Everyone likes a brand new car and the smell of fresh leather or fabric, sparkling clean interiors, and the lack of any spills or stains on the seats. Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to keep your car in this condition perpetually, and the smell, especially, is guaranteed to fade over time. However, there’s one simple step you can take to make sure that your car stays fresh – installing car seat covers that go over your seats and give them a pristine, beautiful condition that looks as good as new.
However, like all automotive parts and upgrades, there’s a lot of variability. While the price point on car seat covers isn’t too steep, you’ll want to make sure that you do it right the first time to avoid wasting time and money. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to avoid making mistakes that will set the process back.
Mistake #1: Choosing the wrong kind of fabric
Just like cars themselves, there are plenty of different options when it comes to seat covers. You’ll want to make sure that you choose the right type for your specific needs. Let’s look at some of the best options.
Leather
Leather is one of the oldest, most durable, and most useful materials in existence. Long valued for its toughness and ability to stand up to abuse, leather is the perfect choice for your car seat covers. it’s comfortable and classy, projecting an image of luxurious comfort that only leather can.
Neoprene/Neosupreme
These materials are rubbery and waterproof, made out of the same material as wetsuits. Neoprene is a little more expensive, as neosupreme is mixed with some other blended materials like polyester. These are excellent choices for anyone who will be getting a lot of water on their seats, like a surfer or frequent beachgoer, although they lack the same luster and beauty that classic leather possesses.
Besides these two options, there are plenty more for consumers to choose from. Sheepskin covers give you a retro feel and immaculate comfort, while vinyl or polyester can be cheap. If you travel with a dog a lot, there are specially designed seat covers to protect from accidents or messes, and don’t forget to look into custom designs like camo or floral prints!
Mistake #2: Not measuring the seats correctly
This mistake will set back the process by quite a bit, or even require you to return seat covers that don’t fit right, wasting time, money, and effort. Avoid these risks by always carefully measuring your seats and making sure that you choose the right measurements for the covers.
While many car models have standardized seat sizes, there can be a lot of variability within specific makes and models. Measure the hip room, how wide it is at your hips, and the shoulder room, how wide it is at your shoulders. Then, measure the full width and height of the seat.
You can check your owner’s manual or look up your car online to try and find the measurements to find car seat covers that are designed for that model, or simply order your seat covers from a company that custom designs them for each particular model of vehicle. Also, take into consideration your headrests and if the seat cover is designed to fit over them.
Mistake #3: Not installing the seat covers correctly
Not all car seat covers are created equally, as some are far more difficult to install than others. Some seat covers require extreme procedures like removing the whole seat, so try and find a company that provides easy to install seats that simply slip over your seats while they are in place. Usually, the process will go something like this:
- Remove headrests
- Slide the seat cover over the back of the seat, lining up any seams
- Tuck the seat cover through the crack where the seat and back meet and secure any fasteners
- Slide the cover over the lower cushion part of the seat
- Tuck this part through the same crack and check for fasteners to connect the two parts
- Tighten these straps or fasteners firmly and replace the headrests
However, there is a lot of variability, which is why it’s so important to make sure that you order the right size seat covers that are specifically made for your vehicle. This will help a lot with installation, and always make sure to default to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Car seat covers are a cheap and easy way to enhance the cleanliness, appearance, and comfort of your vehicle. Even more importantly, car seat covers are proven to improve your vehicle’s resale value, which means that they will often pay for themselves! Try and find car seat covers that are designed for your vehicle and are easy to install, and you will be well on your way to seat cover success.