How to Remove a Cigarette Burn From Fabric

It may make you grimace every time you see one, but a cigarette burn on your fabric car seat, furniture or carpet doesn't have to be a disaster. With these simple steps and a little bit of elbow grease, your fabric can be as good as new after cigarette burns.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vacuum
• Dishwashing liquid
• Rag
• Sharp scissors
• Needle
• Thread

1. Determine whether your burn is deep in the fabric or is a surface burn. If it's a surface burn, there should only be scorching on the fabric rather than a hole. But if the burn is deep in the fabric, there's a hole and melting around the edges of the burn.

2. Vacuum around the hole or surface burn to remove all loose fabric and debris from the area. The clean surface not only makes it easier for you to assess the damage more accurately but also to remove the burn.

3. Blot the cigarette burn with a detergent solution made of 1 tsp. mild clear or white dishwashing liquid that doesn't contain bleach or alkalis, and 1 cup of warm water. Blot the spot instead of rubbing it. Rubbing can cause the burn to become even more embedded into the fabric. Blot until the fabric is clean and the surface burn is gone.

4. Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut the burned pieces of fabric away from the cigarette burn hole. The burnt fabric may have formed beads or it may just be singed fabric pieces.

5. Find or buy a piece of thread that matches your fabric, and sew up the hole. Pull the knot back into the fabric at the end so you don't leave a tail.

Tips & Warnings

• If your burn mark covers a large area, it's best to take the article to a professional for repair.