Time may have caused your car interior to stink like a combination of a thousand stench ranging from tobacco, socks, coffee, or wet dog. It is very difficult to regain the new car scent with the upholstery absorbing years of dust and other pollutants.
Car upholstery is made from different materials like leather, cloth, or vinyl. Cleaning of the interiors and the upholstery may be difficult and expensive since professional cleaners charge very high fees to remove the minutest of stains.
Cleaning the automotive upholstery takes patience and a little help from common household products. One may maintain and clean the upholstery from minor stains but big ones are better done by professionals who employ strong cleaning solutions without damaging the upholstery.
Cleaning Common Car Upholstery Problems
Dust- Car upholstery can easily be cleaned from surface dust using a vacuum cleaner. Extension tools of the vacuum will help reach gaps and crevices to get rid of dust in between automotive upholstery. Cleaning solutions like leather or vinyl protector will help maintain them in great condition and make them more durable for long.
Spills – No matter how one avoids spills on the car upholstery, bad things happen when we hit a bump on the road. The key to cleaning it is by soaking as much of the liquid out of the upholstery as soon as possible by using rags or paper towels. Press the towel against the upholstery to get rid of as much liquid as possible. Damp cloth can be used on spills on leather seat covers. Leather upholstery is best treated for misfortunes like this by using protectants on a regular basis to maintain the supple feel of the leather. It is best to avoid build up of dust or dirt on leather seats.
Heavy Stains – Heavy stains are so unsightly. One quick remedy is to use baby wipes to absorb the fresh stain. If they don’t do the cleaning trick then try to brush a little soda water on the upholstery.
Bad Odor – Automotive upholstery can easily absorb any odor from the circulating stale air inside or from air coming from the outside. A cup of coffee or a bag of fries can have tremendous effect on the smell of the car’s upholstery. A quick solution to this problem is opening the windows and spraying deodorizer to the interiors. Shampooing the carpet may also get rid of cigarette smell and improve the quality of air inside the car. If the smell stays it is recommended to consult professional upholstery cleaners who have the proper tools and cleaning materials.
Leather Upholstery – Aside from applying protective liquid to the leather upholstery, regular cleaning and avoiding of extreme heat will lengthen the life span of the leather.
Cleaning automotive upholstery is the best solution to have that new car scent once more but like the cliché goes prevention is still better than an ounce of cure. Cars are considered major investments. Aside from keeping the engine in top mechanical form, taking care of the interiors especially of the upholstery will make our driving experience more pleasurable and more comfortable.
By: Benedict Smythe
Archive for September, 2009
Regain the New Car Scent With Proper Automotive Upholstery Care
September 22nd, 2009Gm, Ford, Daimlerchrysler, Honda – Winners of 2007 Ward’s Interior of the Year
September 21st, 2009The 2007 Ward’s “Interior of the Year” awards are done and over with models from General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Honda sweeping the top honors.
Thirty-four vehicles from 11 manufacturers all competed to bag the prestigious “Interior of the Year” award in the annual competition sponsored by Ward’s AutoWorld magazine. The awards program is part of the annual Ward’s Auto Interiors Show this week at Detroit’s Cobo Center.
Winners were selected in two ways: one, the editorial staff of Ward’s conducted a two-month review and analysis of the 34 nominated vehicles and selected the winners based on eight evaluation categories such as comfort, safety and design harmony. And two, members of the auto industry at-large were encouraged to participate in a popular vote online at http://www.autointeriors.com/ to see how they would evaluate the nominees vis-à-vis the Ward’s judges. More than 1,400 popular votes were cast.
So who were this year’s winners?
Award Category: Economy-Priced Car
Ward’s Editors’ Choice: Honda Fit
Industry At-Large Vote: Dodge Caliber
Award Category: Popular-Priced Car
Ward’s Editors’ Choice: Saturn Aura
Industry At-Large Vote: Saturn Aura
Award Category: Premium-Priced Car
Ward’s Editors’ Choice: Volvo S80
Industry At-Large Vote: Lincoln MKZ
Award Category: Popular-Priced CUV
Ward’s Editors’ Choice: Honda CRV
Industry At-Large Vote: Saturn Outlook
Award Category: Premium-Priced CUV
Ward’s Editors’ Choice: Cadillac SRX
Industry At-Large Vote: Cadillac SRX
Award Category: Popular-Priced Truck
Ward’s Editors’ Choice: Chevy Silverado
Industry At-Large Vote: Chevy Silverado
Award Category: Premium-Priced Truck
Ward’s Editors’ Choice: Lincoln Navigator
Industry At-Large Vote: Cadillac Escalade
In addition to the vehicle awards recognizing overall interiors, Ward’s editors also had Special Achievement Awards which included Best Brand Expression, Best Interior Trim, Best Overall Comfort and even Best Cup Holder.
Winner of the Best Brand Expression award is the Jeep Wrangler; for Best Interior Trim is the Infiniti G35; Best Cup Holder goes to the Chrysler Sebring; and Best Overall Comfort is awarded to the Lexus LS 460L.
The awards mark how consumers are placing huge importance of interiors when purchasing a vehicle. Because of the high value being placed by customers on automotive interiors (and not just engine parts like GM oxygen sensor for example), automakers are now more than ever placing an increased emphasis on their vehicles’ interiors. In fact, according to CSM Worldwide, OEM spending on interior materials alone is projected to reach $10 billion by 2009.
A recent J.D. Power study also revealed that interior comfort is the second most important factor in choosing a vehicle, ranking ahead of exterior styling and just behind reliability and durability. This is the reason why automakers are all are too willing and jostle amongst themselves to win recognition such as Ward’s Interior of the Year award.
Winning awards such as one from Ward’s is being used by automakers to their full advantage. In fact last year, many of the winning manufacturers showcased their awards in new vehicle brochures and in national advertising to help attract consumers to their dealer showrooms.
Because of the growing attention being paid to their Interior of the Year Awards, Ward’s decided to make three fundamental changes this year. First, Ward’s editors developed a quantitative selection process that evaluated vehicle interiors based on eight criteria to ensure the integrity, transparency and objectivity of the competition. Vehicle interiors were scored on each of the eight criteria which included material selection; ergonomics; driver information; safety; overall value; comfort; fit and finish; and aesthetics and design harmony.
The new category (second) — Economy-Priced Cars under $17,000, was added in consideration to the rising fuel prices which urged consumers to shift to more economical vehicles.
Third, Ward’s instituted a process for recognizing outstanding features and design choices instituted in new vehicles or vehicle interiors. These awards are designated “Special Achievements” and focus on areas deemed worthy of honor by a consensus of the Ward’s judges.
About the Auto Interiors Show
Now in its 14th year, The Auto Interiors Show is presented by Ward’s Automotive Group and is the industry’s leading trade show and conference for vehicle interiors. Focusing on the latest innovations in vehicle technology and design to help suppliers respond to increasing OEM demands and changing consumer preferences, the Show features exhibits of leading suppliers who showcase trend setting products and materials with a view to the future of vehicle interiors. For complete information on the annual Ward’s Auto Interiors Show, go to: http://www.autointeriors.com/.
By: Zeke Gervis
