Seatbelts are undoubtedly one of the most essential parts of a vehicle’s interior. Every vehicle brand with an interior possesses one; from cars to trucks to airplanes and even space rockets.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 97% of accident victims who had their seatbelts on, suffered minimum damage than those who didn’t. So, the simple gesture of buckling up your seatbelt may save your life.
Moreover, seat belts can get dirty, when it does, it is wise to have it cleaned. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss how to clean a seat belt.
Can You Clean Your Seat Belts?
Yes, you can clean you seat belts to avoid dirt’s because dirty seatbelts could pose problems to the vehicle user as they usually retract slowly, trigger dust allergies, or stain clothing while contributing to an unappealing odor.
While it is very easy to ignore the state of the belt, it is important to know that just as it is essential to have an environment that is hygienically fit, it is also necessary to have a clean seatbelt.
How To Clean a Seat Belt
To clean a seatbelt, you need to:
- Step 1:Â Pull out the seatbelt to its longest possible length. (The seatbelt usually ranges from 60 to 90 inches in length).
- Step 2: Use the clamp or something else to hold the seatbelt to prevent it from going in.
- Step 3: Lightly spray the fabric cleaner on the seatbelt and scrub with the soft brush. You can also use a detergent mixed with water for the cleaning.
- Step 4: Spray the fabric cleaner again and then scrub with the hard bristle brush or microfiber towel. Ensure to use microfiber tower if you’re using a detergent water for the cleaning.
- Step 5: When you are done scrubbing and cleaning, wrap the dry towel around the belt and squeeze.
- Step 6: Run the squeezed towel up and down the belt, until the belt is moderately dry
This should have the seat belt cleaned. However, if little to no improvement is seen;
- Mix the all-purpose cleaner with water at a rate of 3:1 respectively
- Submerge the brush in the mixture, and then scrub the seatbelt in the direction of the fabric, be sure to use the minimum requirement on each area to avoid discoloration
- For belts with strong odors, be sure to mix one tablespoon of dish soap and two tablespoons of white vinegar
- Submerge the brush into the mixture, and gently scrub the seat belt
- Wrap the dry towel around the belt and squeeze.
- Run the squeezed towel up and down the belt, until the belt is moderately dry.
It should remain out of the retractor and air out till it’s completely dry.
While cleaning your vehicle seat belt, ensure you are using the right cleaner. Don’t just use any cleaner you see to avoid coloration. Avoid some cleaners like Windex and use all-purpose cleaners or seat belt cleaners.
Materials Needed to Clean a Seat Belt
To clean a seatbelt, you’ll need to gather a few household materials, and these are;
- A small soft brush
- A Plastic cup
- White vinegar
- Stiff bristled brush
- Dish soap
- Fabric cleaner
- Hand clamp
- Two microfiber towel
- Scrub pad
- All-purpose cleaner
What Is the Best Cleaner For Seat Belt?
A steam machine filled with a fabric cleaner makes the ultimate best seat belt cleaner. This is because the steam pressure will blow dirt away and kill all microorganisms.
The steam machine is also unique as it minimizes the amount of moisture used and ultimately, uses less stress and time to dry off.
However, in a case where the seat belt seems like it can’t be restored, it is advisable to seek professional help from car pimping services or simply get a new seatbelt.
In case you’re worried about expenses, the price range of the full set goes for about $14 on Amazon and other online stores.
In case you plan to get an already used seatbelt set, be sure to check for wear or tear on the webbing, as this is ultimately dangerous, or rust on the latch plate as it could likely break while in use.
Pros Of a Cleaning a Seat Belt
The advantages of cleaning your seatbelts are:
- It Helps to Reduce the Risk of an Allergy: Commuters who are either asthmatic or have allergies (especially triggered by dust) are safer in clean vehicles with clean seatbelts.
- It Helps to Avoid Unnecessary Clothes Stains: Workers, students, and any event-goers are most likely to avoid embarrassing clothing stains in clean vehicles with clean seatbelts.
- Fast Retraction: A clean seatbelt retracts faster, therefore, movement delays are limited. Some that complain that their seat belt doesn’t retract as fast as they do before should clean the belt and see if it solves the problem.
- Less Odor: A dirty seatbelt contributes to at least 50% of the car odor, therefore, a clean seatbelt will equal 50%less odor and 50% more comfort.
Cons Of a Cleaning a Seat Belt
The disadvantages of not cleaning your vehicle seatbelt are:
1. Wear and Tear
The frequent use of cleaning solutions and pieces of equipment on seat belts will weaken the fabric and eventually lead to wear and tear of the belt.
2. Accident Trap
Although the seatbelt will help commuters stay safe and still in the case of an accident, in a case where one attempts to escape a vehicle for whatever reason, a seatbelt might serve as a restraint and ultimately reduce the chances of a successful escape.
3. Health Hazard
Aside from being an accident trap, seatbelts have been known to rarely contribute to health hazards like abdominal pain or even a chest issue, but these could usually be avoided by the use of an extender.
NOTE: Seat belt extenders are basically extensions of the seatbelts. They are made of the same polyester material, a latch, and a latch plate.
It creates enough room for overweight individuals on the seatbelt. they usually have a length of about 25 to 30 inches. They usually cost about $10 to $17. The price is strictly dependent on the length and brand.
4. Presence of Allergens
The use of cleaning solutions can exterminate allergens like dust and oil spills on the seat belt, but this has an adverse effect as cleaning solutions might contain allergens for some commuters. It is important to find out possible allergens that are contained in cleaning solutions before use.
5. Discoloration
The constant or frequent use of cleaning solutions will eventually result in a discoloration of the belt, it is important to use cleaning solutions with a neutral ph. value (6.5 to 7.5)
Conclusion
Motor vehicle safety is highly important and should be taken seriously. A good way to ensure your safety during journeys is by taking care of your seatbelt.
Be sure to perform routine checks on all the seatbelts available in the car, and make sure all your commuting partners have their seatbelts buckled up during the commute.
