Automobile Upholstery Water Stain Removal

Stains have a persistent and annoying habit of making car upholstery look dirty and unkempt, and this applies to water stains on fine- or coarse-thread car upholstery. Water in itself does not produce the stain in upholstery; it occurs when the hard minerals in water are left behind. White blotches, circles and lines can outline the edge of the water stain, making it obvious and unsightly. A vehicle owner has a few options on how to remove a water stain from his car upholstery, which include a few steps and the use of basic household products.

Quick Reponse -- Cloth Fabric

Attend to the stain as soon as possible. Water that is allowed to soak in will wet the underside of the upholstery, frequently also wetting the foam pad underneath. The foam padding can contain body oils and dirt that will leach up through the fabric. Use whatever absorbent napkins or tissues you have at hand. Press (blot) the napkins or tissues firmly down into the water stain and hold for two or more minutes. Use fresh napkins or tissues after the old ones have soaked. Do this several times. If cleaned immediately, a mineral stain is unlikely to form.

Medium Saturation

In instances of a medium spill, open all the car doors and roll the windows down. Stack two or three clean and dry terrycloth towels together and lay them over the stain area. Add a heavy weight to the towels, like a large cooking pot filled with dirt or sand, or some exercise weights. Let the weights draw up as much water as possible, then change them out, repeating the process. Sprinkle a teaspoon of baking soda along the stain lines and blot them with a damp towel. Finish by laying down more towel layers and weights. Let the upholstery air dry, or use a hairdryer on the cool setting.

Cleaners

Use a neutral upholstery fabric cleaner that has a No. 7 rating of alkaline-acidity. Foam cleaners that come in cans work well for this. The neutral cleaner will keep a hard mineral stain from setting. Apply the cleaner with a fine-bristle upholstery brush, swiping the area from the top to the bottom in crosshatch fashion. Blot the cleaned area with a damp terrycloth towel, then change to dry towels and weights. Switch out the towels frequently. Use a hairdryer set on the cool setting to aid in drying.

Heavy Saturation

To clean up very heavy water spills, as in bucket size or rainwater spillage, use a portable wet-dry vacuum cleaner. Hold the nozzle at one end of the spill, turn the machine on and pull the nozzle toward the middle of the spill. Do this slowly, in one-inch increments. Repeat this vacuuming movement for the entire area. You need to remove all the water that has seeped through the fabric and into the foam pad and seat structure. Use a hairdryer set on cool or warm to speed drying. If a stain ring appears after drying, use a foam cleaner and an upholstery brush to remove it. Blot with clean towels and weights.

Leather and Vinyl

Leather and vinyl upholstery is normally resistant to water impregnation, unless it is very old and creased. If the stain is old, mix warm water and a small cap-full of mild detergent in a bucket. Clean the area with an upholstery brush or a terrycloth towel and the solution. Blot dry with a clean towel. Do not use hairdryers on warm or hot settings on leather or vinyl upholstery -- let it air-dry naturally, with the doors and windows open.