We recommend starting every seat and carpet clean with a thorough vacuum. For suitable fabric, use Stjarnagloss Inni with a soft brush; an extractor such as the Aquarius Pro Valet helps remove embedded dirt and recover moisture. For leather, choose a compatible dedicated cleaner such as AutoBead Leather Cleaner. Work in small sections, avoid soaking the upholstery and allow it to dry fully.
How do you clean car seats and carpets?
The best way to clean car seats is to lift the dirt out rather than just wipe the surface. Seats and carpets take more dirt than any other part of the interior: crumbs, mud from shoes, spills and the everyday grime that soaks into fabric. Keep all purpose cleaners off leather, and leave the car open to dry afterwards.
We explain how to choose between a cloth, an extractor and a steam cleaner, and which interior cleaning products suit the job. The aim is to remove dirt with as little moisture and agitation as the material needs.
Before you start
Vacuum the vehicle's seats and carpets before using any liquid. Child car seats are a separate job: follow the exact seat manual for the cover, harness, buckle, removal and refitting. Do not apply the upholstery, extraction or steam methods below to a child seat or harness unless its manufacturer expressly permits them.
- Clear the car: take out the floor mats and anything loose, so the mats can be cleaned on their own.
- Vacuum everything: do the seats, carpets and the gaps under and between the seats, because loose grit turns into mud as soon as a cleaner goes on.
- Brush as you vacuum: a soft brush frees dirt that sits deep in the weave.
- Test first: try any cleaner on a hidden area, and read the label of every product you use.
How do you clean fabric car seats?
We recommend a cleaner approved for your upholstery, mixed at its labelled dilution. Test a hidden section, then clean one manageable area at a time. Use less liquid around seams, seat controls, heating elements and perforations.
- Spray a small section: spray the cleaner evenly, without soaking the seat, as fabric wetted right through takes far longer to dry.
- Agitate: work the cleaner into the weave with a soft detailing brush to loosen the dirt.
- Lift the dirt out: use a clean microfibre cloth, or an extractor for a deeper clean.
- Overlap the next section: overlap the edges slightly, so you do not leave tide marks.
These are useful options from our range for this step:
An interior cleaner that Stjarnagloss designed for both hard and soft surfaces inside the car.
Better Detailing Premium Natural Boar Hair Detailing Brush
A natural boar hair brush for working the cleaner into the fabric.
Our guide to dilution ratios shows how to mix 10:1 or 30:1 for any bottle. Our interior cleaner guide compares these with the other cleaners we stock for dashboards, plastics and leather.
How do you deep clean car carpets and upholstery?
An extractor is useful for a deeper clean of compatible fabric seats and carpets, particularly when dirt has worked into the pile. It applies cleaning solution and recovers dirty water. It is not essential for every spill: we recommend a controlled spot clean for light marks and extraction only when the upholstery permits it.
Applies detergent and vacuums at the same time, with separate tanks for clean solution (6.5 litres) and recovered water (7 litres). It has an 1100W motor, a 4 bar pump at 2 litres a minute and a 3 metre hose, and the box holds a 4 inch upholstery tool, a 10 inch carpet tool and two stainless steel extension pipes. It weighs 10kg empty.
£399.95In stock
Use a low foaming detergent made for extraction machines, or the waste tank fills with foam:
Equip2clean Carpet and Upholstery Spotting Solution, 5 litres
A light, low foaming carpet detergent for hot and cold water extraction machines, made for machines including the Kiam Aquarius, with an additive against mildew. Spray it directly onto the carpet, or add 280ml per litre of water to the clean water tank.
£30.00In stockEquip2clean Carpet and Upholstery Detergent Powder, 5kg
A non-caustic powder detergent at 30g per litre in the clean water tank, dissolved in warm water.
£29.99In stock
To extract a seat, vacuum it, pre-spray any heavy marks, then pass the upholstery tool slowly over each section while pressing the trigger, and finish with a few dry passes without the trigger to pull out as much water as possible.
Steam cleaner or extractor?
An extractor removes dirty liquid from suitable fabric; steam uses heat to loosen contamination. We recommend checking the surface and vehicle instructions before using either. Avoid directing steam at screens, electrical controls, delicate trim, adhesive-backed materials or child-seat components.
