Blog / Vehicle Tips

How to Clean Your Car's Upholstery

From the spilled coffee from your morning commute to muddy paw prints, courtesy of the dog park, your car's interior takes a daily beating. Some things are easier to clean up than others but to keep your car’s inside spruced up, Peruzzi Toyota offers these helpful, easy tips. First, know what kind of upholstery you’re dealing with. Leather is different from cloth is different from vinyl. And no matter what sort of cleaner you use (or what the label says), it’s always smart to do a spot test on a part that’s out of sight. Start by giving your interior a thorough vacuuming. Then tackle any splotches with a clean, damp cloth to get rid of basic surface grime.
  • For leather: apply a dab of leather cleaner/conditioner to a damp rag and wipe in small, overlapping circles. Make sure to work it into any cracks or crevices. Use a clean, dry rag and wipe off any excess. When it comes to leather, experts suggest repeating this process a few times a year to keep the upholstery in top shape.
  • For vinyl: this surface is similar to leather, in that it cleans up somewhat easily. Start with a damp cloth and a vinyl-approved cleanser. Dirtier surfaces may require an assist from a soft brush. And, like leather, it’s a good idea to repeat this process a few times a year.
  • For cloth upholstery: headrests and armrests take a daily beating. Spray stains directly, and let the cleanser penetrate. Now, blot with a clean, damp cloth. It’s not a bad idea to leave car windows down to help fabric dry thoroughly. Another cleaning option is to sprinkle a tough stain with baking soda and salt and let it sit: then spray a combo soda onto it, and scrub that stain away.
Of course, if those options don’t quite do it, renting a steam cleaner with an upholstery attachment is the next step. Be careful not to oversteam or saturate cloth fabric or you may end up with mildew. You may need to do some repeat-steaming every few days to finally knock those stains out. A little attention and care is all that’s needed to keep your car’s interior looking spiffy! If you're looking for someone to take care of those stains for you, look no further than the service experts at Peruzzi Toyota. We can help you clean your vehicle's upholstery in addition to taking a look at all the other parts of your car and making sure they're working properly. If you're more interested in a new vehicle, Peruzzi Toyota has over 290 new Toyota vehicles in stock in the Allentown, PA and Bethlehem, PA areas. If you're looking for a used vehicle, Peruzzi Toyota has a selection of over 500 pre-owned vehicles from all major manufacturers. Visit Peruzzi Toyota today at 2601 Bethlehem Pike in Hatfield, PA or give us a call at 877-545-2111 to schedule an appointment or learn more!
Posted in:

Related Posts

A Part Of Your Car You Shouldn't Ignore

You know when you need to put gas in your car. You probably (or should) get regular oil changes. But what’s the other vehicle part that needs regular attention? Your tires. Peruzzi Toyota in Hatfield, PA want drivers to be super-safe on the road; too often, our service department sees tires that are ignored. Here are four things to make part of your maintenance routine. INSPECT YOUR TIRES Tires are the point of contact between you and the road. From rocks and rough surfaces, to driving over glass, nails and more, they can be damaged. You might not know it at first, so make it a regular practice to check your tires for punctures, cuts or bulges. These can turn into a dangerous problem when you least expect it. CHECK YOUR PRESSURE Tires at the wrong pressure affect your mileage, comfort, and longevity of the tires themselves. Get in the habit of checking tire pressure every month (including that of your spare). You’ll find the recommended tire pressure for your Toyota either inside the driver’s side door or owner’s manual. ROTATE YOUR TIRES Rotating your tires regularly helps them wear evenly and extends their life. It also improves performance on the road. The technicians at Peruzzi Toyota in Hatfield recommend tire rotation every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. WHEEL ALIGNMENTS Little things can knock your wheels out of alignment, and you may not notice it at first. However, uneven wear on the tread, wheels pulling to one side, or decreased fuel efficiency are indicators that you need an alignment. Many drivers tend to take their tires for granted. As you can see, showing them a little more love will improve your comfort, safety and fuel efficiency on the road. Stop by Peruzzi Toyota and let our experienced technicians get you set up for a great ride!

Give Your Toyota A Spring Cleaning

Now that the wintry weather is (mostly) behind us, time to spruce up your Toyota for the warmer weather. Peruzzi Toyota in Hatfield, PA stands ready to give your vehicle the internal spring time maintenance it needs, like oil changes, checking brakes and fluids. But here are smart things you can do to make your ride the best-looking on the block! Start by thoroughly cleaning out the interior. Check under the seats and in all cargo areas. Use a vacuum attachment to get in between the seats to pick up crumbs and remove dust on the console. Don’t forget sticky cupholders and any pockets. Pull out the mats and either shake them out or vacuum them. Run the vacuum over all carpeted surfaces as well as the upholstery. Use upholstery cleaner on both carpet and cloth materials; once it dries, vacuum one more time. For rubber mats, hose them down. Wipe down your console, dash, gear shift, cup holders, steering wheel with a spray cleaner safe for car interiors. You might want to restore shine with a product like Armor-All. Clean the interior of the windows and rearview mirror. Now, tackle the outside with a good old-fashioned sudsing. Use an auto-safe cleaner; don’t ignore the wheel wells which accumulate a lot of grit. Dry with soft towels, then apply a coat of wax to protect the surface from damaging sun rays. You might want to hit the tires with some Armor-All as well to shine ‘em up (and don’t forget to check the pressure and inflate as needed). Once your car is all spiffed up, consider how to keep it that way. Look into “organizers” for the cargo area. Keep a trash bag (or two) handy inside, plus wipes to clean up any spills. Make it a new rule to remove things like empty cups, fast-food bags or the like at least a few times a week. Now, go out and enjoy the warmer weather!

What To Know About Selling Your Vehicle

It was in the news last year, and it’s still true: the demand for used vehicles is at an all-time high. While the supply chain issues that slowed down production of new cars and trucks have eased a bit, people are still in the market for quality pre-owned vehicles like the ones you’ll find at Peruzzi Toyota in Hatfield, PA. They’ve been handling that side of the business for years and offer these useful insights if you’ve been thinking about selling your car. One big misconception is that you’ll make more money selling privately versus through a reputable dealer. But there’s often unforeseen hassles associated with the private route. People who don’t show up, those who haggle, on and on and on. Dealers like Peruzzi, on the other hand, have access to the most current value of your vehicle along with a network of potential buyers. They can provide a thorough inspection to assure you get top dollar, then make you an offer on the spot. That saves you a ton of time, effort – and headaches. Peruzzi Toyota in Hatfield also leverages technology to check the current inventory of your particular car or truck around the area, plus the local demand. We do the online legwork to provide you with the most honest, transparent picture of what you can expect should you decide to sell. Pre-owned Toyotas remain among the most in-demand vehicles; they routinely make it onto the top 10 list of the most popular used cars every year. If you’re ready to refresh your ride for 2023, let Peruzzi Toyota simplify the process and give you the best deal available for your car. Of course, we also make it easy to get into a brand-new Toyota with our friendly professionals and easy financing. Reach out to us to learn more!