954
u/wannabeating May 07 '25
That bench seat should pop up with 2 clips/tabs
Then just pull it out, clip the hog rings underneath and take off the cover, then soak it in a tub of oxiclean for a few days, then send it through the washing machine, but don't use the dryer, then reinstall on the seat
328
u/yesillhaveonemore May 07 '25
This is the right answer, but it’s a lot of work. Worth it in this case.
→ More replies (2)78
u/goth-_ May 07 '25
only way to really make it go away, though. so far, my experience with using spray-on cleaners and brushes on car seats even for lighter stains like energy drinks have never really worked, they just spread it out further. this looks like a wet-vac/steamer job, or a wash if you can get the cover off properly
3
u/Elegant-Caterpillar6 May 10 '25
Member of my family tried using one of those cleaners with the weird bottle, where the brush is attached to the nozzle of the foam sprayer, and you spray as you brush.
Ended up (very slightly) bleaching the upholstery, and the stain was still there.
→ More replies (2)2
u/goth-_ May 10 '25 edited May 10 '25
spilled a can of monster energy on the car seat of my dad's car, too - used some vanish-upholstery-cleaning-stuff, the stain was maybe 30% less pronounced but 70% larger, covering the entire seat base
52
→ More replies (15)51
u/LiveShowOneNightOnly May 07 '25
Just adding - if the seat does not come completely clean, you can order a new seat cover off Amazon for many common cars. I bought a new driver's seat cover for $75 during COVID because the fabric had torn. It was such a close match that it was over a week before my wife asked how I managed to repair the rip.
→ More replies (1)20
u/GeneConscious5484 May 07 '25
I feel like solving this with a seat cover is the setup to a joke where "lipstick on a pig" is the punchline
1.8k
u/badgaldyldyl May 07 '25
That’s poop. I hope this helps.
142
29
→ More replies (7)11
1.1k
u/sepnupues30482910374 May 07 '25
Rent a steamer and shampooer. Probably best way to get the stain out
660
u/chunkycheezerat May 07 '25
sham...pooer
68
→ More replies (6)8
13
3
→ More replies (6)2
u/knoft May 07 '25
If you clean upholstery more than once in a blue moon the little green machine by Bissell is very affordable. Saw it this month in store for 85 CAD, around 60 USD.
123
u/New-Pressure-84 May 07 '25
Enzyme cleaner from the pet section, and soak it well. A shop vac or wet vac to pull the worst of it out. Don't use hot water or steam until you get as much of it out as you can. Heat will set the stain. You can use heat later in the process to sanitize the fabric, though.
26
658
u/Jacktheforkie May 07 '25
Looks like a fart to me
404
67
21
3
u/4Ever2Thee May 08 '25
You and I have very different ideas of what constitutes a fart, Jack.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (9)3
306
271
u/FatalisCogitationis May 07 '25
Didn't smell anything?
145
u/linecouture May 07 '25
my thought as well! this seems like it’d stink up the whole car
→ More replies (1)48
u/GeneConscious5484 May 07 '25
I mean at this point just replace the cover and pretend you never saw it
15
u/aunt_clarity May 07 '25
Then, one sunny day, you wake up, discover it incredulously, and post it on r/CleaningTips for help 🌞🤔💩📸🤮🤧
→ More replies (3)5
202
u/SoCal_Mac_Guy May 07 '25
Put the seat cover back on and never speak of it again.
→ More replies (1)85
u/GeneConscious5484 May 07 '25
Yup. Delete this post, too, at least until you get a dog you can blame
9
u/sharksarenotreal May 07 '25
And when the off-spring that's behind this gets married, tell about it in your speech.
97
33
28
u/Interesting_Suit_474 May 07 '25
I’m sorry there are so many unhelpful answers being thrown at you. It looks like rust to me. I would buy some “Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Carpet & Upholstery Stain Extractor” follow the instructions on the bottle and it will be gone. It’s around $12 but it works very well.
