. You don’t have to spend a fortune on commercial cleaning products to clean your mattress. Instead, make your own detergent with natural ingredients. Mix 1 part water with 1 part dish soap in a bucket or pitcher. Stir well and pour into a spray bottle.

Spray the solution on the mattress, holding the spray bottle about 15-20 cm away from the mattress surface.
Gently scrub the mattress surface with a soft brush. Use a clean rag and warm water to wipe it off. Wash rags often.
Clean each seat in turn. Wipe down each area one by one before moving on to another.
Use a microfiber towel to dry the mattress surface.

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Use a mixture of soap, borax, and hot water. To make another natural and non-caustic cleanser, grind a bar of soap (like Ivory soap) until you get 6 tablespoons of soap. Put soap in a bucket and add 2 tablespoons of borax. Slowly pour 2 cups of boiling water into the bucket. Add 10 drops of lavender essential oil for fragrance if desired. Cool and stir until the solution is foamy. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Use a soft brush to scrub the soap bubbles onto the mattress. Rinse with warm water and a clean rag. Remember to wash your rags often.
Clean each place one by one. Thoroughly wash one area before moving on to another.

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Use a commercial product specifically designed for mattresses. These cleaners are available at home stores and aren’t too expensive, but they often contain harsh chemicals. You need to follow the instructions on the product label for proper use. Spray the cleaner on the mattress and scrub it with a brush. Rinse thoroughly with water.

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Rent a steam vacuum cleaner. You can rent a steam vacuum cleaner at many stores. This type of vacuum cleaner will help deep clean upholstery and carpets by spraying hot water on the area to be cleaned and sucking the water back immediately. Water will be sucked out of the mattress and dragged along with dirt.

Read the manual on the steam cleaner to operate it properly.
You can buy carpet/mattress cleaning products to use with your steam vacuum cleaner or make a natural cleaning solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water and a few drops of lavender essential oil. ^{[9] X Research Source}
Regularly change the water in the steam vacuum cleaner to ensure that dirty water is not used.

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Use a toothbrush to clean the lines on the mattress. On the seat cushions, there are often seams that can be easily penetrated by dirt and dust, and are often difficult to clean with a rag or a vacuum cleaner. Use a toothbrush to clean these lines by gently scrubbing with a cleaning solution.

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Clean floor mats. Take the floor mats out and use the same mattress cleaning product to clean them. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a microfiber cloth.

With rubber or vinyl carpets, apply shoe polish to the carpet after cleaning to increase shine, make it easier to clean, and easier to keep clean. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Use a clothes roller. Clothes rollers use sticky paper to pick up lint, crumbs, and hair. You can remove hair and debris from upholstered fabrics by rolling over the mattress with a roller. Peel off the paper on the roller from time to time to ensure sufficient adhesion. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Use microfiber towels to limit the lint left on the mattress. The microfiber material won’t leave lint behind when you soak up stains or wipe down the mattress. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Cleaning vinyl upholstery

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Use glass cleaner to clean vinyl upholstery. Vinyl is the easiest material to clean, as spills often just need to be wiped away. Spray all-purpose glass cleaner on the mattress and wipe with a soft cloth. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Clean each seat in turn so that the glass cleaner does not flow and drip onto the floor of the car.

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Use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean vinyl mattresses. You can also use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean and polish vinyl upholstery. Mix the paste with these two ingredients and rub them on each mattress in turn. Finish by wiping with a mixture of mild soap and water. Use a soft and clean cloth to dry.

Oil-based cleaners will harden vinyl upholstery, so they should not be used. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Use a toothbrush to clean the threads. There are seams on the upholstered mattress. Soil can easily accumulate in these lines and are often difficult to clean with a rag or vacuum cleaner. You can use a toothbrush to gently rub the cleaner onto the lines just to clean.

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Clean car floor mats. Take the floor mats out and clean them with the same detergent you used to clean the mattress. You can make an all-purpose mattress cleaner by mixing one part water with one part dishwashing liquid. Spray the mixture onto the carpet and scrub with a soft brush. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and use a microfiber cloth to dry the carpet.

With rubber or vinyl carpets, you can also apply liquid shoe polish to the surface of the carpet to increase the shine and make it easier to clean and keep clean. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Clean upholstered mattress

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Use the leather cleaner to clean the leather mattress. Leather requires more care than fabric or vinyl because it is more susceptible to aging and discolouration. The best way to clean your skin is to use skin-specific cleaning products such as leather cleaners and conditioners. These products are often sold in sets, such as the Wpfgang Leather Care Cockpit Kit ^{[16] X Research Source} or the Pinnacle Contours Interior Kit. ^{[17] X Research Source}

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Turn on the heater. Leather reacts to heat and will respond to detergents more easily in warm environments. You don’t need to turn on the heater if you live in a warm climate. But if it’s in the middle of winter, you should turn on the heater for a few minutes to warm up the car before cleaning the upholstery.

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Pre-treatment of stubborn stains on the leather surface. For tough stains on upholstered mattresses, you need to use leather conditioner first, then spray stain remover on and scrub. Let it sit for about 30 seconds and wipe off the stain remover.

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Use skin care products. Spray leather cleaner on the mattress surface, focusing on each section or seat. Use a soft rag to scrub the mattress. Rinse with clean water.

Follow the instructions on the product label for correct use.

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Use a mild homemade cleanser. You can mix mild hand soap with warm water and clean upholstered upholstery. Do not use too much water. Be sure to clean the soap solution by using a clean rag dipped in water and wiping. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

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Let the surface of the skin dry completely. After cleaning, you need to make sure the surface of the skin is completely dry before applying skin care products. Despite its natural water-resistance properties, leather materials often cannot hold skin care products when wet.

