CLEANING SEATS (T300 SWB 2003)

[mtbcol]

Hi

Not sure if i'm posting this in the right section, but here goes. We have just purchased the above Transit and want to make it into a day van. The front seats (driver and single passenger) are not too badly worn but filthy, with a dirty, oily(?) mixture (seat belts in the same condition. I was thinking of steam cleaning them unless anyone has a better idea?

Also the head lining above the front seats is in the same condition, steam cleaning again ?

Any advice appreciated.

Colin.

[sc_BK]

Steam cleaning will do no harm, you can also get foaming fabric cleaner from car shops (sometimes lidl etc).

[mtbcol]

Hi sc_BK

Thank you, i'll take out the seats and give the steam cleaning a try. Probably do the same with the seat belts, just pull them out as far as possible (in situ).

Just to check, the head lining is the carpet type material, is it still safe to steam clean do you think? worried if its a cardboard type backing it may fall apart?

Thanks' again.

Colin.

[transitandy]

I normaly use a bit of persil or daz and a scrubbing brush.
Steam cleaning seats as one off is ok but if its done a lot it will break down the foam ect
Saw it on for the love of cars

[mtbcol]

Hi transitandy

I only plan to steam clean them once as they are pretty badly soiled with oil/dirt, so hopefully it won't be a problem?

Will this work for the seat belts and headlining do you think? or would the "Daz treatment" be better? I plan on doing it when the weather is warmer, so I assume rinsing with my pressure washer would be o.k.?

As you can tell i've never, had to do this before!

Cheers

Colin.

[Van Winkle]

I cleaned mine on the citroen synergie I just got rid of gave them a good soak with old fashioned Stardrops in water then let them soak 10 mins and give them a good steam clean with detergent on then rinse with hot clean water...........came out clean ......But took a week to dry in the dining room with heating on , her indoors was not impressed

P.s would not steam clean the roof lining though it will turn to mush, last one I washed the cloth fell off so just a wet cloth I reckon

[mtbcol]

Thanks' Van winkle. I think the dining room drying method will be out for me too!
I thought that might be the case with the roof lining Hopefully stardrops will be ok on the seat belts.

Thanks' again mate.

Colin.

[Brains_transit]

I used washing power and added enough water to make a paste and worked it in with a brush and a damp cloth to lift the dirt and after 1 day was dry

[mtbcol]

Hi Brains_transit

Was that for the seat belts, seats or roof lining, or all of them?

Colin.

[Brains_transit]

Just the seats

[mtbcol]

O.k. Cheers. will give it a try as soon as the weather is a bit warmer.

Cheers

Colin.

[mafty]

The headlining will be fine to steam clean. It's not cardboard, it's a composite glass fibre compound and very resilient.

[Honey monster]

You could always recover the headlining with some carpet and carpet glue. I did mine on my Mk7 very easy if you get the super stretch carpet for lining vans.

[mtbcol]

Thank you, I will try cleaning it first if that fails I will re cover it.

Colin.

[Mr RVM]

Strip the covers from the seats, remove the plasitic clipping system and chuck them in the washing machine, once clean and dry have the clipping system stitched back on (5 mins and a couple of quid at your nearest clothing alteration shop or upholsterer, if you don't have a sewing machine at home) then refit