Wash Your Car's Upholstery

Cleanliness in all aspects of living is something for everyone to enjoy, a state of living we should all be consciously aspiring for. A car with gleaming exteriors but muddy seats is no good. Get your act together and take the time to wash your car's upholstery at least once every couple of months. A little dusting and washing here and there goes a long way.
Whether vinyl, leather or cloth, the best advice is to remove the front seats so you can work better on them but the back seats can stay. Removing the front seats should give you more freedom of space to be able to wash them thoroughly. Plus, it also creates space inside the car so you can easily move around while you're working on the back seats.
Remove the front seats by loosening the bolts that hold them in place, then lay them down on the ground beside the car. Now you can start work on either the front seats or the back seats. Mix a small amount of car soap and water and then soak a sponge into the mixture. Squeeze the sponge so it doesn't drip. Then, holding the sponge, scrub it gently against the upholstery, making sure there's just enough moisture in the sponge to wipe the seats clean without getting them too wet. That's the trick here. Soak the seats with too much water and you're going to have a tough time drying them up.
For drying, leave the car doors and windows open under direct sunlight. The foam under the cloth should take a while to dry up, but at least the worst part is over: it's only a matter time before the seats dry up so you can go for a spin around town once again.

Save Thousands Dollars by Repairs Car Yourself

I know the value of do-it-yourself projects as an owner of a vintage car that has needed complete restoration. You can save thousands of dollars by doing the car repairs or restorations yourself. One of the most often needed repairs for vintage cars is the upholstery. This is some easy tips for repairing it yourself. First of all, you should always clean the upholstery before starting any repair projects. Use upholstery cleaner that is made specifically for the type of upholstery you have and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. You will be amazed at what a good cleaning can do for old upholstery. It will reveal potential problem areas that you can repair before they become a big problem.
Repairing Leather upholstery tips:
You could try a leather repair kit that can be found at any automotive store if sewing or recovering the seat is not possible. The kit will come with a plastic substance that you will tint to match as close to your car upholstery color as possible. You'll have to apply it and then let it dry. It is usually o.k. for small areas if the color is well matched. Black or White upholstery is the easiest to match.
Repairing Vinyl upholstery tips:
Don't try using glue to repair your vinyl. It seems like an easy fix, but the adhesive in the glue can actually destroy the foam padding underneath the vinyl. Instead, simply cut a patch of excess vinyl found under the seat and use adhesive specifically made for vinyl upholstery to patch it. Follow the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Use this simple trick if it is just the piping around the seat that needs repair: Take a match stick and remove the match. Add some contact cement to one end of the match and work it into the damaged area. Then apply the cement to the other end and work that end of the stick in. Fold it in as you go if necessary. Make sure you let the cement dry completely before using the seat.
Do some research ahead of time and see if this do it yourself project is something you think you can do. You don't want that vintage muscle car looking awesome on the outside and old as dirt on the inside.

Simulated Leather Car Seat Covers

The possibilities are endless when it comes to choosing leather car upholstery for your car or truck. You can think of from the most basic design to having the name of your vehicle or your name or anything else. The more customized you desire the more the cost. There are different grades of leather to choose from such as automotive grade leather that meets OEM specs.
Inserts are the part of the seat in the middle that you actually make contact with while sitting. The sides and the back are simulated leather on all new OEM or "Original Equipment Manufacturer" Other benefits of leather car upholstery are:
1. Leather is soft and supple and very comfortable.
2. Leather is waterproof and spot resistant. However, spills should be cleaned as soon as possible.
3. The material is very durable and will last a lifetime if cared for properly.
There is an alternative in simulated leather car seat covers if your budget does not allow for genuine leather. Simulated leather is actually vinyl but has the look and feel of real leather at a fraction of the cost. They are also available to fit just about all cars and trucks and come in a variety of colors and styles to fit you. If properly cared for simulated leather car seat covers will last for years to come. Instructions for installation and care should also be included in your order.

