Kids, pets, even you – nearly everything that enters your vehicle is tough on your car seats. We live in our cars these days, and everything from sodas from lunch to glitter and mud are going to stick into and on your car seats, making seat covers move from a nicety to a necessity very quickly.
The type of seat covers that you need really should be determined by the type of work that you do. The more durable seat covers are great for construction or tradesmen who will be clambering into and out of the vehicle with any amount of dirt, grit and oil on their clothing which will quickly grind into the fine fabric of your vehicle’s seats. They may also have tools hanging out of their back pockets, which they’ll forget about until there’s a huge gash in your seat.
These are a few tips to consider when purchasing your seat covers:
Car seats are expensive: Car seats themselves are quite expensive to reupholster or replace, making seat covers an excellent investment in your vehicle’s long-term care.
Personalize your car: Seat covers not only protect, but can also enhance the appearance of the vehicle. You can proclaim your favorite sports team or Disney character – depending on your choice of seat cover you can let the world know what you support.
Covers have a lot to protect against: Wet bathing suits, dirty puppy paws, spilled drinks, UV rays, constant friction and weight, spilled drinks, and stains are only a few of the things that vehicle seats will go through in their lifetime.
Neoprene seat covers: Neoprene seat covers are completely waterproof and have a nice, cushioned effect. Easy to install and clean, these seat covers are nevertheless not very exciting.
Leather seat covers: Leather seat covers are classic – resistant to shading from UV rays, resistant to liquids – they are nonetheless not resistant to tearing or damage.
Suede seat covers: Suede seat covers are similar to leather in feel, more resistant to wear yet more vulnerable to water and UV rays and will lose their coloring quite easily.
Poly-cotton seat covers: Poly-cotton seat covers have the comfort of cotton and the durability of polyester. Without an additional coating, these poly-cotton seat covers are not waterproof.
Velour seat covers: Velour seat covers are comfortable and luxurious-feeling, but offer little true protection and are tough to install as velour doesn’t stretch.
Custom fit versus generic: Generic seat covers are unlikely to fit well. While they are said to fit “most” vehicles, that means that they don’t fit any one seat particularly well.
Custom-made seat covers can be quite expensive, but you can rest assured that the seats will last well, and will be comfortable for years to come.