Every car owner knows about the benefits of seat covers. They protect the upholstery from dirt and mechanical damage (scratches, punctures), and the cost of their purchase pays off quickly. It is especially important to have seat covers when smoking or transporting children. If necessary, they can be easily and simply removed, washed in a washing machine. Thus, you can get rid of stains and unpleasant odors.
If the car seats are not protected by covers, then the moment will come when dry cleaning of the interior will be required, and the cost of it can be compared to the price of a good set of car covers.
Seat covers protect the interior of a new car from dirt and hide stains from spilled drinks in an already used car. They give the interior a neat, aesthetic appearance and make the trip more comfortable. Competent selection and installation will help to make the interior of the car stylish and practical, resistant to stains.
Covers cover the seat upholstery, increase the comfort and prestige of the car. For example, if you want a car with a leather interior, and this is not yet affordable, then you can purchase leather seat covers. For less money, you will fulfill your dream. In addition, the special cut of the covers ensures a comfortable fit, which means that the trip in the car will be more comfortable.
Rules for Choosing Seat Covers
- Choose seat covers specifically for your car. Then they will sit perfectly on the seats. Universal covers do not provide this fit and will only work if you want to save money.
- Choose seat covers from the optimal material. If you decide that you need simple and durable covers, then eco-leather covers will do. Durable and affordable jacquard covers. The most aesthetic, stylish, but demanding care products are made of artificial suede.
- Inspect the seat covers. If they are made of thin material, with crooked stitches and protruding threads, then these are signs of poor quality.
- Preferred seat covers of dark colors. Light-colored covers will often have to be washed or dry-cleaned.
- Read the instructions for installing the seat covers. You will find out if they are suitable for your car.
Types of Seat Covers
Headrest covers. The cheapest kind. They are designed not only to cover the upholstery of the headrests, but also to keep the hair of the driver and passengers from getting dirty. They need to be washed much more often than the seat covers. Therefore, the headrest covers should be easy to remove. Even inexpensive models are suitable for this purpose.
Seat capes. The easiest car seat covers to use. They protect the upholstery well and are easy and simple to install. Choose them when you often have to drive in a dirty overalls, for example, after working on a construction site. The covers are easy to remove, wash and reinstall.
T-shirt seat covers. Protect car seat upholstery from contamination. Installing them is easy enough. The kit may include a cover for the driver’s seat only, for the front seats, or for all seats. T-shirt covers are usually thin, do not contain fillers, so they can be washed in the washing machine.
Full seat covers. If installed correctly, then they have no minuses of the aforementioned covers. They fully cover the seats and make the car interior more attractive.
However, it is difficult to choose them so that they completely match the seats of a particular car brand. They are not good for all seats. Manufacturers often indicate on the packaging what brands and models of cars they are intended for. If there is no information on this on the packaging, then the covers are selected by size (after making measurements). At the same time, look, be sure, how many adjustments the cover has to fit it to the shape and size of the seats.
What to Choose: Universal or Model Seat Covers?
Seat covers are divided into universal and model ones. The latter includes frame seat covers.
Universal covers do not always fit all vehicles. Most often they are sewn from cheap material. Even if the manufacturer convinces that they will fit your car, it does not mean that they will.
Universal covers are sold in a large assortment at a low price. The main thing in purchasing them is not to be mistaken with the size.
Model covers are sewn to individual order. First, measurements of the seats are taken, then the material is cut out according to the patterns. In this case, the cutouts for the handles for reclining the seats, headrests, armrests are taken into account. Break seams are made for the airbags. The package includes covers for all interior elements.
Model covers are characterized by high cost, but they fit the seats tightly and beautifully.
The frame seat covers have a plastic frame that matches the seams on the seat upholstery. Usually such covers are sewn to the car upholstery, attached to the seat fittings. Due to the frame, the covers sit perfectly and last longer. Frame seat covers with a complex cut look very stylish. They are made from expensive fabrics, lining and accessories.
What Materials Are Available?
The aesthetics, comfort, durability, reliability of seat covers depend on the material. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with its features.
Velvet (plush)
Differs in wear resistance, withstands washing well and is easy to clean with it. Dirt on it is hardly noticeable, but still it is worth giving preference to dark tones. The material is pleasant to the touch, comfortable, especially noticeable in winter. The disadvantages of velvet covers are that they do not match with every car interior, make it old-fashioned. Also, velvet is electrified and therefore accumulates dust.
Alcantara (faux suede)
This material has the same advantages as velvet, but it looks great in the car interior, modern. The only disadvantage of this material is its high cost.
