Volkswagen Tiguan Owners Manual: Cleaning upholstery, fabric trim and Alcantara®

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first⇒Introduction to the subject 

Cleaning upholstery on heated seats and power seats or seats with airbag components

Airbag components and electrical connectors may be installed in the driver seat, the front passenger seat. Damaging, cleaning and handling incorrectly, or wetting or soaking these seat surfaces and backrests can damage the vehicle electrical system and prevent the airbag system from working properly ⇒ .

Electrical components and connectors that could be damaged by incorrect cleaning or handling are installed in power seats and heated seats ⇒ . This can also result in damage to other parts of the vehicle electrical system.

For this reason, read and follow these cleaning instructions:

• Do not use pressure washers, steam cleaners, or cooling spray.

• Do not use detergent pastes or mild detergent solutions.

• Do not wet the surface completely.

• Only use cleaning products approved by Volkswagen.

• If you have questions or concerns, consult a professional cleaner.

• Before using any cleaning agent, familiarize yourself with instructions and warnings on the packaging.

• Vacuum upholstery, fabric trim, Alcantara^® upholstery, and carpeting regularly with a suitable brush attachment.

• A soft sponge or a commercially available lint-free microfiber cloth may be used for general cleaning ⇒ .

• Clean Alcantara^® surfaces with a damp cotton or wool cloth or a commercially available lint-free microfiber cloth ⇒ .

Upholstery and fabric trim with light generalized soiling can be cleaned with a commercially available dry-foam cleaner.

If the upholstery fabric and fabric trim pieces are heavily soiled, see your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility before you begin cleaning to learn about suitable cleaning options. If necessary, have the cleaning done by a professional.

Cleaning upholstery on non-heated seats, manual seats, or seats without airbag components

• Before using any cleaning agent, familiarize yourself with instructions and warnings on the packaging.

• Vacuum upholstery, fabric trim, Alcantara^® upholstery, and carpeting regularly with a suitable brush attachment.

• Do not use pressure washers, steam cleaners, or cooling spray.

• A soft sponge or a commercially available lint-free microfiber cloth may be used for general cleaning ⇒ .

• Clean Alcantara^® surfaces with a damp cotton or wool cloth or a commercially available lint-free microfiber cloth ⇒ .

Upholstery and fabric trim with light generalized soiling can be cleaned with a commercially available dry-foam cleaner.

If the upholstery fabric and fabric trim pieces are heavily soiled, see your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility before you begin cleaning to learn about suitable cleaning options. If necessary, have the cleaning done by a professional.

Removing stains

When treating stains, it may be necessary to clean the entire surface and not just the stain itself. This is especially true if the entire surface has become dirty from normal use. Otherwise, the area that is treated may become lighter than the untreated area. If you have questions or concerns, consult a professional cleaner.

Type of stain	Recommended cleaning for fabric and upholstery
Water-based stains, such as coffee or fruit juice.	– Moisten a sponge with water and rub the stain gently with a circular motion. – Wipe dry with an absorbent cloth.
Persistent stains, such as chocolate or make-up.	– Use only Volkswagen-approved cleaning products. – If necessary, have the fabric or upholstery professionally cleaned.
Grease-based stains, such as oil, lipstick, etc.	– Use only Volkswagen-approved cleaning products. – If necessary, have the fabric or upholstery professionally cleaned.

Warning

If there is a malfunction in the airbag system, the airbag may not deploy correctly or at all, or it may deploy unexpectedly. This could cause fatal injuries.

• Have the airbag system inspected immediately by your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Note

If the upholstery on power seats, heated seats, or seats with airbag components is wet, electrical components and the vehicle electrical system could be damaged.

• If the seating surface becomes soaked, have it dried and the system components checked immediately by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

• Do not use steam cleaners because the steam could cause the dirt to penetrate deeper into the fabric and make it impossible to remove.

• Pressure washers and cooling sprays can damage the upholstery.

Note

• Clean only the carpet and floor mats with brushes. Other textile surfaces can be damaged by brushes.

• If detergent pastes or mild detergent solutions are applied with a damp cloth or sponge, the surfactants in the detergent may cause visible lines to form at the edges of the area where the detergent was applied. These lines are generally difficult or impossible to remove.

Note

• Do not soak Alcantara^®.

• Do not treat Alcantara^® with leather care products, solvents, floor wax, shoe polish, stain remover or similar products.

• Do not use brushes for damp cleaning, because they can damage upholstery surfaces.

• Do not use a steam cleaner, because dirt will penetrate deeper into the fabric.