Technical Washing Panda Seats

[aquamarine]

To all you domestic Gods and Goddesses out there: has anyone actually washed their Panda seat covers? I want to do this with our Mk1 (once I've got the covers off), but am nervous. Have people machine-washed them? Presume cool temp and delicate cycle?

David

 

[goodgirl156]

I would probably jet wash them outside first. The amount of mud and nastys in them would probably silt up the washing machine(experience talking here!)

 

[Palio]

No I haven't, but I wouldn't trust them to a machine wash.

I'd do a good old fashioned warm hand wash in the sink, wring them out gently & line dry them (could take a while in this weather!). It may not be as effective, but there's no chance of them being damaged by an uncontrollable machine cycle. :idea:

 

[Liquid Knight]

Pressure wash first and don't worry about clogging your machine. That's what launderettes are for.

 

[onemanmade]

I would wash them (just like palio said) by hand. I wouldn't jet wash them as any weaker parts of cloth might get ripped, remember the cloth is pretty old and may have seen a lot of use by now! and I most definetly wouldn't put them in a washing machine, launderette or not!!

 

[aquamarine]

Thanks all - the handwash route is the way I'll go! Would be too nervous to jetwash but will give them a very good hoover and possibly quick clean outside first. A job for the weekend - will be wash day tomorrow!

Thanks for all the replies. David

 

[andyholli]

Borrow my wet-vac, upholstery cleaner. It's good unless you have air bags in the seats.. Which unless I'm mistaken wasn't a mk1 option?

 

[pooroldcodger]

If you hand wash them, don't go too hot with the water. I don't know how prone they would be to shrinking but the hotter the water the more likely they are to shrink.
It might also be an idea to get them back on the frames before they are completely dry so that you can pull them a bit if necessary, which will be harder to do when they are bone dry.
be careful you don't rip the seams though.

 

[Dragon Man]

the way i do it is i take them out the car, blast them with the hose pipe to wet them, mix up "carpet/fabric detergent" add a dash of detol and a good squirt of washing up liquid (for the suds!) and using a light brush, brush into the fabric. then rinse with the hose, and repeat a few times.
when it comes to drying, i used a vax and used a portable dehumidifier and small heater (if in winter) in the car with all vents closed. it does take about 3-4 days for the car to dry out though but works.
the PiNKqCENTO i had, Talon, Alex's Marbella and one day Fallout went through the same "clean"

works well...

 

[lightweightmick]

Are we talking seat covers here or the actual upholstery..?
If the upholstered material, is it easier to get off in the Mk1s ?
Lucy's (mk2) are filthy (I'm a dirty old man lol) but I wouldn't consider taking the material off the seat frame, rather use something like a Vax vacuum carpet cleaner with the hose attachment fitted to suck the dirty water out as you scrub.

 

[panda panda]

I was under the impression that the mk1 covers were made easily removeable to be washed, sure it was in the handbook when I had one years ago.

 

[Bartpanda]

Its regata, not panda seat, but the materials are the same I think. When I bought regataD, there were seat covers, the first owner's wife had made soon after they bought the car new in 1986. Never removed since 1986 .... I 've found terrible mess underneath the covers. On the picture part of the driver seat after first wash and scrub .On the second after two "washing the seats" days.They are still a bit dirty , but I was to exhausted after two day struggle to wash them for a third time, maby some day.

 

[aquamarine]

I chickened out of removing the covers, and had an hour to spend tonight. Tesco's foam cleaner and a Vax has been the approach so far. At least the car now smells of ammonia and not farmyard critters. Will have another go when I get chance - it may be a lomger process than Bartpanda's!
Thanks all

 

[purple haze]

A long overnight soak in the bath with gentle hand liquid followed by a hand wash in the bath. Make sure all detergent is washed out or it will attract dirt later on. Mk1 and mk2 covers remove easily. The mk2's have a problem though as they are foam backed and this foam breaks up during the washing or may have done during age/wear. if this happened the whole shape is ruined. It looks like yours may have this foam stitched in. Just hold it up to the light to see the state of the foam.

Washing panda seats is something which is important to me....yeah, weird I know.

 

[Panda Mo]

No I haven't, but I wouldn't trust them to a machine wash.

I'd do a good old fashioned warm hand wash in the sink, wring them out gently & line dry them (could take a while in this weather!). It may not be as effective, but there's no chance of them being damaged by an uncontrollable machine cycle. :idea:

Wow! A man who knows how to hand wash! Good on you Gavin!