Protecting the seats and carpet

[Marie]

I have a new 08 Vibe and want to keep the seats and carpet in good condition for as long as I can. What is the best way to protect these?Someone at the dealership said not to spray the cloth and carpet with scotch guard. Does anyone have an opinion on this, or a suggestion?Thanks

[kunkstyle]

Why would they have told you that? Trying to sell you the GM package, I assume. I've used scotchguard on all my vehicles. Scotchguard, regular vacuum, shampoo, and rapid stain removal should keep your interior looking good for years.

[NibCrom]

Would a small Bissell carpet cleaner work okay?

[Marie]

Great! I hoped that Scoth Guard would work. (And yes they were selling the dealer 'special' interior protection!)

[vibolista]

Best way to keep your interior in the best condition possible:1. Don't use your Vibe as a dining room. Milk, food and sugary drink spills are some of the worst.2. Frequent vacuuming and dusting. If you let sand and muck settle into your fabrics or carpets, it will eventually grind into the material, staining and prematurely wearing the fibers. On rainy or snowy days, moisture from wet shoes goes to work with that dirt, producing mossy aromas that could make the interior a bit musty after time. 3. Don't use your Vibe as a dining room. Funky stains and smells will develop, no mater how careful you are. 4. Did I mention, don't use your Vibe as a dining room? :-)Seriously, make sure anything that can ruin your interior stays out or is contained safely until you remove it. My wife brought a jug of bleach home, along with a few other purchases a few years back. Yup, the bleach turned on its side in the back of her van, and the rest is easy to guess. Massive containment breach on the after deck. By the time she got home, the carpet was toast. Light gray was turned splotchy tie died white from between the second row seats to the cargo area in back. That never cleared up. Big gray rubber mat to the rescue. It only takes a few minutes each week to keep the interior in like new shape. Don't let anyone pile trash in your car, clear it out when you get home. Simple stuff. But don't forget to have fun with your new car. The Vibe is a great ride. It's a super usable car/wagon/reasonably sized SUV. Several car makers are coming out with 'new' designs that look an awful lot like our Vibe. They like to call them crossover vehicles. Anyone see the new Cadillac Provoq concept? How original is that?BTW, Scotch Guard works pretty well against letting most stains set. You will still have to clean whatever you spill as quickly as possible. That special GM interior protection product probably resembles Scotch Guard.

[kunkstyle]

Quote, originally posted by NibCrom »Would a small Bissell carpet cleaner work okay?Can't see why not. I've used the full sized one. I assume you're talking about the wet/steam style?