How to Clean Your Seat Belts the Natural Way

If you have pets or small children, there's a high probability that at some point your seat belts are going to get gnawed on — or potentially worse. Hey, accidents and spills happen, which makes knowing how to clean your seat belts a good thing. Instead of reaching for cleaners filled with harsh chemicals, use eco-friendly ingredients that bust through stains and nasty smells, leaving your belts nice and clean.

What You'll Need:

  • Small bowl
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap
  • 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
  • Soft towel or microfiber cloth
  • Clamp

Directions:

  1. Mix together the warm water, liquid dish soap, and vinegar in a mixing bowl. Vinegar does an amazing job busting through bad smells and the dish soap gently cleans your belts without leaving any toxins behind. Vinegar is also a natural antibacterial, keeping mold or bacteria from getting too cozy in your seat belts.
  2. It's best to tackle stains as soon as they happen, but if some time has passed since the incident, use a soft cloth dipped in the cleaner to gently rub stains on fabric upholstery. This cleaner is also safe to use on leather interiors. Gently dab stains and then wipe with the grain of the car's fabric.
  1. Pull the seat belt until it's fully extended and then hold in place with a clamp or even a few lengths of masking tape. This keeps the seat belt from retracting while cleaning.
  1. Position the stained section of the belt outside the car and then wipe vigorously using the damp cloth. Refresh the cloth in the cleaner several times and continue wiping to really work the stain.
  1. Allow the belt to completely dry before releasing the clamp and letting the belt to retract. Open all the windows, or move your car to a sunny spot, and in a couple of hours your seat belt is wonderfully fresh.

Want more smart car tips? Check out our collection of car DIYs.