- An extractor is for whole seats and carpets. It flushes the fabric and removes the dirty water.
- A steam cleaner uses heat to loosen grime on hard surfaces, in vents, seat rails and tight gaps, and on individual marks in fabric, with very little water.
A 2000W steam cleaner with steam at up to 5 bar (72.5 PSI) and up to 130 degrees C, a 2 litre tank for 30 minutes of continuous steam, a 2 metre hose and a 5 metre cable. It weighs 3.6kg and comes with a jet nozzle, crevice brushes, extension wands and a squeegee. It is made for car detailing and carpet spot cleaning, and takes distilled water only, with no chemicals or detergents in the tank.
£299.00In stock
| Machine | Job | Tanks | Power | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquarius Pro Valet | Extraction of carpets and upholstery | 6.5 litres clean, 7 litres waste | 1100W motor, 4 bar pump | 10kg |
| Aquarius Pro Steam | Steam for hard surfaces, gaps and spots | 2 litres, 30 minutes of steam | 2000W, up to 5 bar | 3.6kg |
See every extractor and steam cleaner we stock.
How do you clean leather car seats?
Identify the leather finish before cleaning. We recommend a dedicated cleaner compatible with that finish, a hidden-area test and gentle agitation. A pH-neutral label alone does not establish suitability for suede, nubuck, damaged finishes or a previous repair. For AutoBead Leather Cleaner, work like this; check the label and the seat care instructions first:
- Spray: spray it directly onto the leather, avoiding the stitching.
- Agitate: use a soft detailing brush to make a foam and lift the dirt.
- Let it absorb: leave the surface to absorb the foam dry.
- Wipe clean: finish with a clean, damp cloth.
A pH-neutral leather cleaner and conditioner. Check compatibility with the specific leather finish, especially on repaired, uncoated or damaged areas. Monthly use suits most cars; adjust the routine to condition and seat-care guidance.
Keep all purpose cleaners off leather: even AutoBead All Purpose Cleaner is not suitable for it. Our leather cleaner guide compares more leather cleaners and conditioners, including foams for heated and perforated seats.
How do you get stains out of car seats?
Act fast, blot rather than rub, then treat and rinse the mark. The sooner you start, the less the stain sinks into the fabric.
- Act quickly: deal with a spill before it dries into the fabric.
- Blot, do not rub: use a clean microfibre cloth from the outside in, because rubbing spreads the stain and pushes it deeper.
- Treat the mark: spray a fabric cleaner or spotting solution onto it, agitate gently with a soft brush and blot again.
- Rinse it out: extract the area, or wipe it with a cloth dampened in clean water, so no cleaner is left in the fabric to attract dirt.
Browse our carpet and fabric cleaners for more options.
Common questions
How do you dry car seats after cleaning?
Recover as much moisture as possible with dry extractor passes or clean towels, then ventilate the car in a secure, dry place. Do not sit on damp seats or refit wet mats. We recommend planning enough drying time before you start; surface dryness does not mean the padding underneath is dry.
Can you clean car seats with household products?
It is safer not to. Household products are made for other fabrics and surfaces, so use a cleaner made for car interiors where you can, test anything on a hidden area first, and keep all purpose cleaners off leather: even AutoBead All Purpose Cleaner is not suitable for it.
Can you shampoo car seats?
Yes, but extract rather than soak. Spray a fabric cleaner, agitate it and lift it back out with an extractor, then finish with dry passes. Shampoo left in the fabric takes a long time to dry and attracts dirt.
Can you use carpet cleaner on car seats?
A carpet and upholstery detergent made for extraction machines suits fabric seats as well as carpets, such as the Equip2clean spotting solution, which Equip2clean makes for carpets and upholstery. Keep carpet cleaners off leather and follow the maker's dilution.
Remove loose fur before wet cleaning using our pet-hair removal method.
Take removable floor mats out and follow our rubber and carpet mat cleaning guide.
For the roof lining, use the gentler approach in our headliner-cleaning guide.
Need help choosing?
Tell the TDHQ team what your interior is made of and what you need to remove, and we will point you to the right products. You can also browse every interior cleaner, leather cleaner, interior detailing brush and extractor and steam cleaner we stock, or read the correct order to detail a car.
Last updated 16 October 2026.
