How To Use Tuff Stuff On Car Seats? [Step-By-Step Guide]

Car seats have seen it all; they take lots of abuse throughout years of usage. Just about everything leaves a stain on them. Luckily, Tuff Stuff is one product that can come in handy to remove stains. If you need help learning how to use it, we've made a guide you can use for reference!

Before you start, gather multiple washcloths and a brush; keep these items nearby. Then, here's how you can use the Tuff Stuff cleaner:

Shake the bottle.
Spray the cleaner on the car seat.
Let it sit for about 30-40 seconds.
Brush the car seat.
Wipe clean with a dry cloth.

It's that simple! It doesn't take more than a few steps to clean your car seats. Of course, there are some details you might have to keep in mind. Some cleaners will ruin your seats; Tuff Stuff can be one of them. To learn more, keep reading.

Applying Tuff Stuff To Your Car Seats

Tuff Stuff is a simple cleaner to use. However, don't let its simplicity pull a fast one on you. It works, but it might not work for your situation.

Before you apply it all over the car seats, test it in an inconspicuous spot. This way, you can check the car seats to ensure color fastness and resistance to staining. Some users were not pleased with the results.

As it turns out, it can leave bleach stains. Of course, we want to avoid this scenario. With this in mind, let's start cleaning the car seats.

1. Shake The Bottle

Start by shaking the bottle; it doesn't matter how long you shake it. Shake it like you would a drink. A quick 20-30 second shake should be good enough to get it going.

2. Spray The Cleaner On The Car Seat

After shaking the can, it's time to spray the cleaner on the car seat. As the can indicates, spray a liberal amount of Tuff Stuff.

In other words, spray as much of the cleaner as you want. Of course, you don't want to go overboard initially. As mentioned, test it in a spot that isn't too visible.

After spraying, you should see a large amount of foam on the car seat. It won't dissolve right away. Additionally—if you listen closely—it will make a sparkling/crackling sound. It's nothing to be concerned about; the cleaner is simply breaking down the grime.

3. Let It Sit For 30-40 Seconds

Now let the foam work its magic for a bit. Some suggest waiting a minute, but the can recommends waiting 30-40 seconds.

The foam will change depending on the car seat material. If you're spraying it on fabric, it will settle inside. So, you'll notice the white foam disappear.

However, it will stay white on leather car seats. There's another detail worth noting; it shouldn't be runny. In other words, you shouldn't see it run down the surface. It's a foam cleaner. Therefore, it will stick and stay in place.

4. Brush The Car Seat

After 30-40 seconds, take your brush and start scrubbing the surface. Scrubbing will help agitate the dirt that has settled in the material. Tuff Stuff doesn't specify how long you need to brush the surface.

So, brush as much as you'd like. Once you finish, it's time to move on to the next step.

5. Wipe Clean With A Dry Cloth

Finally, take a dry washcloth and wipe the surface. Depending on the cleanliness of the car seat, you might need multiple washcloths. Regardless, you should notice how much dirt is coming off.

It might revive the original color of your car seats! That's all it takes to use Tuff Stuff. If you need a demonstration, here's a video to help:

Here's another video demonstrating how to use Tuff Stuff on leather seats:

How Do You Get Tough Stains Out Of Car Seats?

Unfortunately, some of you may have found Tuff Stuff incompatible with your car seats. Or perhaps it wasn't enough to remove the stains.

So, you're back to square one. How else can you get rid of tough stains? Luckily, Tuff Stuff isn't the only cleaner that can remove them. However, you might need to spend a little more.

Let's go over the best way to remove tough stains.

Steam Cleaner

One of the most fool-proof ways of removing stains is by using a steam cleaner. It only uses water and heat to agitate the grime. Of course, it's not a miracle worker.

You will also need a cleaner and a vacuum to remove the settled grime. In this case, you're already pretreating the stains with Tuff Stuff. So, we're adding a steam cleaner to finish the job.

Start by covering the steam cleaner with a microfiber cloth. This step is essential if you're worried about damaging the car seat material. Then, steam the surface until you achieve satisfactory results.

After removing the stains, you can use an extractor. Of course, most people don't have that sitting around. So, you could also let it dry with time. Leave the windows open to expedite the drying process.

It can take about three to five hours to dry. Wear protective gear if you plan on going with this method. Regardless, here's a video showcasing how effective steam cleaning can be:

Try A Stronger Car Seat Cleaner

Tuff Stuff is a cheap and effective cleaner; it's why many people recommend it. However, it's not the best cleaner for car seats. It's a mild one that won't treat all stains.

If it didn't work on your car seats, it's time to look for another cleaner. This time, you might have to spend more. The best cleaners don't come at a low price.

One cleaner with a reliable reputation is Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Upholstery Stain Extractor.

You can use this cleaner on any car seat material. So, you don't have to get worried about it leaving damage.

Click here to see this cleaner on Amazon.

Applying Chemical Guys Stain Remover

Using this cleaner is as easy as applying Tuff Stuff. Instead of applying it to the surface, apply it to a brush. Then, start scrubbing the car seat.

Apply gentle pressure to avoid damaging the material. The stains should come off easily. Of course, you'll need a microfiber cloth to wipe the grime away.

If you're curious to see how it performs, here's a video to demonstrate:

Laundry Detergent

If you want to clean your car seats without a car-specific cleaner, there's one household item that could work. More specifically, you can use laundry detergent to clean them.

Of course, you'll need to dilute it first. Some suggest using a 3:1 ratio of water and Tide. Before you start, there are a few details to consider.

First, be careful with how much you spray on the car seat. You don't want to oversaturate the material with laundry detergent. Instead, use conservative amounts and apply more as necessary.

Secondly, it might not work to remove all stains. A steam cleaner will be essential to remove stains entirely. Though, that's in the worst-case scenario.

The detergent method should work well enough for most stains.

Applying A Tide Solution

If you decide to give this a try, here's how it would go:

First, spray a conservative amount of Tide solution on the surface.
Then, scrub and wipe immediately with a microfiber cloth.
Follow it up with a light brushing.
Wipe the surface again with the microfiber cloth.
Next, spray some Tide solution and agitate the surface with a brush.
Repeat the process until you achieve satisfactory results.

Here's a video demonstrating how this works:

In Closing

You don't have to deal with stains on your car seats; removing them can be a few steps away. Hopefully, Tuff Stuff is all you'll need to remove those stubborn stains. Good luck with the cleaning!

Before you go, do you have other car seat concerns? Did you get poison ivy on them? We have a removal guide! For more information, check out:

How To Remove Poison Ivy From Car Seats [Inc. Cloth And Leather]

Here are other topics you can check out:

How To Remove Body Odor From Leather Car Seats

How To Remove Mold And Mildew From Leather Car Seats