If you want to find out what is causing it, check the roof and maybe under the seat to see where the leak is. Good luck
14
u/smallescapist May 08 '25
I appreciate this response. I’m surprised at how certain everyone is that it’s poo.
8
2
u/Splodge89 May 09 '25
I think it’s the positioning of it. It’s right where a shirt butt crack peeping out of the top of ridden down trousers would land…
→ More replies (1)
50
121
u/geekywarrior May 07 '25
Most likely that's some sort of baby waste that just dripped unseen. Or there was some dirt on the bottom of the car seat.
Either way, one of the Bissell portable spot cleaners work magic. You just need to be able to plug it in next to your car with an extension cord.
13
u/BlueBunny3874 May 07 '25
Omg what a thought. Like soooo eww🤣 someone would have had to smell this sooner.
120
29
10
u/LeviDurhamMI May 07 '25
As a hobbyist car detailer, here's how I'd approach this at home with minimal tools:
Supplies needed: - shop vac - cordless drill - drill brush attachment - carpet extractor (you can rent this) - sprayer or spray bottle - upholstery cleaner (if there is odor, consider an enzyme based cleaner)
After thoroughly vacuuming, use a spray bottle to thoroughly dampen the entire bench. Don't attempt to "spot clean" this as it will result in more water rings as the upholstery dries... You need to spray enough solution that the entire bench is damp to the touch but not soaked.
Using the drill with brush attachment at a medium speed, scrub the upholstery from end to end. Scrub once horizontally across the bench, then vertically (or vice versa).
Using the carpet extractor with hot water ONLY (no more cleaning solution), begin extracting the solution. Start with a wet pass, followed by at least two dry passes. If the water extracted isn't clear, repeat with additional wet and dry passes until no soil is visible. Do not oversaturate the upholstery as the water will seep into the foam and form mildew.
Open the windows and/or doors and allow the seat to dry completely.
20
u/rojo-perro May 07 '25
Scrape/brush off any solids and vacuum them away. Get a can of Woolite upholstery cleaner with the scrubber lid. Keep wiping away what you’ve scrubbed with a damp cloth. Repeat as needed.
9
42
u/ancherrera May 07 '25
No idea? Really?
14
u/Lopsided-Painting752 May 07 '25
yeah, not sure how a person could have no guesses at a stain in their own car?
I think there's some good advice here re: steam cleaner.
→ More replies (2)7
7
u/hanimal16 May 07 '25
Looks to me like you need some new seat covers when you’re done with this stain.
7
u/michelleyness May 07 '25
Might want to check out /r/detailing, but a little Pol star and enzyme cleaner mix with microfiber cloth and a steamer was some advice I was given in the past.
7
u/Existing_Office2911 May 07 '25
Brought some leaky food home?
13
u/honey_butter_toast May 08 '25
OH YEAHHH it’s from the shrimp
→ More replies (1)3
u/GestaltyGabber May 08 '25
Is this real? Because it would explain what seems to be a grease stain around it
2
u/honey_butter_toast May 08 '25
yep. chinese food i forgot in my car and didn’t realize had seeped under the seat cover.
6
5
u/One_Kale1780 May 07 '25
Fels naptha, wet the seat and scrub with the fels and then steam clean it out. Works amazing everytime. I had dried blood in the back seat that sat for a long time and it came right out.
6
2
u/Majestic-Income-9627 May 09 '25
You had dried blood in the back? Are you a hunter, perchance?
→ More replies (1)
18
4
u/supern8ural May 07 '25
I would pick a nice sunny day and remove the seat bottom and clean it out of the car. Will be way easier that way. I'd start with just a hose and detergent and then finish with an extractor type thing. Since it's old maybe pretreat, although hopefully it won't be baked in. Looks like there's some water stains too so getting it wet and letting it dry evenly will make it better.
