How To Clean Between Car Seat and Center Console? [Step-By-Step]

Cleaning car seats is as hectic as it gets. And the task becomes even more cumbersome when you have to clean the area between the car seat and the center console. No matter how hard you try to vacuum it, the dust does not budge. 

But there's a much better and easier way to clean the space between the seat and the console. And yes, you barely need anything other than your vacuum and a brush. 

So, how do you do it? Here's our complete guide on how to clean between car seats and the center console.

TOP 3 Vacuum Cleaners For Car Interior Cleaning

How Do You Clean In Between Car Seats? (Step-by-Step Guide)

Contrary to what you might think, there's a faster and easier way to clean it. Here's how to clean between car seats and the center console.

Cleaning Car Front Seats:

First, you have to clean the front car seats. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to clean them.

What You'll Need:

• Vacuum.

• Car compressor.

• Steam cleaner.

• Brush. 

• Dry microfiber cloth. 

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Remove Bigger Trash

The first thing is to remove the more significant pieces of trash. For example, lots of people leave wrappers and foil between the car seats.

Next, remove any waste such as paper, plastic, and pet hair between the front seats.

Check underneath the car seat's headrest as well, as it's a popular place for children to hide their wrappers. 

Step 2: Vacuum the Seat

Next, use a vacuum cleaner (in his post you can check - Top 5 Best Wet Dry Vac For Car Detailing) to get rid of as much dirt as you can.

If the car seat cover has become loose, remove it entirely, clean it separately, or stretch it taut.

Then, vacuum the surface and the seat individually. 

Step 3: Use the Compressed Air

Next, for deeper cleaning, use your compressed air (If you don't have you can pick compressed air in Amazon) between the seat and the console. 

This is commonplace for people to drop trash and spill drinks.

While it can help with dried stains, the air will push out much more significant and smaller particles.

So, make sure you blow as much air as you can until there is no more dirt left on the front seats.

Step 4: Wipe the Area

Next, take your microfiber cloth and use it to wipe the seat.

This helps pull out even the tiniest particles that your vacuum cleaner or compressed air would have otherwise missed. 

Step 5: Steam Clean the Tougher Stains

Now, if there are any tough stains, you'll need to steam clean the area.

For the seat cover, you can wash it. But for the actual seat, you'll need a steam cleaner (I personally use this model from AutoRight). 

Run the cleaner over the stain until it becomes loose, and then brush it off.

Keep the cleaner on the stain for a few minutes before you brush it. 

Step 6: Dry

Lastly, let the seat dry naturally. It can take some time, significantly since the foam underneath can absorb some moisture and become wet.

Also, do not clean your seat if you know you'll use your car within the same day. 

Cleaning Car Back Seats:

Back seats are harder to clean since you don't have access to the back of the seat.

Luckily, you can very easily remove the car back seats using specific tools. 

What You'll Need:

• Vacuum cleaner. 

• Crevice tool. 

• Upholstery cleaner. 

• Detailing brush. 

• Microfiber cloth. 

• Steam cleaner. 

Step-By-Step Guide:

Step 1: Vacuum the Seat

Start by vacuuming the back seats. This should remove most of the dust present on the seat and take care of any liquid stains.

Be sure to clean both the front and the back of the seat, as well as between the notches. 

Step 2: Use A Crevice Tool

For the crevices, you can use a unique tool that is usually supplied with vacuum cleaners.

If not, you can buy the extension separately.

This crevice tool helps your vacuum cleaner reach those tough spots.

Use the tool between the car seats, behind them, and the sides of the car seats.

Also, use it to clean car seat folds.

Step 3: Use an Upholstery Cleaner

Now, grab your upholstery cleaner to get rid of tougher stains.

Use the upholstery cleaner in conjunction with a detailing brush. Be sure to get all the dirt out. 

This is the last cleaning step, so be sure to get everything out.

If needed, run the cleaner over the rest of the seat to get as much dirt out as you can.

But remember! It may make the seat wet and render it useless until it dries. 

Step 4: Wipe and Dry

Lastly, wipe the back seats with a microfiber cloth and let them air dry.

This step ensures there's no debris left on the car seats, and they're good to go.

After that, reattach the car seats if you removed them. 

How Do You Clean the Center Console of a Car? 

So, now you know how to clean the car seats. But how do you clean the car console? It's not as easy as you may think. It will help if you clean the console first, as you will need to sit on the driver's seat to do so. If you had cleaned the seat before, you wouldn't want to spoil it again. 

What You'll Need:

• Microfiber cloth. 
• Detailing brushes. 
• Compressed air or blower. 
• Upholstery brush. 
• Leather brush. 
• Steam cleaner (optional). 
• Vacuum with a dust and upholstery extension. 

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Find A Good Spot and Clean the Area

The first thing you must do is to find a good spot to clean the car.

You'll be here for a while, so it's better to take the car inside.

It will protect you from the elements and keep the cleaning solutions wet and moist. 

After that, remove any more prominent pieces of junk such as wrappers, receipts, and pieces of food. Finally, try wiping down any dried-up liquid stains. 

Step 2: Vacuum

Next, start vacuuming the area. You want to vacuum out as much of the dust and debris as you can.

You can set the vacuum's strength to "high" if you have to vacuum between the crevices.

But your vacuum should have a separate crevice tool (If you don't have you can pick cervice tool in Amazon.com) for that. 

Step 3: Test Your Cleaners

Before you begin cleaning the area, test your cleaners. Now, if you've already used your cleaner before on the console, that's fine.

