How can I get an ink pen mark off a leather seat in my automobile?Remember that leather is actually skin, and it can be processed in many different ways. You should always test a hidden spot with any cleaning agent or liquid that you plan on using. Take some patent leather shoe cleaner (you can find this in a shoe repair store, or you can also try using plain old rubbing alcohol), put it on a cotton swab and gently wipe at the ink mark. It should start lifting the color off. After you have removed as much as possible, wipe the area with a damp cloth, and then dry. You may need to use some leather conditioner or saddle soap on the seat to recondition the leather. And remember to keep pens and markers out of the car! A New Study Warns of Laundry Packet Eye Burn Risks for Kids 12 Cleaning Mistakes That Are Ruining the Taste of Your Food WARNING: Your Baby's Sophie the Giraffe Toy Might Be Full of Mold The 10 Grossest Things Your Kid Touched Today Cleaning Products You Should NEVER Mix

The Best Cleaning and Organizing Tricks We Learned This Year How to Get Rid of Every Holiday Stain This Mom Found a Way to Keep Her Living Room Spotless Until Thanksgiving The Only Guide You Need to Decode Laundry Symbols Chemicals Used in Antibacterial Soaps No Longer FDA ApprovedWe spend all these hours working on our cars as a present to ourselves. That is why many enthusiasts feel that detailing the interior is more important than the body, because that is where we spend most of our time. It would therefore make sense that we take special care that the inside of a car is not neglected. Interior surfaces can be divided into two basic categories. There is the hard vinyl surfaces (such as the dashboard) and breathable surfaces such as cloth seats. Vacuuming should be the first step. Use a strong shop or home vacuum. The small ones that plug into a cigar lighter or operate on rechargeable batteries just don't have the power to do the job.

Remove the floor mats and do them separately. Vacuum all areas, including those that you will soon be cleaning with a liquid cleaner. Use a brush attachment for areas that could be marred with an impact from a hard edged attachment. Next apply a good grade foam carpet cleaner to the cloth and carpet areas. Vacuuming first is necessary as that will pick up the loose dirt, which is probably most of the job. Next work in the foam with a brush, using being careful not to be so aggressive as to ruin the surface. Pick up the foam residue with a wet/dry vacuum (best) or a cloth. Serious stains and other problems can be treated with a household carpet cleaner such as Resolve. First try the procedure on a hidden area to be sure that the color is not affected. Lexol leather conditioner and cleaner is recommended for leather interiors. Keep in mind that most cars with "Leather" are really only "Leather seating surfaces", which means that there is little real leather. Most of the interior, especially consoles, arm rests, seat backs and door panels are vinyl made to simulate leather.

Leather requires essential oils to keep its luster. Start with the cleaner and work it in gently with minimal water on the applicator. After applying the cleaner, rinse your applicator and wipe down again, then towel dry. Use the same procedure to apply the conditioner. Do several applications of conditioner (as opposed to one heavy one) if you feel that the leather needs more work. best stick vacuum cleaners 2011Leather might add that extra touch of class to a cars interior, but it does require more maintenance than vinyl or cloth. best way to clean moldy car seatsA car with a leather interior should be garaged or covered when not in use for maximum longevity.best leather care products for bmw

Use a cheap foam brush or paint brush to dust between the AC vents. You can get foam brushes at craft stores for as little as 49 cents, like this one. Vacuum up the dust as you brush it off, so it doesn’t immediately settle somewhere else in the car. The vacuum+brush duster combo also works to clean all your car’s knobs and buttons. Remove and replace your cabin’s air filter to get rid of stinky smells. You’ll have to check your owner’s manual to see if your make and model has a removable air filter first. Get all of the trash out from every nook and cranny. Slide all of your seats all the way forward and pull out your floor mats, so nothing escapes your notice. Use a plastic grocery bag to collect trash as you go. Use a Magic Eraser to scrub gross sticky things off of vinyl and leather. Gently rub dried on gunk with the Magic Eraser — don’t rub too hard, because you don’t want to damage the fabric. If dirt has embedded itself in the textures of your vinyl, some detail scrubbing with a toothbrush may be necessary.

Some dish soap or Castile soap diluted with water will do the trick. Find more tips at Popular Mechanics. Use olive oil to condition and polish the leather on your dashboard. Banish animal hair from your upholstery with a spray bottle of water and a squeegee. Similar to this carpet cleaning trick. Then, vacuum up all the clumps. Use a fine-bristled brush (like a toothbrush) to get dirt and crumbs out from the seams of your seat cushions. Use paper and an iron to remove melted wax (like crayons) from your upholstery. This tutorial is for carpet, but the same trick works on many different fabrics. Shampoo the seats in your car with diluted all-purpose cleaner, a sponge or scrub brush, and washcloths.Use white or un-dyed washcloths, though, so the color dyes in the cloth don’t rub off onto your car’s fabric. See the full step-by-step here, and a recipe that uses dish soap and washing soda instead of all-purpose cleaner here. Spray your dirty floor mats with stain remover and throw them in the washing machine.

Read the tutorial here. Or, scrub them with a DIY upholstery cleaner. See the recipe and tutorial here. Enlist a lint roller, bristle brush, toothbrush, dish soap, steam cleaner, and baking soda if you need to clean a kiddo’s car seat. This is not an easy process, but you can do it! See the full tutorial here. When everything’s fresh and clean, keep it smelling that way with a baking soda air freshener. Get the how-to here. ~Super clean~ your windshield using steel wool and glass cleaner, then treat it to a coat of Rain X. You only need to clean it this way a couple of times per year, though. Learn more about this here. Wipe down your windshield wipers with rubbing alcohol to prevent a smeared windshield. Get stubborn bugs out of your grille (and off of your bumper) with the help of dryer sheets. Soak it in warm water, and wipe. Shine up cloudy headlights with toothpaste and water. Read the tutorial here. Remember to roll down your windows before you start wiping them with glass cleaner.