How to Remove Soda Stains from a Car's Interior

Co-authored by Chad Zani

Last Updated: March 11, 2021 References

Having a spill inside your car is never fun. Fortunately, soda stains are some of the easiest types of stains to remove from a car's interior. As with any kind of stain, removing the stain is easier if you act immediately. Start by wetting and diluting the stain with water so that it doesn’t set, then treat the stain immediately according to the material of the car's interior. With the right cleaning methods and a small amount of effort, your car's interior will look good as new!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Removing Soda Stains From Cloth Upholstery

1
Dilute the stain with water. If you just spilled soda in your car, act immediately by diluting the stain. Pour cool water over the entire stain, wetting but not drenching the stain. Then blot it with a clean cloth.^{[1]
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- Adding water keeps the stain at the surface of the upholstery and prevents it from setting.
- Blot the stain as opposed to rubbing it. Blotting encourages the stain to lift, whereas rubbing can force the stain deeper into the upholstery.
- If the stain is old, still add water to the stain and blot briefly before turning to other methods. Just blotting alone won't eliminate an old stain, but it is still a good way of loosening the stain so that you can tackle it with other, more powerful methods.
- Use a light-colored microfiber cloth so you can see how much of the stain is lifting up and transferring to the cloth.^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Chad Zani
  Auto Detailing Expert
  Expert Interview. 2 October 2019.}
2
Mix baking soda and water. Cleaning with baking soda is a highly effective method of removing many kinds of stains, including soda stains. Combine ¼ cup (59.15 ml) of baking soda with 1 cup (236.59 ml) of warm water and mix until you achieve a white paste.

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3
Apply the baking soda paste to the stain. After you have mixed up the baking soda paste, use a toothbrush to apply it to the stain. Use gentle brushing motions to apply it to the entire stained area. Leave the paste on the stain for a half an hour.
- A toothbrush is a great tool to use because its bristles help to work the baking soda paste into the fabric. Leaving it to sit for a half an hour also helps the baking soda to penetrate the upholstery.
4
Blot the stain with a clean cloth. After a half an hour, use a clean cloth to gently blot the stain. Use dabbing motions to lift up both the soda and the baking soda paste from the upholstery.
5
Make a vinegar, water and detergent spray. The baking soda paste should have worked to lift up some or all of the soda stain. If the stain is still present, make another cleaning solution by mixing ¼ cup (1.23 ml) of vinegar, a few squirts of dish detergent, and about 3 tablespoons (44.37 ml) of warm water in a spray bottle.
6
Spray the stain with the vinegar solution. Use the spray bottle to spray the vinegar solution onto the stain. Both vinegar and dish detergent are powerful cleaning agents that help to lift stains. Vinegar is also quite effective for removing soda stains containing bright dyes, such as grape or orange soda.
7
Brush and dry the stain. After you spray the stain, use a stiff-bristled brush, such as a nailbrush, to work the cleaning solution into the stain. You can use a toothbrush if you don’t have any other type of brush. After brushing, let the solution sit on the stain for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, use a dry towel to gently dab at the stain. Dabbing should lift the stain as well as any excess moisture from the cleaning solution.
8
Soak the stain in glass cleaner and blot. If the baking soda and vinegar solutions didn’t fully remove the soda stain, you will have to try a more potent cleaning solution. Glass cleaner is a very powerful cleaner that is effective on upholstery and carpeting as well as on glass. To use glass cleaner, pour enough of it on the stain to completely cover it, then let it soak for about five minutes.^{[3]
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Blot the stain with a clean cloth. This will remove the glass cleaner and soda. Your stain should be completely gone! Wet the cloth, then blot at the area you were treating to lift up any cleaning solution excess.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning Stains From Leather and Vinyl Upholstery

