To clean between car seats and the center console, use a handheld vacuum or narrow attachment to remove loose dirt and debris. Compressed air can blow out dust from tight spaces, while a soft brush or toothbrush can gently scrub crevices. A microfiber cloth or lint roller is effective for collecting dust and crumbs. For hard-to-reach areas, create a DIY tool with a cloth attached to a long stick. Remember to be gentle to avoid damage.
The area between the car seat and the center console is tight and difficult to clean. The center console is the control-bearing surface between the driver’s seat and the front passenger’s seat in a vehicle.
Once all the junk is out, use a crevice tool and a vacuum cleaner to get rid of all the dirt. For deeper cleaning, you’ll need a detailed brush, compressed air, and a steam cleaner.
So if you want to learn how to clean your car more effectively, let’s take a deeper look at the different steps of cleaning the gaps between your car seat and center console. Steps to cleaning the area between your car seat and the center console
Equipment you will need:
- Vacuum
- Dry microfiber cloth
- Car compressor
- Steam cleaner
- Bristle brush
- May need Car seat cleaners
Here’s how it is done:
Step 1
First, you must remove everything stored in the gaps between the seat and center console. Many people often store old receipts, chip packets, change, and air fresheners in this location.
Step 2
After getting all the junk out, use a vacuum hoover around the console and the gaps between the console and the seats. This way, you will get rid of all the dirt and debris in this area.
Step 3
Use a car air compressor to direct air into the gaps between the console and seats. Ensure to direct air on all tight areas on the console to blow small particles away.
Step 4
Use a dry cloth to clean the area.
Step 5
If there are stains around the spaces on the console and seats, you can clean them with a steam cleaner. Place the opening on the steam cleaner over the stain for a few minutes, then brush the stain using a bristle brush attached to a vacuum.
Step 6
Allow the stained area to dry.
How to Clean Between Car Seat Tracks
Sometimes, you may find it difficult to move your front car seats forward and backward.
When this happens, you should check under the seats to find out the cause. Most times, it is due to junk like pet hair, dirt, food, and dust particles. That is why it is important to clean the area between your car seat tracks frequently.
Equipment you will need:
- Handheld vacuum
- Crevice tool
- Handheld bristle brush
- Small paintbrush
Step 1
Take out the floor carpets in the car to enable access to the dirt underneath. After doing that, move the car seat all the way forward to create enough space to allow you to clean the back.
Step 2
Sweep the area under the seat with a bristled brush to get rid of all the dirt and make vacuuming easier. Start with the front and sweep toward the back of your car seat.
Step 3
Use the vacuum hose and crevice tool to pick up all the dirt dislodged with the handheld bristle brush. You can use the bristle brush and the vacuum cleaner simultaneously to remove all the stubborn dirt on the carpet under your car seat.
Step 4
It is time to clean the seat track rails with the crevice tool. Place its nozzle over the seat rail and clean the track gently. This way, you won’t remove the lubricant used to reduce friction and make the seat move freely.
Step 5
Clean crevices that are difficult to reach by using a small paintbrush. It will help you sweep out all hidden dust.
Step 6
Vacuum the area around the ac in an anti-clockwise motion. Advance to the center console and then to the footwell. You can push the seats back and brush under them.
Clean Car Seat Folds and Crevices
Most times, people only brush over car seats with a piece of cloth, all in the name of cleaning them.
That is okay if you clean the car upholstery frequently and take measures to ensure that they are free from dirt. If that is not the case, then the crevices will contain a lot of dirt.
Car seat folds attract a lot of particles and can be difficult to clean. Since the folds are tight, you need to put in some work while cleaning them.
Equipment you need
- Air Compressor or Compressed Air Cans
- Vacuum
- Upholstery Cleaner
- Crevice Tool
- Microfiber Towels
- Interior Detailing Brush
Step 1
Remove any attachments on the seats and vacuum them thoroughly. This way, you’ll cover a large surface area and get rid of many particles and dirt.
Step 2
Now open the seams with your hands and run your crevice tool along with it. You will need to apply some force while doing this, especially at the point where the back of the seat and the bottom are joined.
Step 3
Now locate the areas that are still containing dirt and agitate the folds with an interior detailing brush.
Step 4
After that, you can now wipe off all the dirt with a microfibre cloth. Once you finish, vacuum the car seat again.
You may not have a detailing brush. In this case, you can blow out dirt using a can of compressed air. That will also work, and you’ll be able to clean up tricky areas.
How to Clean Car Back Seats
Cleaning your center console and front seats can be tricky, but you won’t go through such hassle while cleaning your back seats. You can remove the back of the seats and the bench easily for thorough cleaning.
Most times, you’ll be able to remove the back seats in modern cars without using any tools. Sometimes you may not want to remove the back seats. In this case, you should clean the seats just the way you clean seat folds.
Equipment you will need:
- Socket set
- Torx set
Step 1
Start cleaning your back seats by using a hoover. Go over them without any attachments on your hoover. Ensure to clean the seat, the back of the seat, and the bench it sits on.
Step 2
Get into the major crevices by using a crevice tool. Attach the crevice tool and with it, gently force down the side of the seats. Don’t forget the middle area and the part where the back and bottom of the seat join.
Step 3
After this, you can now use an upholstery cleaner and a detailing brush to agitate stubborn dirt and clean your car seat thoroughly. Ensure to follow the instructions on the cleaner.
Step 4
Once you finish cleaning the area, you can wipe the product to get rid of any remaining dirt using a microfibre cloth. Hoover the area for the last time.
Conclusion
Cleaning tight areas in your car like the gaps between the center console and the front seats can be tricky. But once you’ve mastered how to do it, you’ll be able to clean your car thoroughly.
Don’t worry about buying a commercial vacuum cleaner because a handheld car vac is all you need. To keep your car clean and fresh at all times, you must vacuum and clean car folds and rails regularly.
Besides keeping your car’s interior pristine, don’t forget to tackle other aspects of vehicle maintenance, such as protecting your car’s value from hail damage, ensuring the right amount of coolant in your overflow tank, and keeping your Britax car seat spotless.
