How to Fix Cigarette Burns From Car Seats

Having a cigarette burn in the fabric of your car seat not only makes the car look bad, but the odds are good the burn will tear a bigger hole in the car seat over time. Repairing the cigarette burn is necessary in order to preserve the seat as well as the look of the car. Whether your seats are leather, vinyl or fabric, making the repair yourself will cost much less than having it done for you at a service repair shop.

Things You'll Need

• Utility knife
• 2000 grade fine sandpaper
• Soft cloth
• Rubbing alcohol
• Scissors
• Heat gun
• Iron-on patch
• Fabric cleaner spray

Instructions

1. Trim away loose threads and rough edges from around the cigarette hole in the car seat fabric using the utility knife.

2. Sand the edges of the cigarette hole until it is smooth and even with the fabric surrounding it.

3. Take a soft cloth moistened in rubbing alcohol and rub it gently on and around the cigarette hole. Let the area dry.

4. Cut the iron-on patch with scissors so it is slightly larger than the cigarette hole. Put the patch down on the cigarette hole and apply the heat gun to melt the adhesive on the patch.

5. Let the patch cool down. Spray some fabric cleaner onto a soft cloth and gently wipe the patch. Let the patch dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Compare the fabric being used for the repair against that of the car seat in various lighting situations before you settle on the appropriate color patch.

• An improper repair job may cause the car seat hole to reassert itself and get worse, so be sure to melt the adhesive evenly and thoroughly.

References

• Leather & Vinyl Repair Made Easy

Resources

• Fabric Repair Kit