How to Clean a Dog Car Seat Cover & Liner

A car protector earns its keep on the muddy walks, which also means it's going to need cleaning. The good news: for most of them it's a shake, a vacuum and a wipe, and it's quicker if you do it the right way round. Here's how to look after a boot liner, back seat cover, seat hammock and booster seat, based on the care details for our own kit.

The golden rule: let the mud dry first

It's tempting to attack wet mud straight away, but it just smears. Let it dry, then take the protector out of the car and shake or brush the mud off outside. Do that before anything else, and the rest is easy.

A quick routine for any car protector

Let the mud dry.
Shake or brush it off outside.
Vacuum up the dog hair.
Wipe down with a damp cloth or sponge.
Let it dry completely before you fold it away or put it back in the car.

That last step matters most for smells. A cover folded away damp is where wet-dog smell comes from.

Boot liner

Our Waterproof Car Boot Liner with Bumper Flap is padded 600D Oxford fabric (according to the supplier). Let the mud dry, shake or brush it off outside, vacuum the hair and wipe it down with a damp cloth. It isn't sold as machine washable, so don't put it in the washing machine.

Check the bumper flap and side flaps too, as that's where the worst of the mud lands. Make sure the whole liner is completely dry before you fold it away.

Back seat cover

Our Waterproof Back Seat Cover for Dogs is waterproof Oxford fabric. After a walk you can wipe it down with a damp cloth in place, or take it out and shake it off outside. For a proper clean, let the mud dry, brush it off, then wipe it with a damp cloth or sponge, and let it dry before you fold it away.

Seat hammock

Our Deluxe Back Seat Hammock with Mesh Window is quilted 600D Oxford fabric with a padded layer and a PVC backing (according to the supplier). It covers more of the car (the seat, the footwell gap and the bottom of the doors), so there's more to clean. Unclip it, let the mud dry, shake or brush it off outside, vacuum the hair out of the quilting, and wipe it down with a damp cloth. Make sure it's dry before you fold it away.

Booster seat

Our Dog Car Booster Seat for Small Dogs is Oxford fabric with a firm base board. Shake out hair and crumbs, then hand wash the cover in cool water and let it dry fully before your dog uses it again.

Getting rid of wet-dog smell

Most smells come from damp. Let the protector dry completely, ideally somewhere airy, before you fold it or put it back in the car. Wipe it over after muddy trips rather than letting mud build up over several walks, and take it out of the car now and then to air.

Hair that won't budge

A vacuum with a brush attachment gets most dog hair out of fabric and quilting. Vacuuming once the cover is dry works better than trying when it's damp.

Less mud in the first place

Cleaning is easier when less mud gets in. Keep a towel and a bottle of water in the car, wipe or rinse paws before your dog jumps in, and put the right protector down for where your dog rides. Not sure which that is? Read boot liner, seat cover or hammock: which do you need?, and our tips on keeping your car clean after muddy dog walks.

Protect the car, restrain the dog

A cover or liner protects your car, not your dog. The Highway Code says dogs in vehicles should be suitably restrained, for example with a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard. Use one alongside any protector.

Delivery

Everything is sent from UK stock by tracked courier (usually Evri or Royal Mail) to England, Scotland and Wales. Delivery is £3.99, or free when your basket comes to over £40. We aim to send orders within 1–2 working days, and most arrive within 3–7 working days of ordering. The full details are on our delivery page.

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