Can car seat covers be washed in a washing machine?

Washing car covers in a washing machine is a tempting idea: you won’t have to take them to a dry cleaner and regularly pay for it. But is it possible to do this? Yes, you can if the covers are made of fabric, eco-leather or tapestry. You will need to pay close attention to the machine wash settings, but it is not prohibited. If the covers in the interior of your car are leather or fur, you will have to choose a different cleaning method.

Leather

Covers made of leather and faux leather are not machine washable. They are treated with sprays and creamy formulations purchased at an auto parts store. These compounds are applied in a circular manner, wait a few minutes, then wipe off with a microfiber cloth. A second, dry cloth is used to clean it until it shines, completing the procedure. After this, the car needs to be properly ventilated to remove the chemical smell.

Eco leather

Eco-leather covers can be washed. There are a number of rules here:

• Choose a delicate mode and minimum speed, using special shampoos for washing.
• Chlorine is not used.
• Powders are prohibited because they leave micro-scratches and eco-leather loses its appearance.
• You need to rinse twice.
• The extraction is done manually; it is better to let the product drain naturally and dry it without direct sunlight.

Wool

To wash covers made of natural wool, you need to turn on the delicate cycle.Do not use too hot water: the wool will “shrink” and the products will shrink in size.

Special cleaning products are required for products made from natural wool:

• It is better to use gel, since the powder is more difficult to rinse out and acts more aggressively, rolling off wool fibers.
• Conditioner is a must: it not only pleasantly refreshes, but also makes the coat softer to the touch, smoothes the hairs, and improves its appearance.

If the covers have foam inserts, you will have to refuse machine washing. Even with careful use, the foam will crumble.

Velours

Velor is quite capricious, and in order to wash it correctly, you must follow the rules:

• It is customary to soak velor covers. This is due to the fact that they get very dirty, absorb a lot of dust, and they need to be machine washed at 30 degrees using a delicate cycle. When washed in normal mode, velor is deformed, “shrinks” or, conversely, can stretch.
• You need to use delicate detergents, preferably gel-type or capsules, as the powder is likely to leave streaks.
• You need to rinse at least 2 times.
• Automatic spinning is not recommended; it is better to spin manually.
• You need to dry it away from sunlight, as velor fades quickly.

Tapestries

There are usually no difficulties with washing tapestry covers. Wash them on a delicate cycle using liquid washing gel. It’s better not to take powder: it eats into it and is difficult to rinse out. Set the minimum number of revolutions to avoid shrinkage. Air dry, avoiding the sun.

Textile

Fabric materials are the most unpretentious.However, if they are heavily soiled, it will be difficult to wash off all the dirt in a machine: it eats into the rough fabric, so the product needs to be soaked.

You can prepare a mixture of soap and water, lay the covers on a hard surface and rub the solution in with a rough brush to remove stains. Then you can put it in the washing machine and wash it using washing powder.

It is better to rinse twice. Air dry as usual.

Torn items are washed in a special mesh or by hand, otherwise the cover will “creep”.

Synthetic products are easy to wash. You need to select the “Synthetic” mode. Wash as usual using powder. You can add any conditioner. Rinsing and drying are also carried out in the “Synthetic” mode.

Fur

Fur covers cannot be washed at all, and especially not in a machine. The pile inevitably becomes deformed and rolls up.

Ready-made dry formulations are required (“homemade” options - semolina or starch):

1. The loose mixture is applied and combed against the pile.
2. Then the product is shaken.

If there are serious stains, you won’t be able to do it yourself. You need to stop by a car dealership to use dry cleaning services.

To make the covers less dirty, you should wear special T-shirts over them. They prevent early wear and are much easier to wash.

At what temperature should covers be washed?

Don't forget that washing machines are designed to hold a certain weight.If the cover is heavy or made of material that absorbs a lot of moisture, be sure to check whether your machine can withstand such washing.

Some car owners prefer to wash their covers in specialized salons. This procedure is not cheap, especially since such products get dirty quite often. Washing car seat covers in a washing machine does not require much effort. It is enough to know only a few rules and not to neglect them even in a hurry.