Date:         Tue, 1 Jun 2010 09:06:36 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: cleaning seat upholstery
Comments: To: Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

---- Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> Has anyone yet suggested to remove the seat covers and put them through the laundry machine .... on Hot/Medium/Cold ... Normal or Gentle, your choice.
>
> The seat covers are NOT that hard to remove ... unless you have captain chairs ....  removing the arm-rests can be a bit tricky, but not all that hard (see the archives for directions).
>
> Another plus to actually removing the seat covers, is that one can then clean the grim-soaked foam.   m2cw   m


I removed the covers from the mattresses in my '91 VW Vanagon GL Campmobile and laundered them with ERA detergent.  I followed the directions in the owner's manual by using cold water (and double rinsed them), since the covers are made of Viscose, a trade name no longer in widespread use for cellulose acetate (the most commonly purveyed example today is Rayon).  Hot water damages this material, and might shrink it beyond further use, at least according to the owner's manual.

The covers were really nasty, but the laundering process made them as good as new.  I haven't tried to remove the seat covers, however.  Actually I did remove one cover for an arm rest in order to repair the arm rest.  After the repair, I simply stitched the cover back on.

I definitely agree with an earlier poster who said that VW did a really good job in selecting excellent seat (and mattress) cover material for the Vanagon.  The stuff seems almost indestructible.  Most vehicles I've known with the mileage my camper has had seriously damaged seats, just from normal usage.

DMc