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Use a water-based, medium pH skin care product. Skin care products will add oils to help soften and maintain the beauty of the skin. Cheaper products may be petroleum-based, often clinging to skin and onto clothing. In addition, these products can also leave a sticky greasy layer on the surface of the skin. Using a medium pH water-based leather conditioner will ensure that your upholstery and clothing are in good condition. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Spray leather conditioner on the rag and wipe the leather surface. Wipe off excess oil and wait 15-20 minutes before getting in the car.

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Use a toothbrush to clean the threads. Car upholstery has seams. Dirt and debris can easily accumulate in these seams and are difficult to clean with a vacuum cleaner or rag. You can use a toothbrush to gently rub the cleaner on the lines just to clean.

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Cleaning car floor mats. Take the floor mats out and clean them with the same detergent as you used to clean the mattress. To clean carpets, you can make an all-purpose mattress cleaner by mixing 1 part water with 1 part dishwashing liquid. Spray the mixture on the carpet and brush with a soft brush. Wipe clean with warm water and dry the carpet with a microfiber towel.

With rubber or vinyl carpets, apply shoe polish to the carpet after cleaning to increase shine, easy cleaning and easier keeping. ^{[20] X Research Source}

Car vacuum cleaner

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Use a dry/wet vacuum cleaner. Wet/dry vacuum cleaners like Shop-Vac are powerful and useful machines that can handle many different vacuuming jobs. This type of machine has a long nozzle and a long power cord that makes it easier to vacuum cars.

You can also use a coin-operated vacuum cleaner at the car wash. This machine also has a long nozzle, but you have to put coins in the timer so the vacuuming process can be interrupted.
There are small portable vacuum cleaners that you can also use. This type of machine is often used for cleaning each place, but the capacity is not enough to vacuum cars.

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Use a plastic straw. Most vacuum cleaners have a plastic nozzle, and this is better than a metal one. Metal can scratch your car or its upholstery, especially leather or vinyl upholstery. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Useful tips are those with a wide brush area and a narrow and long tube that can reach crevices.

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Move seat cushion. When vacuuming your car, you need to be sure to reach every crevice and crevice to get the dust out. Recline the chair to clean the creases inside the seat. Move the seat forward to clean under the seat.

Remove the baby seat to clean under the seat, where snacks or crayons are common.

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Remove floor mats. Vacuum underneath the rugs. This step also makes it easier to thoroughly clean the rugs.

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Vacuum regularly. Cleaning the dirt on the car will help prevent sand and dirt from sticking to the mattress and carpet, leading to hard-to-remove stains. Schedule your car to be vacuumed at least once a month, or more often if your car gets dirty quickly.

Hire a professional car care service

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Find car care services. Car care service will help you do a comprehensive car cleaning, cleaning the car mattress, dashboard, air vents, windows and other areas. Ask friends and family or search online for car care services in your area.

Car caretakers must be certified or trained in the correct use of cleaning tools and products. You also need to make sure they are covered.
Check a few places to compare prices.

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Ask for a quote for car care services. Bring the car in so they can estimate the amount of work to clean the car.

However, the car care service will not quote the price in advance if they have not seen the car.

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Test results. Before you pay and leave, you need to check to make sure the car has been cleaned properly. ^{[22] X Research Source} If there is a baby seat in the car, make sure the seat is removed and cleaned underneath.

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Ask them what cleaning products they use. Most car cleaners use commercial products and harsh chemicals. If you prefer eco-friendly cleaning products, you need to find a place to use these products.

Some places may try to cut costs by using cheap cleaning products, which may be harmful or not as effective in the long run as other products. ^{[23] X Research Sources}
This is important if you are sensitive to strong scents or chemical odors that may remain in your vehicle.

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Prepare to leave the car for service. Cleaning the car will take at least two hours and can take longer if the car has a lot of stains or the car is very dirty. Plan errands to do around or have someone pick you up so you don’t have to wait in their garage.

Prevent stains

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Buy car seat covers. Car seat covers will help protect the seats. You can choose one that matches the color of the chair or one that has bright colors and vibrant patterns. There are covers for single-seater seats (like the front seats) and for long benches (like the back seats) and costs about 600-800 thousand VND. Many types of car seat covers are machine washable to make cleaning easier. ^{[24] X Research Source}

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Use anti-fouling products. Anti-fouling products will help prevent stains from sticking to the mattress and prolong the life of the car mattress. Products such as Scotchgard Fabric and Uphpstery Protector are available at home stores.

Follow the instructions on the product label for correct use.

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Clean up spills immediately. Do not let stains stay on the car mattress for a long time if possible. If not cleaned quickly, stains can get deep into the mattress and make it difficult to clean. Moreover, they also cause unpleasant odors in the car.

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Refrain from bringing food or drinks in the vehicle. You can reduce a lot of stains if you limit bringing food and drink into the car. Problems are bound to happen if you stop your car suddenly or eat while driving. Eliminate this risk by not allowing eating or drinking in the vehicle.

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Keep the car tidy. By clearing trash and other stuff out of your car after every ride, you can reduce the stains that can arise from greasy fast food bags or spilled coffee cups. Dispose of garbage immediately after use to avoid piling up and making the vehicle messy.

Remove crayons and other things that melt when it’s hot. The temperature inside the car will be much hotter than outside, and things like wax will melt on the seat cushions if left in a hot environment.

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Vacuum regularly. Cleaning the dirt on the car will help the stains not adhere to the mattress and carpet, making cleaning more difficult. Schedule your car to be vacuumed at least once a month, or more often if your car gets dirty quickly.

Steps