How to Clean Airplane Upholstery Seats

Whether it’s a private jet or a commercial plane, the seats should be regularly cleaned and disinfected for health and aesthetic reasons. COVID-19 has played a huge role in the need for regular disinfection. Aside from disinfection, deep cleaning has always been important because we want to maintain the seats’ appearance and prevent any nasty odours. 

Cleaning airplane upholstery seats 

Cleaning the seats (especially the aisle seat headrests that passengers often touch) is essential in maintaining a clean and safe environment inside the aircraft. However, this requires extra care because the textile material might be sensitive to chemicals and other cleaning methods. To prevent discolouration, fading or other visible damages, the cleaning solution or method should be tested first on an inconspicuous part of the seat. 

The specific cleaning method might primarily depend on the seats’ type of leather or fabric. For instance, specialised cleaning methods are required for high-end fabrics. This is to prevent visible and material damage to the fabric as well as make the fabric last longer. It’s especially the case for commercial planes where the seats are being used regularly. The sweat, dirt, dust and occasional spills may seem to require harsh cleaning methods. However, only the appropriate cleaning method should be applied (depending on the fabric material) in removing the dirt, stains and unpleasant odours. 

Cleaning the carpet and the plane’s interiors 

Aside from the seats, it’s also important to clean the carpet and the plane’s interiors. These areas and surfaces also accumulate dirt and dust (and also some spills which might get smelly over time or change the carpet’s texture and softness). But to properly clean the carpet and aircraft interior, it also requires caution similar to what we mentioned earlier about the proper care of fabrics (test a small inconspicuous part first before moving on to the visible areas). 

As you’ve noticed, cleaning the upholstery seats as well as the carpets and plane’s interiors require care and expertise. Aside from the thorough removal of dirt, stains and unpleasant odours, this care and expertise is also valuable in prolonging the fabric’s appeal and lifetime. 

You can contact us here at LCS Sydney for commercial upholstery cleaning (including in airplanes and boats). Since 1972 we’ve been specialising in upholstery cleaning and proper fabric protection and care.