Staining on Car Seats that looks like water spots = Wicking aka Wick Back Staining

Have you ever had clotch seats that appear to having staining or browning? It can look like liquid outlining a circle, splotchy pattern, or even big sections. This "stain" comes from something called "Wicking" -- when dirt/contaminant (usually in the form of liquid) are allowed to penetrate and soak into both the fabric and its backing.

Common misconceptions is that an old fashioned interior carpet shampoo will take care of the staining-- this is hardly ever true. Low-moisture methods are ideal and in certain cases a hot water extraction with a flushing rinse is the more involved and expensive method.

Tips for Addressing the unsightly carpet/upholstery stains

1. Clean as quickly as possible-- the longer you wait, the more the stain has time to "set"

2. Avoid Over-wettting or saturating with water/chemical

3. Dry Cleaning is recommended --> a dedicated foam cleaner and blotting or wiping the seat

4. Full Extraction w/ high-quality tools. Last resort is to use a hot-water extractor with a pre-spray. Follow each pass with 2 or 3 dry strokes to leave as little moisture as possible. Sometimes this method is more apropos in order to remove a larger amount of the staining-agent

5. Dry as quickly as possible.

6. Seat Covers or Consult a Professional