SPONSORED: Toyota of N Charlotte car detailing tips: How to remove stains

Keeping your car interior in good condition is an essential part of car care. Not only does it make your drive time a lot more pleasant, it also helps you retain value so if you sell or trade in your ride down the road, you’ll get more money for it. However, it’s often easier said than done - between carting kids, eating on the go, transporting pets, and just day-to-day wear, you usually find yourself with more than one stain to contend with. Toyota of N Charlotte is here to help - check out this quick car detailing guide on stain removal for all types of stains.

Remove these common stains while car detailing

Coffee and tea: We get it - your morning commute is a lot rougher without that cup of hot caffeine to get you going. However, if you spill, you’ve got problems on your hands before you even get to work. Here’s how to treat these stains:

Soak the stain with cold water immediately
Treat it with stain remover OR simple laundry detergent
Blot to help pull the stain out and let it dry
If necessary, repeat steps 1-3 until the stain is gone

Ink: Ever have a pen explode? It’s not a pretty sight. Markers can also become a weapon in the backseat in the hands of toddlers. Here’s how to remove ink stains:

Sponge the area around the ink stain with rubbing alcohol
Put a paper towel on top of the stain and re-apply rubbing alcohol until the stain lifts
Note: hairspray will also work in a pinch!

Soda: Fast food is a great way to get your fix on the go, but sugary drinks can spell disaster in the backseat (especially because sugar attracts bugs). If you have a spill, here’s how you treat it:

Soak the stain immediately with cold water
Blot, blot, blot to remove the soda from the seat entirely so no sugar remnants are left behind
If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon baking soda, one tablespoon white vinegar, and one and a half cups of water to use as a gentle stain remover

Ketchup: Again with the fast food! Who doesn’t like ketchup on fries? It’s great at the dinner table, but can be a little riskier in the car. If you get ketchup on the seats or carpet, here’s how you handle it:

Try to scrape the excess ketchup off the seat - DO NOT rub the stain. This will make it worse.
Pretreat the spot with laundry stain remover and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
Use the hottest water possible to clean the spot and lift the stain.

Gum: Like it isn’t bad enough to get gum stuck on your shoe… it’s even worse when you accidentally get it on your car seats or carpet. Here’s how to rid your ride of the sticky residue:

Grab ice and hold it against the stickiness. This will make it harden, and then you can scrape the residue off with a dull knife.
When the residue is gone, use a laundry stain remover and water to get rid of any leftover stain.