Can You Wash Car Seat Covers? How to Clean Them by Material

Short answer: it depends on what your covers are made of. Fabric covers can often go in the washing machine. Vegan leather covers should never go in the washer or the dryer. Here is how to clean each type without damaging it.

First, read the care label

The label or the product page tells you the material and how to care for it. If it says "wipe clean" or "do not machine wash", follow it, whatever the stain.

Fabric seat covers

1. Take the covers off the seats (reverse the installation steps).
2. Shake them out and vacuum the seams.
3. Pre-treat stains with a mild stain remover.
4. If the label allows it, wash on a gentle cycle in cold water with a mild detergent.
5. Let them air dry flat or on a line, out of direct sun. Skip the dryer: heat can shrink the fabric and damage the backing.
6. Put them back on only when they are completely dry.

Vegan leather seat covers

Vegan leather (polyurethane) is wiped clean, not washed. You don't even need to take the covers off.

1. Vacuum the seams and the quilting.
2. Wipe with a soft cloth dampened with water.
3. For marks, add a drop of mild soap to the water, wipe, then wipe again with clean water.
4. Dry with a clean, dry cloth.

Avoid abrasive products, solvents and bleach, and don't soak the covers. To refresh the finish, you can use a product made for interior leather. Test any product on a hidden area first.

Can you put car seat covers in the dryer?

Generally, no. Air drying is safer for fabric covers, and vegan leather covers should never go in a dryer.

How often should you clean them?

A quick vacuum and wipe every few weeks keeps dirt from building up in the seams. Clean spills as soon as you can: they come off much more easily before they dry.

Shopping for covers that wipe clean? Browse our vegan leather car seat covers.