LEATHER, FABRIC & CARPET

KEEP YOUR UPHOLSTERY LOOKING LIKE NEW

UPHOLSTERY

Upholstery can make up a significant portion of your car's interior, including seats, carpets, and floor mats, all of which get dirty and stained from mud and dirt, grease, oil, grime, and spills. Upholstery also absorbs odors, which, over time, can build up and leave a lingering unpleasant smell in the car.

Regular care, like frequent vacuuming to remove soil buildup and periodic treatment with shampoo or a spray-on/wipe-off cleaner, can keep your upholstery looking fresh. Both cleaning methods have proved to be effective, so use the one that is most convenient for you.

USING A CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANER

Carpet and upholstery cleaners, which are available as household or automotive-specific sprays and foams, contain detergents and surfactants that penetrate into the fabric and loosen dirt and stains for removal with the wipe of a cloth. Besides removing stains, they help restore the true color, appearance, and soft, plush feel of your car's fabric interior.

Consider using a 2-in-1 cleaner and odor neutralizer, as unpleasant smells can overwhelm a car's interior.

Frequent vacuuming to remove soil buildup can keep your upholstery looking fresh.

USING SHAMPOO

First, vacuum the upholstery. You can use any number of household or automotive shampoo products, but make sure you have access to a wet/dry vacuum. Often they can be found at coin-operated car washes. Moving in a circular motion, use a scrub brush to work suds into the upholstery. Using as little water as possible, make sure to completely rinse the suds from the upholstery before vacuuming with a wet/dry vacuum.

STAIN REMOVAL

For best results, remove spills and stains immediately, before they can set in.

Blot the affected area with a white paper towel to remove as much excess liquid or residue as possible. If the spot has dried, saturate the area with tap water before blotting.

Spray the affected area with a mild detergent or a carpet/upholstery cleaner and use paper towels to blot the product into the stain. Be sure to spot test any cleaner in an inconspicuous area before using.

Let the product stand for a few minutes or as directed by the label instructions.

For best results, place paper towels over the cleaned area and cover with a weight such as a brick. This will serve to wick away excess moisture and any remnants of the stain.

Repeat as necessary. Wipe area with a clean cloth or vacuum when dry.

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Flamingo® Multi-purpose Foam Cleaner

• Foaming formulation helps lift dirt
• Helps restore true color and appearance
• Effective on many different surfaces: fabric upholstery, floor mats, painted walls, fixtures, and tile.
• Even works on stains on vinyl and fabric

LEATHER

Like most luxuries, leather requires a fair amount of maintenance to keep it looking its best, as it stains easily, dries up over time, and can be damaged by UV rays.

Products created especially for leather contain cleaning agents, conditioners, and UV blockers to clean, moisturize, and protect the leather, and keep it looking soft, supple, and natural. Be sure to test any product you use on an inconspicuous spot for color fading before using it on your seats, door panels, consoles, and dashboards.

CLEANING LEATHER

Keeping leather free of dust and lint is one of the most important things to do to maintain its look. As dust and dirt settle into creases, they can make leather appear coarse.

To clean leather, use saddle soap or another cleaning product specially designed for leather. Do not use an all-purpose cleaner on leather.

In addition, you may use the leather cleaning product to treat stains. See the product label for details.

Spots and scuff marks can sometimes be removed with a pencil eraser, especially on lighter leather.

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Flamingo® Shines & Protects Protectant

Cleansing agents reach into the grain of the leather to safely remove dirt and soil.

Conditioners enhance leather's rich, natural beauty and restore its supple feel.

Powerful blocking agents help protect against spills, stains, cracking, fading, discoloration and premature aging.

Make sure the product is specially designed for leather.

Ink and pencil marks can be lifted with hairspray. Be sure to first test on an inconspicuous spot. After spraying the hairspray on the ink or pencil stain, blot with a paper towel to remove it.

CONDITIONING AND PROTECTING

After cleaning the leather, dress it with a leather conditioner or protectant to prevent drying and cracking. Again, make sure the product is specially designed for leather.

Leather protectants typically provide protection from spills, stains, and/or sun damage by including UV blockers/inhibitors that combat fading and premature aging.