Suggestions for Finding the Right Seat

The dreaded rip or tear in your seat upholstery if you own a Toyota vehicle you will at some time experience. This is even more of a fear if you buy your car used or have had it for many years. However, there is no need to worry because there are many locations where you can find Toyota car seat upholstery to either repair or recover your seats. The following options are great suggestions for finding the right option for your seat repair needs.
Junkyards
Once you have your Toyota car seat upholstery you can remove it from the salvaged seat and repair your seat or else you can switch the seat out. Whatever is easiest should be done. Wrecked cars are frequently destroyed on the outside or for insurance purposes, but many times the upholstery on the inside is in good condition.
Professionals
There are also a range of professionals that can install Toyota car seat upholstery. For example, the Toyota dealership is one option, although probably the most expensive. Then, there are other car shops that focus on repairing Toyota car seat upholstery as well. Before making this decision you should consider the amount of damage you have as well as what your budget is.
Repair Kits
The other option you have for Toyota car seat upholstery is at home repair kits. There are all kinds of upholstery repair kits available online and in automotive stores. These kits are best used for small nicks and holes in your upholstery as they are not perfect, although some products claim to be. You will need to evaluate your personal situation before deciding to use a repair kit.

Separate the Good from The Bad

Buying a new vehicle with a leather package is the desire of most new car buyers. This does not have to be a reason for foregoing your desire for leather seats and upholstery because there are car upholstery leather seat kits available. There are literally hundreds of these kits available, but the following suggestions will help you separate the good from the bad.
Tip #1
Guarantee Always look for a guarantee when purchasing car upholstery leather seat kits. The reason for this is when you purchase a product with a guarantee the product will most likely work as promised, and if not then you are no worse for wear and can exchange or get a return for the product.
Tip #2
Instructions Be sure that whatever product you buy has very detailed instructions and directions to guide you through the repair process. In order to get great results youreally need good directions. Companies that have good products and are interested in really helping the customers receive good results will supply you with the instructions to get you there.
Tip #3
Testimonials and Recommendations When looking for car upholstery leather seat kits read online testimonials and ask friends and family members what products have worked successfully for them. This is one of the best ways to find a quality product.
Tip #4
Recommended for Your Vehicle Finally, make sure the car upholstery leather seat kits are recommended for your vehicle and particular types of seats. If so, then you should receive great results. If not, then you are at your own risk.

Cleaning the Automotive Upholstery

Car upholstery is made from different materials like leather, cloth, or vinyl. Cleaning of the interiors and the upholstery may be difficult and expensive since professional cleaners charge very high fees to remove the minutest of stains. One may maintain and clean the upholstery from minor stains but big ones are better done by professionals who employ strong cleaning solutions without damaging the upholstery.
Cleaning Common Car Upholstery Problems
• Dust- Car upholstery can easily be cleaned from surface dust using a vacuum cleaner. Extension tools of the vacuum will help reach gaps and crevices to get rid of dust in between automotive upholstery. Cleaning solutions like leather or vinyl protector will help maintain them in great condition and make them more durable for long.
• Spills - No matter how one avoids spills on the car upholstery, bad things happen when we hit a bump on the road. The key to cleaning it is by soaking as much of the liquid out of the upholstery as soon as possible by using rags or paper towels. Press the towel against the upholstery to get rid of as much liquid as possible. Damp cloth can be used on spills on leather seat covers. Leather upholstery is best treated for misfortunes like this by using protect ants on a regular basis to maintain the supple feel of the leather.
• Heavy Stains - Heavy stains are so unsightly. One quick remedy is to use baby wipes to absorb the fresh stain. If they don't does the cleaning trick then try to brush a little soda water on the upholstery.
• Bad Odor - Automotive upholstery can easily absorb any odor from the circulating stale air inside or from air coming from the outside. A cup of coffee or a bag of fries can have tremendous effect on the smell of the car's upholstery. A quick solution to this problem is opening the windows and spraying deodorizer to the interiors. Shampooing the carpet may also get rid of cigarette smell and improve the quality of air inside the car.
• Leather Upholstery - Aside from applying protective liquid to the leather upholstery, regular cleaning and avoiding of extreme heat will lengthen the life span of the leather.
Cleaning automotive upholstery is the best solution to have that new car scent once more but like the cliché goes prevention is still better than an ounce of cure. Cars are considered major investments. Aside from keeping the engine in top mechanical form, taking care of the interiors especially of the upholstery will make our driving experience more pleasurable and more comfortable.