Captain seats shampoo

Post by **Jonnyb416** » 15 Mar 2012, 14:53

My new seats arrived today

Although they're in great condition I'd like to give them a good old clean.

Anyone have any advice, hints and tips please?

Jon.

Post by **g60steve** » 15 Mar 2012, 15:44

Use a wet vac...Henry or similar.

If you haven't got one of these then you can hire a Rug Doctor from B&Q and do the house carpets at the same time.

Alternatively phone a mobile valeter for a price for cleaning the seats....most charge £25-£30 for a full interior so I should think a tenner for the 2 seats at the most?

Some people use a jet wash but I'm not keen on this method as the seats take an absolute age to dry out....plus you're only forcing the muck into the base and backrest rather than removing it.

Post by **Jonnyb416** » 15 Mar 2012, 16:30

Cheers g60steve a few things to think about there.

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 15 Mar 2012, 17:43

A VAX, and Astonish carpet cleaner (low foam) - available in most £1 shops. Brought mine up like new first time I did them.

Post by **ronsrecord** » 15 Mar 2012, 18:41

Valeting blogs recommend Astonish - and it's nice and cheap.

Post by **scottbott** » 15 Mar 2012, 20:46

I use upholstery cleaner from the £shops works great,the foam type stuff

Post by **Jonnyb416** » 15 Mar 2012, 21:31

Cheers guys

Will probably try the foam shampoo before I pay a pro

Jon.

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 16 Mar 2012, 01:16

I found the liquid astonish in an opaque bottle cleaned a lot of crap out of the seat. Vax filled up with black muck until I finally got it running clear - stood indoors they soon dry out. The extreme version and one Marcus and have I used with brilliant success on old seats with years of accumulated grime and nicotine is a truck pressure/steam washer. Man that SERIOUSLY gets them clean as it'll get right through the foam too. You wouldn't believe how much dirt gets into seats - amost turns your stomach when you see it running out. Even VAX or dry foam won't touch that.

We were recently faced with cleaning a small delivery van that had been driven by a gang of scaffolders who didn't give a fig. It was about an inch deep in site grit and stones. You couldn't even see the carpets. No way could you clean it in the usual way so it got filled with buckets of water (I kid you not) and the water sucked out several times until we were just down to sand. Floor bungs were then removed and we finished off with a truck steam cleaner and vax used together to blast and remove what was left. The carpets looked brand new but it took at least THREE hours!

I'm told even some pros have to do it that way.

Post by **Jonnyb416** » 16 Mar 2012, 06:57

Great info Covkid and a little chuckle to start my day

My mates Dad has a haulage firm so now I'm wondering does he have a truck washer thingy!! I will find that out soon.

Originally my misses says the soft furnishings etc is her job so really I ought to get her reading this bit!!

Jon.

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 16 Mar 2012, 18:47

If you can use the truck washer, go for that and borrow a dehumidifier to get them dry again after. It really is a DEEP clean and you'll be shocked at the colour of the water coming out. The proper truck wash fluid is awesome - if they'll let you use any of it. Saturday or Sunday morning are generally good times to find the truck cleaner free. Yes the seats get wet but you'll never get them that clean any other way. If you want inspiration, think of all the backsides that have sat on them.

- 20 odd years of dirt - GONE.

Once dry and sparkly, just clean as suggested above.

Post by **Plasticman** » 16 Mar 2012, 18:54

come on fella thats why hard working blokes like you have lady in tow

make use of her skill set.
mm (and dont tell her it came from me)

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 17 Mar 2012, 08:12

Nothing and no one in tow these days - hence the ability to use forks to stir the paint and best china to mix it in. Bet you can't Bob

Post by **Plasticman** » 17 Mar 2012, 10:42

no no ,use knives to stir paint as its easier to clean off to reuse
mm

Post by **billy739** » 18 Mar 2012, 21:02

a pressure washer / steam cleaner will damage the fabric if done incorrectly

the only real way is to strip the seats and put the covers in the washing machine , try cool wash first 40 if no good.

time consuming but best!
i have done both my sets

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 19 Mar 2012, 07:10

Certainly more than one way of cleaning seats and some car seat fabrics (definately leather) can be a no no but the steam clean works ok with this particular fabric/foam combination. Seen two Caravelle interiors with these same seats done like that. It is the extreme method though - where previous owners smoked 100 fags a day. I got great results with the Astonish cleaner it has to be said. Just depends how grimy they are.

Would love to find a source for that super hard wearing material used in coaches though. It seems to be trade only.

Club 80-90 Forums