A common detailing question is this: “Is it necessary to remove car seats to detail the interior of a vehicle?”
In short: it depends. Some detailers have found that this works to attract customers, while others claim it is too time-consuming to be made part of the routine.
Pros & Cons of Removing Seats for Detailing
There are arguments both in favor and against removing a vehicle’s seats. Like every detailing job, it will ultimately come down to the state of the car being worked on.
That established, here are some pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to remove the seats:
Pros
The overall advantage of removing the seats boils down to being able to clean every inch of the flooring. Here’s why that’s important:
- Tight spaces around the seats become easy to access
- Nothing that may have fallen out of reach gets missed (like food crumbs, spills, etc.)
- Gain a competitive edge and additional selling point
Cons
Many detailers feel that removing the car seats introduces too much risk that doesn’t pay off, and here’s why:
- Liability is assumed when reinstalling seats into a vehicle that will be driven (this usually involves disconnecting and reconnecting the airbags, too)
- Potential to run into mechanical issues, such as stripped bolts preventing you from reinstalling the seats without extra hardware
- The process is time-consuming – and time is money
- Customers may not even notice or care about having those spots worked on
- In some instances, the vehicle may not even have any mess to clean beneath the seats
How to Safely Remove Seats
If you (or your customer) decide that it’s necessary to remove the car seats for an ideal detailing job, it’s vital to do so safely.
Follow this tried & true method to remove any car seat:
- Google “how to remove car seats for MAKE MODEL YEAR” (replace the capitalized words with your vehicle’s information)
In all seriousness, it’s important to consult the operator’s manual for each vehicle when removing seats. This is especially true for modern vehicles, as their electronics can be more complex, therefore making the removal process more involved.
Here are the general steps that apply to removing seats from any vehicle:
- Move the seat(s) all the way forward
- Locate & remove the two bolts at the back of the chair
- Move the seat(s) back, then remove the front two bolts
- Disconnect the car battery for power seats
- Lift the seat
- Safely disconnect all electrical cables
- Line the door frame with towels – this will reduce the risk of scratching any surfaces while lifting the seat out
- Take seat(s) out of car, careful not to hit anything
When reinstalling the seats, remember to torque the bolts down to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. Removing seats during your detailing job is about taking safety precautions for the vehicle, the customer, and your business.
Once the seats have been removed, the carpeting can be cleaned as the rest of the floor. Our Carpet Cleaner and Extractor Soap can be worked in with a scrub brush or with drill brush attachments. Following up with a Mytee Carpet Extractor will ensure the deepest clean.
You may determine that removing the car seats is neither necessary nor worth the hassle to complete your job well. In most instances, there are other ways to achieve a full clean.
A good alternative for removing debris from beneath car seats without taking them out is by using compressed air or a tool such as the Tornador Air Blow Out Tool.
There will be some jobs wherein the seats have to be removed for the vehicle to be fully cleaned (such as previously abandoned cars). Detailers must understand the risks and know how to remove the car seats safely.
Looking for more? Check out Detail King’s full guide to interior detailing.