But if this is your first time with the cleaner or the dressing, consider testing it out in a small hidden spot. 

Even if you have had good experiences in the past with the cleaner, you never know how the formula can degrade with time.

Therefore, it's always a good idea to test the solutions beforehand. 

Step 4: Choose A Good Cleaner

Now, you want to apply the cleaner. But first, find a good one. If you want a professional look, you'll have to rule out your household cleaners.

They never do a good job and can either be too harsh or too weak. 

Instead, there are many good cleaners you can buy for automotive use.

An example would be an All-Purpose Cleaner (APC). APCs made for automobiles are the best because they work on almost all surfaces. 

Other than that, you can try special-purpose cleaners. Just be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle.

Do not spray the APC directly onto the surface unless no other method works to remove the stain. In almost all cases, you'll want to avoid letting the solution dry up. 

Step 5: Choose A Good Dressing

Aside from the cleaner, you'll need a dressing.

Dressings are what make the console shine once you're done cleaning it.

Dressings add a shiny layer to the center console and protect it from further damage. 

One of the biggest culprits of console damage is UV light. Hence, a dressing that's UV-resistant is an absolute must for every driver. 

But there's another factor in sunlight that degrades consoles over time: heat.

So, your dressing should also be heat resistant. There are other ways you can prevent this, too, such as by using sunshades and window tints. 

Read the instructions on the dressing carefully.

You do not want to overdo it. Instead, please wait for the cleaning solution to take its effect, wipe it off, and then apply the dressing. 

Step 6: Use A Detailing Brush

Finally, to get into the crevices, such as any vents and cup holders, use an interior detailing brush.

Apply the same cleaning solution you applied to the rest of the console, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe it off. Then apply the dressing. 

You can also use a cotton swab or a toothbrush to aid you in this.

But use the brush on the seats carefully since it may damage the fabric. For fabric panels, you can use a steam cleaner. 

Step 7: Wipe Down and Dry

Finally, wipe down any liquids that shouldn't stay on the console and let them air dry.

Most dressings shouldn't be wiped down.

Dust all surfaces at least once after cleaning the car seats and the carpets. And then let everything air dry. 

How To Clean Car Seat Tracks?

Cleaning a seat isn't all that hard if you think about it. The real issue is cleaning the tracks underneath the seat. Here's how to clean car seat tracks.

What You'll Need:

• A handheld vacuum with a crevice tool.

• Cleaning brush. 

• Paintbrush or toothbrush. 

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Make Room for Yourself

First up, take out the floor mats so you can access the dust between them and the tracks.

Next, move the seatback to access the car seat tracks.

You don't need to remove it entirely.

But if you are doing so to clean the seat, it's an excellent time to clean the tracks. 

Step 2: Sweep the Dust

Now, sweep up as much dust as you can using your bristle brush.

It's essential to do this as you don't want to put a lot of burden on your vacuum.

Next, you can use a dustpan to dispose of the surface dirt.

Be sure to clean between any crevices and around the seat track rails as well. 

Step 3: Vacuum

Next, vacuum the entire area. Make use of the crevice tool to get into the nooks and corners that you can't get in with the regular vacuum.

This part will be a bit harder since tracks are harder to clean. But with time and patience, you'll be able to pull through. 

As a side note, you can use the bristle brush and the vacuum in parallel.

Just be sure to go easy on the brush, as you don't want to remove any lubricant. 

Step 4: Clean the Crevices

After that, clean the crevices using the crevice tool and the toothbrush or paintbrush.

It would help if you took your time with this as cleaning the crevices isn't easy.

You can also use a small detailing brush for this.

Again, be sure not to scrub off any lubricant, or you'll need to lubricate the tracks.

Step 5: Vacuum the Area Around the AC

Finally, vacuum the area around the AC.

Go in an anti-clockwise direction. Then slowly move towards the center console and finally to the footwell.

Move your seats back in place after you're done cleaning them.

How To Vacuum Tight Spots in Car?

Vacuuming tight spots sure aren't accessible.

Even with the right tools, there's only so much dirt a vacuum can pick up.

So, here are a few tips and tricks on how to vacuum tight spots in the car.

• Most vacuums nowadays come with a crevice tool. It's a flat vacuum head with a narrow slit that lets it slide in between crevices. Make use of the crevice tool. Swipe it under the seat, between the seat and the center console, and across the sides of the seat as well. 

• Some vacuums also come with extensions that allow the hose to lay parallel with the floor. This comes in handy when you need to clean under furniture.

• To finish things up, get a small detailing brush. You can use a paintbrush or a toothbrush. Just make sure the bristles aren't too hard, or they will scratch the surface or remove any dressing. 

• Use the interior detailing brush to clean the dust off from vents, the seat track rails, and the gearshift. Also, use it around instrument panels and the radio to remove any residual dust. 

• Get a can of compressed air. Use it to push out dust particles so you can vacuum them outside of the aperture. 

• Be sure to clean car seat folds, too, using your vacuum. 

• Lastly, remember to wipe down the area with a microfiber cloth to remove any remaining dirt. 

Wrap-up:

Cleaning between the car seats and the console is a hectic task.

Crevices are never easy to clean, even with the right tools.

Luckily, you now know how to clean between car seats and the center console. 

In a nutshell, use a vacuum with a crevice tool and a bristle brush to clean the seat.

And use an All-Purpose Cleaner or other suitable cleaning solution for the console, plus a UV-proof dressing.

To clean between the seat and the console, use a crevice tool along with a detailing brush.