Cleaning Car Seats without Water

Cleaning car seats can be a bit of a hassle at the best of times. When you have no water, it only seems to get worse. That is, unless you know the tricks to cleaning car seats without water. Surprisingly, it is still relatively easy to do. Relatively easy, though a little more difficult than it would be if you were using water. That being said, it is possible to get the job done. All you need to do is follow these simple steps and guidelines, and you will have your car seat clean once again.

1. Start vacuuming. When cleaning a car seat without water, it is usually best to begin by vacuuming it thoroughly first.
2. Get a cleaner. Go to a auto parts store, and purchase a can of spray foam commercial cleaner that has been designed for the carpets in cars. While you can use the foaming carpet cleaner that is designed for homes, it will not work as well as the ones designed for cars.
3. Pick the right time. Pick the right time of the day, or the right day to do the work. The day should either be a shady, overcast and cool day, or you need to do the work in the early morning, or later at night. You do not want to do this in the hot sun, or the product will dry too fast and not work.
4. Work small. Do one small area at a time, before moving onto the next. Do not foam the whole car at once and expect to do a good job. While it may take you a day or two to do the entire car, it will be worth it in the end.
5. Work quickly. The product works by spraying white foam onto a seat, and using a plastic "brush head" to work it into any bad spots. The foam then lifts the dirt out of the seat (or carpet) material as it dries. The foam will dry fairly quickly, so do not wander off and let it sit for several hours. Remember to only use enough to work on the stain, since using too much can soak into the seats, and it can be difficult to remove and possibly damage the seat cushions.
6. Brush, then vacuum. Once the foam is dry, brush it and then vacuum it up. Be careful though since the material may still have some of the solvent in it. A day or two after you have cleaned the foam up, vacuum it again to ensure that you get everything. In addition, leave the windows open after cleaning to let the vehicle air out.
7. No smoking! Some of these products are flammable, so be careful when using them. If you smoke, then do not smoke while using the products.

Another method that you can use to clean up some smaller messes with is to spread a little bit of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) around. Sprinkle the powder around and then wipe it up with a large towel. This should help remove many of the smaller messes that children can make in your car.