1
Blot the stain. Leather and vinyl are not as absorbent as cloth upholstery, but they also can be stained by soda. Once the stain forms, immediately blot at it with a clean cloth to absorb as much of the soda as you can.^{[5]
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- If the stain is old, still wet and blot it for a few seconds, then move on to other methods to fully remove it.
2
Add toothpaste to the stain. Toothpaste is an unlikely but highly effective cleaning solution for leather and vinyl. To use toothpaste, apply a dab of paste onto the stain and use a toothbrush to rub it into the surface of the stain. You should notice the stain lifting and coloring the white toothpaste.^{[6]
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Remove toothpaste with a damp towel. After you brush the toothpaste on the stain for 15-30 seconds, use a damp cloth to wipe away the paste, then blot at the area to lift any excess.^{[7]
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4
Dab at the stain with isopropyl alcohol. If the toothpaste didn’t fully remove the soda stain, you will need to move on isopropyl alcohol, which is a more potent cleaner. Spot test an area of your leather or vinyl seat beforehand, then dip a clean cloth into the isopropyl alcohol, squeeze out the excess, then blot at the stain with the dampened cloth.^{[8]
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- It’s important to do a spot test beforehand, as isopropyl alcohol can discolor the dye in leather or vinyl seats.
- To spot test, dampen a cloth with isopropyl alcohol and dab gently at an inconspicuous area of the seat. If you don’t notice any discoloration after about ten seconds of dabbing, it’s safe to use on the stain.
- Don’t pour the isopropyl alcohol directly on the stain. Instead, dampen a cloth with the alcohol and dab. Pouring the alcohol onto the leather or vinyl can discolor it or cause the dye to rub away.
5
Make a solution out of cream of tartar and lemon. If your stain is particularly old or stubborn, you’ll need an even more powerful cleaner. Mix equal parts of cream of tartar and lemon juice for a highly effective cleaner.^{[9]
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Apply the solution to the stain. Spot test an inconspicuous area of your seat by applying the solution, letting it sit for ten minutes, and wiping it away with a damp cloth. If you don’t notice any discoloration, apply the cream of tarter and lemon juice solution to the stain and let it sit for ten minutes.^{[10]
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Wipe away the solution from the stain. After ten minutes, use a damp cloth to gently wipe the cream of tartar and lemon juice solution from the stain. Your stain should be lighter in color or completely removed.^{[11]
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- If you still see your stain, repeat the process of applying the solution, waiting ten minutes, and wiping it away until the stain is gone. Then wipe the formerly stained area with a damp cloth and let it dry.
- You can also use leather cleaner and a horse hair brush to remove stains from leather. The horse hair brush will get deep into the pores of the leather, making it easier to get the stain out.^{[12]
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  Expert Source
  
  Chad Zani
  Auto Detailing Expert
  Expert Interview. 2 October 2019.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting Rid of Soda Stains From Plastic Cup Holders and Sidings

1
Use cleaning spray and a toothbrush to clean cup holders. If soda has spilled inside your car’s plastic cup holders, buy a cleaner specify formulated for the plastic insides of your car. Spray this cleaner into the cup holders, then scrub at the soda stain with a toothbrush. After scrubbing, stuff paper towels or a clean rag into the cup holder and wipe away the cleaner and stain.^{[13]
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- If you can’t find a car cleaner, use an all-purpose cleaning spray, a 1/1 solution of white vinegar and water, or soapy water.^{[14]
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- If the stain is particularly large or old, you may have to repeat this process several times to completely remove the stain.
2
Spot clean the cup holders with a baby wipe. Use baby wipes or cleaning wipes to spot clean the inside of sticky cup holders. This is a good step to take if you have already done an initial cleaning but are left with individual trouble spots in your cup holders.
- To clean, rub the baby wipe or cleaning wipe on the stain until it has been rubbed away.
3
Use glass cleaner to clean plastic car sidings. If you have spilled your soda onto the plastic sidings of the car or the car door, use ammonia-free glass cleaner to remove the stain. Spray a few sprays of the glass cleaner onto a clean rag or paper towel, then wipe away the stain.^{[15]
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- Don’t use glass cleaner with ammonia, as this can bleach the plastic.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you clean interior car fabric?

Chad Zani
Auto Detailing Expert
Chad Zani is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. Chad is based in the Los Angeles, California area and uses his passion for auto detailing to teach others how to do so as he grows his company nationwide.

Chad Zani

Auto Detailing Expert

Expert Answer

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For cloth upholstery, apply an upholstery stain remover to a clean microfiber cloth and blot at the stain with it. For leather upholstery, use leather cleaner and a horse hair brush. Work the cleaner into the stain with the brush, then use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe up the lifted stain as you go. Avoid using alkaline soaps to clean leather since they can stain and damage it.
Question

How can I avoid spreading stains when cleaning my car's interior?

Chad Zani
Auto Detailing Expert
Chad Zani is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. Chad is based in the Los Angeles, California area and uses his passion for auto detailing to teach others how to do so as he grows his company nationwide.

Chad Zani

Auto Detailing Expert

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

You want to work from the outside of the stain to the inside. You always want to work towards the center of the problem, so that you're not spreading the stain.

Warnings

If you are using potent cleaners, open your car doors as you are cleaning the stain to avoid inhaling strong fumes.

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