Subaru Forester: Cleaning the interior

Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate control panel, audio equipment, instrument panel, center console, combination meter panel, and switches. (Do not use organic solvents.)

Seat fabric

Remove loose dirt, dust or debris with a vacuum cleaner. If the dirt is caked on the fabric or hard to remove with a vacuum cleaner, use a soft brush then vacuum it.

Wipe the fabric surface with a tightly wrung cloth and dry the seat fabric thoroughly. If the fabric is still dirty, wipe using a solution of mild soap and lukewarm water then dry thoroughly.

If the stain does not come out, try a commercially-available fabric cleaner. Use the cleaner on a hidden place and make sure it does not affect the fabric adversely.

Use the cleaner according to its instructions.

NOTE
When cleaning the seat, do not use benzine, paint thinner, or any similar materials.

Leather seat materials

The leather used by SUBARU is a high quality natural product which will retain its distinctive appearance and feel for many years with proper care.

Allowing dust or road dirt to build up on the surface can cause the material to become brittle and to wear prematurely. Regular cleaning with a soft, moist, natural fiber cloth should be performed monthly, taking care not to soak the leather or allow water to penetrate the stitched seams.

A mild detergent suitable for cleaning woolen fabrics may be used to remove difficult dirt spots, rubbing with a soft, dry cloth afterwards to restore the luster. If your SUBARU is to be parked for a long time in bright sunlight, it is recommended that the seats and headrests be covered, or the windows shaded, to prevent fading or shrinkage.

Minor surface blemishes or bald patches may be treated with a commercial leather spray lacquer. You will discover that each leather seat section will develop soft folds or wrinkles, which is characteristic of genuine leather.

Synthetic leather upholstery

The synthetic leather material used on the SUBARU may be cleaned using mild soap or detergent and water, after first vacuuming or brushing away loose dirt. Allow the soap to soak in for a few minutes and wipe off with a clean, damp cloth. Commercial foam-type cleaners suitable for synthetic leather materials may be used when necessary.

NOTE
Strong cleaning agents such as solvents, paint thinners, window cleaner or gasoline must never be used on leather or synthetic interior materials.

Climate control panel, audio panel, instrument panel, console panel, and switches

Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate control panel, audio equipment, instrument panel, center console, combination meter panel, and switches.

NOTE
Do not use organic solvents such as paint thinners or gasoline, or strong cleaning agents that contain those solvents.

Monitor (if equipped)

To clean the audio/navigation monitor, wipe it with a silicone cloth or with a soft cloth. If the monitor is extremely dirty, clean it with a soft cloth moistened with neutral detergent then carefully wipe off any remaining detergent.

NOTE
- Do not spray neutral detergent directly onto the monitor. Doing so could damage the monitor’s components.

- Do not use cleaning fluid that contains thinner, gasoline, or any other volatile substance. Such cleaning fluid could erase the lettering on the switches at the bottom of the monitor.

Cargo tray (if equipped)

The cargo tray is provided to protect the cargo area carpet. This cargo tray is removable to facilitate easy clean up.

Clean with a cloth when necessary using mild soap and water. It is important that the bottom of the liner is dry before placing it back in the cargo area, as mildew may result.

It is important that the cargo tray is not installed if the cargo area carpet is damp or wet, as mildew may result. Dry the carpet completely before the cargo tray is installed.

Upon installation after prolonged storage, you may notice that the tray does not completely lay flat. This is only temporary.

To help return the tray to its original shape, place the tray on the floor of the vehicle with a weight on each corner.

Corrosion protection

Maintenance schedule