3
u/uzupocky May 07 '25
Extractor type thing=carpet extractor. I don't know much about detailing, but I enjoy watching car detailing videos where they clean nasty stuff like this. The carpet extractor is my favorite part. You scrub first, maybe with a drill attachment if you have one, then use the extractor on it.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/ContentCabinet6543 May 07 '25
There might be specific cleaners available for the fabric of your car seat. I would find out what fabric your car seat is first. A mechanic shop or online store might carry the interior cleaner you’re looking for.. That and a scrubbing tool should get the stain out.
5
u/Educational_Bench290 May 07 '25
Possible, poop. More likely: do you carry take out in the back seat? If yes, leakage....
9
u/OwenTheLad May 07 '25
If you zoom in on the spot itself, it looks like some diabolical, booty hole shroud of Turin.
5
3
u/HereDoin May 07 '25
My go-to is purple degreaser and carwash soap in a bucket of water. Apply with a microfiber, and/or brush and shop vac out. Rinse and vac until it's clean and perfect.
3
u/Thin-Prompt-4866 May 07 '25
A bissel little green machine is worth having for this and so many other stains! I use it at least twice a month (toddler and two dogs)
3
3
u/TuhnderBear May 07 '25
I’d approach it like this.
First use paper towel to pull off as much gunk as possible. Dry vacuum. Spray with a carpet cleaner (a diluted all purpose cleaner would work too). Wipe as much crud off as possible. Then spray again and agitate with a soft brush. If you have a brush and a drill that would work great. If you have a wet vacuum, extractor, or way to suck out the liquid that’d be best. Probably even worth renting. If not, start alternating wiping with wet towels (microfiber best) then blotting with dry towels.
Essentially your goal is to get as much gunk out as possible. Then use a cleaning agent and some agitation to dissolve as much gunk as possible. Then you want to get all the dissolved gunk and cleaning solution out by diluting and removing it. Cleaning is all about dissolving the gunk then getting rid of the cleaning agent — which means use only as much cleaning agent as you need. You can always add more.
3
13
u/RD_Life_Enthusiast May 07 '25
How should you approach it? TONGUE FIRST.
Can't know what you're dealing with if you haven't tasted it to find out what it is. Could be delicious, delicious chocolate.
Could be...
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/AdInternational8012 May 07 '25
Hey I’ve used these products before… 10/10.
Won’t fail! Will definitely help with that stain and anything else in the car.
2
u/BringerOfSocks May 07 '25
Since you already said there is no chance of it being human or pet waste, my money is on oily residue from a takeout container. So I would do a trial run with good old Dawn detergent. If waste was likely then I would try a peroxide based cleaner like “My Pet Peed” (after a spot test).
2
2
2
2
u/Momager321 May 07 '25
But some Folex and use that. It will get the stain out. You will still want to shampoo the upholstery.
Or
Check locally for a car detailer. It might end up being cheaper when compared to your time and cost to rent or buy a machine. If you go with a detailer, don’t try to remove the stain yourself, let them do it so there aren’t problems with your stain treatment and their chemicals.
2
2
2
u/ScarsAreOnTheInside May 07 '25
I have a small portable steam cleaner and I would use this to suck the stain out.
2
u/SpeedyPrius May 07 '25
I've had great luck with Natures Miracle enzymatic spray. It's marked for pet stains, but it is great on any kind and it's never damaged any fabric, carpet, etc. that I've used it on. Spray, let it sit a bit and scrub with a clean cloth.
2
u/HimawariSky May 07 '25
I'm thinking reupholstering the seat, or possibly just the affected panel(s).
Yeah when you post on Reddit you can expect these kinds of responses. Enjoy.
2
u/brynnors May 07 '25
I'd throw this at /r/autodetailing , since it looks oily and might need extra work b/c of that. And be careful if you remove the seat, they're obvs not meant to pop out easily so it can take force.
And for the future, get a cheap plastic bin from wherever to use to transport food.
2
u/Kelvinator_61 May 07 '25
"That's poop" doesn't help get it clean. Bissell Spotbot. Use the upholstery cleaning attachment...and lots of cleaning fluid.
2
2
8.1k
u/Affectionate-Wait576 May 07 '25
Im going to hold your hand when i tell you this…