Get Rid of Salt Stains

Get Rid of Salt Stains

The last few weeks, we have been publishing articles that we hope help you dial in your DIY vehicle maintenance jobs. We have all been spending a lot more time at home lately, and it always helps to have projects to keep us busy.

Over the next few months and years we will be engaging with you, answering your questions in our blog, outlining all of our services, and blogging about our thoughts on the industry and how we are trying to positively influence car culture in Victoria.

In reaction to the doldrums of self-isolation, we have been publishing articles that we hope help you dial in your DIY vehicle maintenance jobs. We have all been spending a lot more time at home lately, and it always helps to have projects to keep us busy.

After a winter of salty roads, it isn’t uncommon to see a buildup of salty residue on your interior upholstery (or maybe your car has seen a couple summers without an interior clean, we won’t judge!). Salt stains are notoriously difficult to remove, but a few simple techniques and products can make the process much more doable for the determined DIYer. Of course, we are always here to lend a helping hand.

Follow these steps and with a bit of elbow grease and household cleaning supplies, you may be surprised at the results.

Mix the Cleaning Solution

We like the simple 50/50. In a spray bottle, mix up equal volumes of warm water and standard grocery-store white vinegar. Vinegar is a powerful natural cleaning agent, and the scent disappears soon enough. It’s ok if you don’t have a spray bottle, just use a small bucket.

Apply the Solution

Using the spray bottle (or a sponge if you’re using a bucket) saturate the salty areas with the solution. Be generous, you want to get lots of cleaning action mixed into the salt.

It can be tempting to scrub with a brush, but be careful! If you choose to brush the solution in, be very gentle. Overly aggressive brushing can actually work the salt further into the fabric. Scrub lightly, like you’re brushing your teeth.

Time to Dry

Get a clean and dry towel and gently dab it on the wet area. Like the brushing, you want to be gently. Push hard enough to absorb what has come up, but not so hard as to force anything further in.

…Keep drying

Once the towel has removed all it can, get another one and repeat the process. You want to get as much water out as possible. If you have a wet/dry vac, now is the time to use it. Otherwise, just keep going with the towels.

Salt stains are pesky, so you might have to repeat steps 2-4.

Odour Removal

The key to getting rid of the vinegar smell is fresh air circulation. Once you have removed all the water and salt you can with the towels, open up the windows and doors to get fresh air circulating through your vehicle. Once everything is bone dry, the smell will disappear.

We recommend doing this on a nice day, so you can let your car air dry outside.