Interior cleaning - steam or water?

[Nj]

The a4 (B6) seats are a bit stained due to previous owner's kids chucking stuff about. They're grey cloth sports seats. Instead of paying someone to valet the car I figure i'll buy a steam cleaner or carpet/upholstery shampoo/washer type thing. I could do with advice though. What should I be using? steam would be excellent but the shampooing machine will get the cleaner right in there and suck it out again.
Also, product recommendations would be welcome.

And on a side note the plastic panel that goes down the back of the driver's seat has come away at the bottom. How does it fit in? I can shove it back into place but as soon as I sit on the seat it pops it out again.

cheers

[Fat Audi 80]

Meguiars APC or AG Interior / Upholstery Cleaner (forgotten the name) is good. Spray very liberally and sponge off with a dampish cloth, dry with clean cloths and marvel at how much crud comes off!

I have not tried a steam cleaner, but I would imagine it would be pretty good. Perhaps do that first then use the APC type product.

HTH

Cheers,

Steve.

[Nj]

I'll have a bash at that then mate, cheers. Is either product better if i'm going to buying one?

[Fat Audi 80]

Nothing in it IMO... Autoglym will be Halfords. Megs will have to be an online specialist detailling supplier...

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers,

Steve.

[Nj]

will do.. with pics of course

[Rusty]

I cleaned the Polo interior by taking the seat covers off and sticking them in the washing machine, came up like new! Fairly involved work mind... the guy I got them off (FOC) wants them back now

[Nj]

haha. a fione idea mate. I'll go strip the covers off, washine wash them at 90 degrees and demand that the missus sews them back on, splicing in the odd rag where the fabric has shrunk. it'll be fine i'm sure

[Rusty]

Best put some bleach in there while you're at it

Seriously at 30/40deg it works a treat but it's not a 5 minute job

[ericd]

Noel,

if it's still as cold up there as it is here I'd leave cleaning any fabric till it warms up a bit especially if u use a steam cleaner, it'll send water deep inside the seat which will crystalize and won't dry out till about April unless you're doing the work in a franchsed centrally heated garage space or you have heated seats ?

[Nj]

Andy - you're a mental sir. haha. might as well open teh driver's window a crack and just throw the hose in there

Eric - Thank god there's one sensible man in Scotland I don't have heated seats and there's 60% of a coupe in my garage. I was thinking to turn the heat way up and leave the windows open a bit but you're totally right. steam will get in really deep and will be a nightmare without a longer term dry and warm storage option. Might try a bit of product and wipe with a cloth and leave the heavy duty cleaning to warmer times. erm. glad you mentioned that [sidles away whistling casually]

[Error404]

Whatever Steve gave to me to clean mine with at my detailing day worked a treat mate - i'd be very worried about steaming the seats mate, they are really just a big sponge, you'd have a wet mouldy *** for years to come !!

[Nj]

Good point matey. I used a carpet type cleaning machine on my coupe before and it worked quite well. Sucked a lot of dirt out, dried out ok but don't think I used the right product though. I'll try a bit of AG stuff soon and see how it goes with the cloths.

[Fat Audi 80]

As long as you are only using a damp cloth and "misting" the APC on there you will be fine. Just don't go mental and leave the engine running to the inside nice and warm for a while when you are done.... (It will take a couple of hours to dry)

Cheers,

Steve.

[Nj]

Couple of hours eh? good excuse to go for a good run to generate the required heat

[Fat Audi 80]

Don't go soaking the seat though and then blaming me!