Cleaning and caring for the interior

This chapter contains information on the following subjects:

• Seat covers
• Cleaning cloth seat covers, fabric trim and Alcantara® upholstery
• Cleaning and caring for natural leather covers
• Cleaning leatherette upholstery
• Cleaning stowage compartments, drink holders and ash trays
• Cleaning and caring for the dash panel, wooden trims and plastic parts
• Cleaning seat belts

Modern fabrics, such as dark denim, are often not colourfast. Light-coloured upholstery (soft materials or leather) is particularly sensitive to staining caused by these fabrics, even if you are careful. This is not caused by a fault in the upholstery, but by the non-colourfast nature of the garments.

Leaving stains, dirt and other deposits on the surface of vehicle components and cloth seat covers for a long time can make it difficult to clean and treat them. Stains, dirt and deposits may become impossible to remove, particularly if left for a long time.

• Cleaning and caring for the vehicle exterior
• Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts

Suitable care products are available from a Volkswagen dealership.

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings .

Please note the following for the cleaning and maintenance of the seat covers ⇒  :

• Before getting into the vehicle, close all Velcro fasteners that could touch the cloth seat covers and fabric trims. Open Velcro fasteners can cause damage to cloth seat covers and fabric trims.
• Avoid the direct contact of sharp-edged items and accessories to the upholstery and fabric trims in order to prevent damage. Accessories include zips, studs, rhinestones on clothing or belts.
• Dust and grit in upholstery pores, folds and seams should be removed regularly so that no permanent damage is caused to the surface of the seats by scratching.
• Always check whether garments are colourfast to prevent damage to the upholstery. This is especially important for light-coloured upholstery.

Volkswagen recommends that stained upholstery is cleaned by a specialist company.

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings .

Airbag-related components and electrical connectors may be installed in the driver seat, passenger seat and sometimes also in the rear outer seats. Seat cushions or backrests that are damaged, incorrectly cleaned or treated, or that become wet, may cause damage to the vehicle electrics or trigger a fault in the airbag system ⇒ .

Electrical components and connectors are installed in electrically adjustable seats and seat cushions with seat heating. These can be damaged if cleaned or treated incorrectly ⇒  . This can also result in damage to other parts of the vehicle electrics.

For this reason, please follow these cleaning guidelines:

• Do not use high-pressure cleaners, steam cleaners or coolant spray.
• Do not use washing paste or fine detergent solutions.
• Avoid getting the seat wet.
• Only use detergents that have been approved by Volkswagen.
• If in doubt, consult a specialist cleaning company.

• Please read and follow the instructions, notes and warnings on the package before using cleaning products.
• Upholstery, fabric trims, Alcantara® seat covers and carpeting should be cleaned regularly with a vacuum cleaner (brush).
• Do not use high-pressure cleaners, steam cleaners or coolant spray.
• We recommend that you use a soft sponge or commercially available lint-free microfibre cloth for cleaning jobs ⇒  .
• Clean Alcantara® surfaces with a slightly damp cotton or woollen cloth or a commercially available lint-free microfibre cloth ⇒  .

General surface soiling of the upholstery and fabric trim can be cleaned with a commercially available foam cleaner.

If the upholstery and fabric trims are generally heavily soiled, consult a Volkswagen dealership for information on suitable cleaning methods before attempting any cleaning. If required, take the vehicle to a specialist cleaning company.

When treating stains, it may be necessary to clean the entire surface and not just the stain itself. This particularly applies if the surface shows general signs of wear. The cleaned area could otherwise be lighter than the surrounding area. If in doubt, consult a specialist cleaning company.

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings .

Please contact a Volkswagen dealership or other qualified workshop if you have any questions on cleaning and caring for the leather equipment in your vehicle.

Natural leather is sensitive as it does not have a uniform coating of dye.

• Use a leather cream with sunlight protection and impregnation properties on a regular basis and always after cleaning. The cream nourishes the leather, keeps it breathable and supple and replaces lost moisture. It also protects the surface.
• Leather should be cleaned every 2 to 3 months and fresh stains removed.
• Treat the leather with a special leather care product every six months ⇒  .
• Always apply cleaning and care products extremely sparingly and always use a dry cotton or woollen cloth that is free from fluff. Do not apply cleaning and care products directly to the leather.
• Remove fresh stains such as ink, ball-point pen ink, lipstick, shoe cream etc. as quickly as possible.
• Look after the pigment. Use a special coloured leather cream to refresh the colour where necessary.
• Wipe it off with a soft cloth.

Volkswagen recommends that you use a damp cotton or wool cloth for general cleaning purposes.

Do not let the water soak through the leather or soak into the seams.

Please observe the following notes prior to cleaning the leather upholstery ⇒ Cleaning upholstery on seat cushions with seat heating, electrically adjustable seats, or seats containing airbag components.

However, slight colour variations will arise in normal use.

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings .

Please observe the following notes prior to cleaning the leatherette upholstery ⇒ Cleaning upholstery on seat cushions with seat heating, electrically adjustable seats, or seats containing airbag components.

Only use water and neutral detergents to clean the leatherette upholstery.

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings .

• Moisten a clean, lint-free cloth with water and clean the parts.
• If this does not provide satisfactory results, use a special solvent-free plastic cleaning product.

• Remove and empty the ashtray.
• Wipe the ashtray with a cloth to clean it.

To clean the snuffer ⇒ fig. 146 (arrow), use a toothpick or similar object to pick out the ashes.

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings .

• Moisten a clean, lint-free cloth with water and clean the parts.
• Treat plastic parts inside and outside the vehicle and the dash panel with a special solvent-free plastic cleaning and care product that has been approved by Volkswagen.
• Treat wooden trims with a mild soap solution.

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings .

Large particles of dirt on the automatic belt prevent it from rolling back properly and thus from working effectively.

The seat belts must never be removed for cleaning purposes.

• Remove dirt with a soft brush ⇒ .
• Carefully pull the dirty seat belt right out and leave it out.
• Clean the seat belt with a mild soap solution.
• Allow the seat belt fabric to dry completely.
• Do not allow the seat belt to roll up until it has dried completely.