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Begin by cleaning the interior of your car to remove all dirt and debris; vacuum under seats, in the seats and all around the seats.  For hard-to-reach areas, use a whisk broom to bring all the debris and dirt forward so you can remove it easily.

Combine ¼ cup of upholstery cleaner with warm water is a 1-gallon bucket.  Using a scrub brush, clean one section of the car upholstery at a time, working in a circular motion – you will want this to foam up.  As a matter of fact, try doing the scrubbing with just the foam.  It will not leave the seat as wet.  Allow the foam to sit for 10 to 15 minutes; wipe the remainder with a dry towel.

Fill a second bucket with warm water and using a clean cloth, dip the cloth and wring out tight.  Wet down the upholstery using a damp towel.  Rinse off all the soap solution without over-saturating your upholstery.

Using your vacuum, vacuum the seats to remove as much of the water as possible.  Wet/dry vacs are great for this.  Dry with a thick towel.  Allow to dry overnight.

If you get a stain on your cloth upholstery, blot gently with paper towels and try not to push further into the fabric.  Carpet shampoo or upholstery fabric will work best.

You may want to try dabbing the stain with liquid laundry detergent and using a brush and a circular motion, scrub the stain out without spreading it.  Rinse well with dampened towels and use your wet/dry vac to vacuum up any excess water.  Wipe down with dry towels and allow to air dry overnight.

You are not going to want the stain to spread, so work from the outside in.

If the stain is really tough, try using a hand-held steaming machine to clean the seats.

Leather seats are much easier to clean.  Blot any stains immediately so that the stain does not set.  Use a leather cleaner to remove the stain, following the directions on the product container.

You can prevent stains from happening by being extra careful while driving and you can also cover your seats with seat covers which you can wash in the washing machine. 

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Mold and mildew set in easily on the canvas of a pop-up camper.  They are usually caused by a leak or they can be the result of closing the pop-up camper before the canvas has been allowed to dry completely.

Mildew thrives in hot and humid environments – but you can still remove it easily, effectively and efficiently.

These canvas toppers have been treated with a special water repellant which you do not want to ruin or remove in the cleaning process.  Read the manual that came with the camper to be sure you are cleaning the canvas properly and using the right products.

Be careful if using bleach and products that contain bleach and other strong chemicals that may damage the canvas.  Try using a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water to remove the stains.  Begin by opening up the camper, being sure all windows are closed.  Hose down the canvas using your garden hose or a power washer.

Scrub the outside canvas with hot soapy water and a long-handled brush.  Scrub as hard as you can to remove the mold, mildew and stains.  Combine a mixture of equal amounts of bleach and water and allow to sit for 5 minutes but don’t let it dry; rinse well with plain water and allow to dry thoroughly before closing the camper back up.  By allowing it to dry thoroughly you will prevent mold and mildew from forming.

You should open your camper at least once a month if you do not use it regularly.  You can check for moisture and let it air out.  If left sitting and closed up for too long, mold and mildew can set in.

If the mold and mildew are really severe, you may need to replace the canvas.  That is best done by a professional.

For interior mold, strip all fabric items from the inside of the camper – curtains, cushions, etc. and wash in warm water.  Allow to dry thoroughly in the sun.

Remove mattresses and place on a clean outdoor surface in the sun.  treat them with stain cleaner, vacuum thoroughly and clean with hot, soapy water; rinse well.  Try not to saturate the material.  Allow to dry thoroughly in the sun.  Before returning mattresses and cushions to the camper, sprinkle with baking soda before putting the covers back on.

Interior surfaces can be washed with a 50/50 bleach/water solution.  Rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.  An open box of baking soda placed inside the camper will remove odors from the bleach and mold.

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