If you own a beautiful certified Ford, chances are that you want to keep it looking as new as possible. One of the best ways to do that is to keep your cloth upholstered seats looking fresh. Here are some tips to protect and preserve the seats in your car so you can enjoy it for many years to come.

• Don’t allow smoking in your car. Nothing can ruin a car’s upholstery faster than cigarettes. The odor of smoke can destroy the entire smell of the car. The smoke can also cause the upholstery to turn yellow. That’s not even mentioning the strong possibility of burning holes in the upholstery with a dropped cigarette.

• Vacuum the upholstery once every two to three weeks. This removes any dirt, debris and dust that has built up into the cracks and crevices. A regular cleaning schedule keeps the dirt from getting embedded into the cushions.

• Use a mild cleanser if you notice any stains or spots. Baking soda completely diluted in water is a safe choice for cleaning the spots. You can also find a variety of gentle cleaning products at your local auto parts store as well.

• Don’t allow pets in your vehicle. Their claws can tear  the fabric, and pet hair can make the upholstery dirty.

• Don’t allow riders to eat or drink in your car. This might be difficult if you have kids, but food and drink spills are tough (if not impossible) to get out of upholstery. And if one of your kids spills milk in the car, you can forget about getting that smell out for a long time!