How to Clean Golf Cart Seats
We love using our golf cart to get around, but man the seats get dirty quickly. We’re always looking for the best way to clean the golf cart seats.
You want your golf cart seats to look as good as new for as long as possible. This is absolutely possible if you know how to clean vinyl seats properly. A little bit of cleaning solution and the right technique can go a long way to keeping your seats looking pristine.
If the seats get dirty, you need to know how to clean white seats (or any other color) so that your cart always looks its best inside and out.
There are a few steps involved with cleaning seats. Plus, you can learn how to clean mildew from the seats in case your golf cart has gotten wet recently.
Identify the Material
Before you can clean the golf cart seats, you need to what kind of material they’re made with.
In most cases, the seats are made of vinyl. However, there may be a few other materials, too:
- Vinyl
- Leather
- Cloth
- Canvas
Additionally, you want to look at the construction of the seat cushion. For example, can they be removed from the golf cart or are they permanently installed?
Many golf carts have the cushions in place so that they cannot be removed. There are models, though, where the cushions can be removed and are affixed with a snap button or a strip of Velcro.
Another great tip is that some of the removable seat cushions also have a removable covers. This is particularly common with cloth and canvas seat covers.
You can simply remove the cover from the cushion in order to clean it. Once it’s clean, you slide it back over the cushion and reattach it to the seat of the golf cart.
Avoid Discoloration
There is a big difference when it comes to knowing how to clean white seats versus any other color. Particularly if you have a bright red or blue seat, you don’t want to use harsh detergents or chemicals that can lead to discoloration.
You can only use bleach if you have white seats. Otherwise, you will want to choose the product that you use on the seats carefully. Even bleach can be too harsh on some materials, so you will want to dilute it before using it.
The best thing to do is use lukewarm water with a drop of liquid laundry detergent. You don’t want to use any kind of powdered detergent as it may not dissolve completely, providing an abrasive finish.
Once you have wiped the seat with the detergent and warm water (place both on a sponge), wipe it again with just water. Pat the seat dry with a towel rather than letting it sit in the sun to dry.
If you have white seats that you are trying to clean a stain from, try using a little bit of rubbing alcohol on a white cloth or white paper towel.
Avoid using any kind of colored fabric because the color may rub off onto the white vinyl. Wipe gently at the stain until it is gone. If the stain doesn’t go away on its own, consider using a melamine-foam sponge, such as a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
Dealing with Mildew
Whether you leave your golf cart outside or it’s stored inside where there was a water leak, you need to know how to clean mildew from golf seats.
If you don’t clean away the mildew, it could spread. This means that you may no longer be able to clean the seat, resulting in having to throw the seats away and buy new ones, which can be expensive.
To get rid of the mildew, be sure that you use a dry nylon brush to brush away as much of the mold or mildew from the surface as possible.
Create a mixture of equal parts distilled vinegar and water. Apply the mixture to a rag or sponge and then wipe it across the material. Try not to rub the material too hard because you don’t want to damage the vinyl or leather.
If you decide to buy any kind of over-the-counter product, be sure it’s safe for the material you are using it on. Otherwise, you could end up damaging the seat even further.
This product is specifically made for golf cart seats and boat seats, so it should be a great mildew removing product.
When the mildew is off of the seat, you can then wipe it clean with a standard cleaning process. Then, it can be pat dried with a towel.
Once you know how to clean mildew, you can be sure to treat the issue before it gets out of hand.
The Cleaning Process
When you learn how to clean vinyl seats, you want to consider all aspects of the seat:
- Seat
- Backrest
- Seams/stitching
- Arm rests
First off, the material will identify the cleaning process for you to use. Cloth and canvas seats with removable covers can often be placed into the washing machine. There may be a tag on the cover that has washing instructions. Follow those so you don’t go wrong.
If you have vinyl or leather seats, you will want to follow this process:
1. Remove any noticeable debris from the seats (dried food, mildew, mud, etc.)
2. Treat any stains using the methods above to avoid discoloration
3. Wet a sponge with lukewarm water and use either a mild liquid detergent or diluted color-safe bleach (depending on the color of the seats)
4. Wipe the seats and backrest
5. Wipe the seats and backrest again with just a wet sponge
6. Pat dry the seats
A sponge or damp cloth that has been treated with the cleaner you’re using will work well for the seat and backrest. However, you will want to use a small brush or toothbrush to clean the seams and stitching. This will ensure you’re able to get close enough to rub the debris away. Avoid wire bristles as this can cause the stitching to fray.
If after you have cleaned the seats (and they are as clean as they are going to get), you can add some shine back into them. Often, cleaning solutions will dull the look of the vinyl.
However, a little bit of liquid silicone spray will help to add some luster back to the vinyl. You can usually find the silicone spray in the automotive department of most stores.
As for the arm rests, most are made from molded plastic. You can wipe them down with a wet sponge. You can also use the silicone spray (like Armor-All) to get them looking like new once again.
Depending on how and where you store your golf cart, you may need to make the cleaning process a weekly event. By cleaning your seats frequently, you can avoid a lot of major wear and tear.
Additionally, if you clean up a stain before it has a chance to set, it will ensure that your seats look better throughout the year so you don’t have to go through the effort of stain-treating different spots.
