How to Protect Cloth Car Seats

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 31, 2020

Keeping a car clean can be a challenge as life zips by going a million miles an hour. Whether your transporting pets or kids, your going to need that extra layer of protection to keep your car looking as fresh as the day you bought it. The best way to protect your car seats from unwanted wear and tear are seat covers. Follow these simple instructions to ensure your seats stay clean.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Stain-Proofing Your Car Seats

1
Empty your car. Clear all trash and debris from your seats as you prepare to give them a nice once-over. Be sure to check for any loose change before continuing, as coins may cause damage to the vacuum you decide to use.
2
Vacuum your car seats. Using the hose attachment, vacuum all loose crumbs and small debris from your car.
- Use the nozzle attachment to get in between the seats and in the seams of the car seats.
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3
Place towels on the trim of your car. Upholstery protector will damage the trim and middle console in your car. Protect your car by tucking towels over these areas before you spray down your car seats.^{[1]
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4
Open all doors and windows in your car. Allow for ventilation before you begin spraying down your car seats. Be wary of inhaling fumes from the spray.^{[2]
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5
Spray down your car seats with an upholstery protector. Give your car seat a light once-over before allowing time to dry. Do not oversaturate your car seats with the upholstery protector.^{[3]
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- Allow time to dry. While you wait for one seat to dry, move on to the next one until all car seats have received a coat.^{[4]
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- Spray your car seats with another light, even coat. Two light coats should be sufficient to protect your car seats from future stains.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Fitting the Front Seat Covers

1
Remove the headrest. Pressing the button at the base of the headrest, slide the headrest out of the car seat. Place the headrest somewhere clean where it will not be damaged or lost.^{[6]
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2
Slide on the front seat cover. From the top of the seat, slide on the seat cover, tucking the straps into the crook of the car seat between the cushion and the backrest. Be sure to align all the seams. If the seams are not lining up, you may need to try a different seat cover. ^{[7]
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3
Stretch the car seat cover over the cushion. Some car seat covers will have two separate pieces for the cushion and the backrest; otherwise, stretch your cover over the cushion.^{[8]
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4
Attach the straps. Some seat covers have elastic ties that fit through the back of your seat in between the cushion and seat rest. Others have Velcro straps that fit around the back of the seat and secure one another.^{[9]
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- Attach the straps at the bottom of the seat to the underside of the cushion. Using small S hooks, stretch the straps until taught and attach beneath the seat cushion.^{[10]
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- Be sure to leave the hooks in a place that is easy to reach and can be removed without to much effort.^{[11]
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5
Readjust your seat covers. Now that all the straps have been secured, either behind the car seat or below it, make sure all the seams in the car are aligned and fitting properly.^{[12]
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6
Reattach the front seat headrests. Placing the metal poles in their proper holes, use the button at the top of the front seat to adjust the headrest to the desired height.^{[13]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Fitting the Rear Seat Covers

1
Remove the back seat cushion and backrest. Different car models have different methods for removing your rear seat cushions. Some have a few screws that can easily be removed and reattached. Others have a button that released the seat cushion. Refer to your owner’s manual to determine the best way to remove both the rear seat cushion and the rear seat backrest.^{[14]
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- Also be sure to remove the backseat headrests before fitting on your seat covers.
2
Stretch the cover over your back seat cushion. On a clean, flat surface, align the seams of the seat cushion with the seams in the seat cover. Smooth out any wrinkles in the fabric.^{[15]
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3
Strap the seat cover to the cushion. After turning over your seat cushion so the underside is facing you, strap the seat cover’s straps over the underside of the seat cushion.^{[16]
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- Reattach your rear seat cushion when the seat cover is properly situated.
4
Stretch the seat cover over your backseat backrest. Repeat the same process, aligning the seams and stretching out any imperfections in the fabric.^{[17]
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5
Strap the seat cover the the backrest. After flipping over the backrest, attach the straps along the underside of the backrests. Pull tightly to ensure the seat covers remain in place.^{[18]
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- Reattach your rear seat backrest, ensuring the seat cover does not shift or wrinkle in the process.
- Reattach your headrests.