Tarpaulin
It is the most durable and reliable material that can withstand any conditions of car use. The canvas cover perfectly protects the seat from dirt and mechanical defects. The material is tough, durable, does not absorb moisture. At elevated ambient temperatures, it is uncomfortable to sit on it. The look of tarpaulin covers is not very aesthetic, so this fabric is usually made with a discreet pattern.
Velveteen
Wear-resistant material. It looks good and feels good to the touch. The disadvantage of corduroy covers is that they are magnetized and accumulate dust. In addition, the washing of the covers is carried out in a delicate mode.
Velours
Most often used for sewing car covers. They are distinguished by optimal cost and quality. They are not noticeable pollution, they well complement the interior of the car. The disadvantage of velor covers is that you need to wash them with care, on a delicate cycle.
Jacquard
Synthetic material impregnated with antistatic and water-repellent agents. It is not expensive, but durable and practical. Caring for him is not difficult. The disadvantage of jacquard is that it does not retain heat and is not very attractive in appearance.
Sheepskin and natural fur
The most comfortable covers. It is especially pleasant to use them in cold weather. In summer, this material is just as comfortable to sit on, which is explained by its good air exchange. It is not easy to choose fur covers so that the car interior will benefit from it. Such covers can both decorate it and make it tasteless. Fur covers have a high value, they need careful care, and it is not at all easy to clean them.
Polyester
Smooth, soft-touch fabric. It is characterized by high strength, abrasion resistance, does not fade when exposed to sunlight. Polyester hardly gets dirty. Spilled liquid can be easily removed with a clean cloth. However, polyester is poorly ventilated, highly magnetized, and does not absorb moisture. At elevated ambient temperatures, it is not comfortable to sit on it. Covers made of this material are easily washed in water with a temperature of no more than 40 °C.
Knitwear and stretch fabrics
Covers made of them are practical, reliable, and easy to clean. Due to their elasticity, they fit well the seats of different shapes, without folds and sagging. The disadvantage of knitted fabrics is that they become electrified and therefore accumulate dust. In the summer heat, it is uncomfortable to sit on such covers.
Eco leather
Seats with covers made of this material look great and decorate the car interior. Eco-leather is pleasant to touch, strong, durable. It is easily cleaned of dirt, allows air to pass through and does not retain moisture. The disadvantages of covers made of this material are that they cool quickly and cool down a lot at low ambient temperatures. In summer, they get much hotter in the sun. Eco-leather car covers are superior in cost to all previous options, although they are inferior in cost to leather seat covers.
All eco-leather seat covers are divided into 3 classes:
Economy class seat covers are made of eco-leather with a thickness of no more than 0.8 mm, glued on the back with foam rubber 3 mm thick. Such covers will soon fail, since the thin foam rubber and the fabric base do not tolerate heavy loads.
Standard-class seat covers are sewn from eco-leather with a thickness of 0.8-1 mm, their lining is made of foam rubber with a thickness of 5 mm. Due to the greater thickness of the polyurethane layer, such covers are more wear-resistant than economy class.
Premium cases have a 0.8-1mm top layer thickness and a thicker, more durable lining. Such cases are more pleasant to skin contact and look better.
Leather. Seat covers made of this material are comfortable and add aesthetics to any car. However, they are not practical and expensive. They are usually installed on the third or fourth car in the family, in which they spend a little time. The disadvantages of leather covers are the same as those of eco-leather covers.
What Other Features of Seat Covers are Important?
Lateral support for the back and hips. The body of a seated person is more tightly fixed to the seat. This is especially important during sharp turns. The side sections of the seat redistribute the load on themselves and thus reduce the load on the shoulder girdle and the driver’s spine.
Lumbar support. This element in the seat is necessary for those who drive for a long time. The lumbar support relieves the load on the corresponding part of the back and eliminates the discomfort in it that occurs when you are in a car seat for a long time.
Combination with side airbags. If your car is equipped with these cushions (located inside the seat backs), then it is important to check that the seat cover fits. In the area of the exit of the airbags, a corresponding slot is provided in the cover.
Installation of Seat Covers
The installation quality of the seat covers has an impact on the aesthetics of the seats and the lifespan. Even expensive covers, if installed incorrectly, can ruin the interior. We advise you to read the instructions for installing the seat covers immediately after purchase. The seller will help you figure out exactly how to proceed, since installing seat covers is not always a simple matter.
Each attachment must be well fixed, it is unacceptable for something to hang. Seat covers in the lower part of the front seats, cutouts for armrests and control knobs are carefully tucked under the plastic covers. The slots in the seams must be exactly in the area of the airbags.
