How to Remove Turkey Fat from Car Upholstery

The secret to removing odors from your vehicle is to get rid of the source of the odor, which may be there even if you can’t see it.  Deep, soaking food stains can be especially tough to eradicate – especially if they’re old stains – but it’s important to avoid over-wetting your upholstery in your attempt to clean it, lest you end up with mold and mildew in place of the food odor.  To avoid this unpleasant side effect, the right product is key.

• Wolfgang Spot Eliminator
• Brush or sponge
• Microfiber cloth
• Vacuum cleaner

1. First, vacuum the area to remove loose dirt and debris. Don’t skip this step. You don’t want to make a bigger mess by grinding dirt into the fabric.
2. Next, spray Wolfgang Spot Eliminator on the area of the spill. Other stain removers can be used, but this have been found to be effective for removing these types of stains and spills.
3. Wait 20-30 seconds for the cleaner to penetrate the upholstery and any residue from the spilled turkey drippings.
4. Scrub the area lightly with a brush or sponge.
5. Wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.
6. Repeat if necessary. Once all of the residue from the turkey is removed, the smell will be gone.

• If the smell remains after the seat dries, put white vinegar in a spray bottle and soak the affected area. The vinegar smell will be overwhelming at first, but as it dries, the odor will go away and should take the turkey smell with it. For best results, do this on a nice day so you can leave the windows open for ventilation. Vinegar is a great eradicator of mold and mildew so you don’t have to worry about the moisture content, but it is an acid so you should spot test first to ensure there are no adverse effects to the fabric or coloring.
• If the turkey fat has soaked into the padding of the cushions, it will be much more difficult if not impossible to completely remove. If a steam cleaner is available to add the moisture and pull it back out, it may help reach the greasy residue. If not, it may need to be professionally cleaned. For additional odor removing techniques, see our guide How to Remove Odors from Car Seats.