DIY Upholstery Cleaner Is Put to the Test

Puppies are a lot of fun. They can also be a little on the messy side. Ellen, my Bloodhound pup, was having reoccurring urinary tract infections. Fortunately, one of the many benefits of working at a veterinary hospital includes bringing your pet to work. Ellen came with me every day because she had to go outside frequently.

Unfortunately, she had accidents on the way to work that leaked through the back seat liner and stained the car upholstery. I tried several things to clear the smell and the stains–an entire big bottle of Nature’s Miracle, car upholstery cleaner, and vinegar and baking soda.

The vinegar somewhat helped, except on very humid days. I was frustrated with all the failed attempts and was ready to have the car professionally cleaned.

As a last ditch effort, I found directions for homemade upholstery cleaner on Pinterest (shocking, I know). The recipe was simple and I had all the ingredients at home.

I sprayed the concoction on the car seats and started scrubbing away with a brush. It instantly started foaming and all of the stains came to the surface. I repeatedly wiped it all away with a warm, damp washcloth until everything came back clean. I let the car seat air dry overnight and it was dry by morning.

Rachel’s clean and nice smelling car seat

The cleaning process was quite disgusting as all the stains bubbled up, but my car seats have never looked cleaner. The smell has completely vanished, even on hot and humid days.

This cleaner was easy, quick, and the ingredients were already on hand. I would definitely recommend this recipe for pet and kid messes! Be sure to spot test first before you cover a large area. I think this cleaner could work on many surfaces.

Here is the original link for the DIY upholstery cleaner. This blog has great pictures and step-by-step instructions as well.

Here is the basic recipe and instructions.