Is it possible and how to properly wash car covers in a washing machine and by hand?

Covers serve to protect car seats from dirt, stains and dust. They take the brunt of the impact, so they themselves require regular cleaning.

Read the article about whether it is possible to wash car covers in a washing machine, how to do it manually so as not to harm them, and how to dry them after washing.

Features of washing car seat covers

Before you start washing the covers, you need to read the manufacturer's recommendations, which are indicated on their label. There are products that can only withstand manual cleaning.

If the information cannot be found, follow the general rules:

1. Fur covers are not machine washable.
2. It is prohibited to automatically clean materials such as leather, leatherette, velvet, leatherette.
3. It is not recommended to machine wash foam rubber, sheepskin and Alcantara (artificial suede) products.
4. Woolen and velor covers are subject to delicate washing in automatic mode.
5. Durable fabric covers with a high content of cotton or linen, as well as products made of polyester, are not afraid of active washing.

It is risky to place inexpensive covers made in China in the washing machine. After intensive processing, they may simply burst.

Any covers are washed only as needed. To get rid of dust, simply vacuum them, and to remove stains, wipe with a microfiber cloth soaked in soapy water. The less often the covers come into contact with water, the better.

Processing in an automatic machine

Before you start machine washing, the covers need to be properly prepared.To do this, they are vacuumed or knocked out of dust, and visible contaminants are removed from them, for example, chewing gum or stuck crumbs.

Sequencing:

1. Place the product in the drum of the washing machine.
2. Pour liquid detergent into the compartment. It is not recommended to use powder, as it is poorly washed out of fabric fibers, and also exhibits less activity when washed in cool water.
3. Set the water temperature to 30 degrees, unless otherwise specified in the washing instructions for a particular product.
4. Turn off the spin cycle, or reduce it to minimum (up to 400-500 rpm).
5. Enable double rinse function.
6. Start the wash cycle.

After processing is completed, the covers are removed from the washing machine and sent to dry.

To care for delicate fabrics, you can use the:

• "wool",
• "silk",
• "gentle wash"

These programs have gentle settings by default.

Manual cleaning

Hand washing is not as aggressive as machine washing. A person gets the opportunity to control the process at every stage, paying special attention to contaminated areas.

Procedure:

• fill the bath with warm water (up to 40 degrees);
• add detergent to it, bring it until completely dissolved;
• place the cover in water and leave for 15-30 minutes;
• rub the contaminated areas with a sponge or soft brush;
• Rinse the product and let the water drain without squeezing or twisting the material.

Recommended products for hand washing:

1. Laundry soap. To make it dissolve better in water, it is ground into shavings.
2. Liquid washing concentrates: Persil gel (260 rubles), Dash gel (about 300 rubles), Help liquid for wool and delicate fabrics.
3. Sprays for pre-cleaning, without soaking: Liqui Moly “Auto-Innenraum-Reiniger” (600 rubles), conditioner for quick leather care Grass Leaher Cleaner (about 300 rubles), alcantara cleaner Sonax “Xtreme” (430 rubles). All these compositions can be used without water as independent cleaning products.

Do not use aggressive chlorine-based detergents for washing covers. It is forbidden to clean them with abrasive compounds, as they leave scratches on the surface of the fabric. Leather, eco-leather and faux leather do not tolerate contact even with the most gentle oxygen bleaches.

Consider the type of fabric

Depending on the type of fabric from which the car seat covers are made, the methods for caring for them will differ. All important features are taken into account in the table:

Drying rules

Drying rules vary depending on the type of fabric from which the covers are made. So that after drying the item does not become unusable, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

• the covers cannot be wrung out, twisted in different directions, or rolled into a bundle - this will cause their deformation;
• after washing, leave the item in the bathroom so that the water drains from it naturally;
• spread the product on a flat surface and leave to dry;
• optimal conditions are drying in a warm, dry room with adequate ventilation;
• the fabric should not be exposed to direct sunlight; it should be protected from excessive heat;
• Do not hang covers over the heating radiator or use a hair dryer.

After drying, fur items are combed out with an animal brush. It is not recommended to put seat covers on until they are completely dry. The exception is cotton fabric.It can be stretched over car seats while slightly damp so that it smooths out evenly.

Useful tips

To ensure that your car seat covers are washed successfully, You need to take note of the recommendations of professionals:

1. To care for natural wool and fur items, you can use regular hair shampoo (for hand washing). Fabric conditioner helps make them softer and make the lint easier to comb.
2. It is not recommended to wash the front and rear seat covers at the same time. This may cause the machine to overload.
3. Even heavily soiled fabric covers should not be washed at temperatures above 70 degrees to prevent them from shrinking.
4. If the product is damaged or has been in use for a long time, then it is better to avoid machine washing. Otherwise, the fabric may simply fall apart.

You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products Here.

Conclusion

Some car covers can be washed by machine or by hand. However Before starting the procedure, you need to clarify the type of fabric and decide on the detergent.

For preventive purposes, the products are simply vacuumed. After removing stains, you need to properly dry the covers, protecting them from exposure to high temperatures.