How Frequently Should You Replace Car Seat Covers?

Whether you use your car for long trips, activities, hauling big things, or trips with the family, seat covers get dirty quickly. Hygiene is important in everything you do, and changing the seat cover in your car is part of your auto hygiene.

You might say that a cleaner for furniture will do the trick, but what if your seat cover is chipped or torn? What if your kids eat these chips all of a sudden? When you change your seat cover, you not only make sure your guests are comfortable, but you also make sure they are safe. The question is, how often do car seats need to be changed? 

Is there a standard time for replacing car seat covers? 

In general, car seats only last five and seven years after leaving the building. In the car instructions, you can find out when your car seats will stop being safe. You should remember that if car seats last this long, car seat covers should too. 

Most auto repair shops say that car seat covers should be changed once every one and a half years for care or as needed, such as when they are peeling, smell bad, or are losing color.

Mold can easily grow on the sides of car seat covers when the weather changes. This can make the covers dirty and less healthy. There are numerous reasons to change seat covers, but most have to do with caring for the car, like keeping the original fabric and making the seats last longer.

But if you want to change the look of your car's interior or make your guests more comfortable, you can change the seat covers as often as you want. You must get the right ones for your car's model, age, and seat style. So, when you change the seat covers, you must also decide what works best for your car.

What material should you use? 

Often, it's hard to decide between cloth and leather covers. Fabric car seat covers are good for care and the way the car looks. It will make your car look more fun because it has different colors and patterns and won't tear or wear out quickly. 

Also, fabrics are less affected by changes in temperature. This means that your car seat won't be too hot to sit on in the summer or cold to sit on in the winter. On either hand, leather chairs might be a good thing. 

Regarding care, leather seat covers are easy to clean because you can wipe away dirt and dust. Leather also doesn't stain easily; if it does, the stain won't show up too much. Lastly, when it comes to selling a car, the ones with leather seat covers try to sell for more than the ones with fabric seat covers.

Even so, car seat covers don't have to be changed often, but they should be done about once every year and a half. Whether you want to change your seat covers for repair, or because you like how they look, you must understand your car and what fits in it to make your seats good. 

What size seat cover do I need for my car?

A lot of seat covers are marketed as universal fit. Even though that means the covers will fit most car seats, that doesn't mean they will always be the best fit. The product description will usually tell you what kinds of cars (SUVs, trucks, sedans, etc.) the covers will work best.

Also, the covers for the front and back seats will be different, so make sure you get the right ones for your car. You can always measure your car seats or check your user manual to ensure the car seat covers you order fit your car. 

How to Install Car Seat Covers

Installing seat covers isn't too hard, and it can help protect the inside of your car from wear and tear. Before you begin, secure you have the correct tools for the job and the directions from the maker.

Adding a new seat cover usually means removing any old seat covers or pillows, cleaning and drying the chairs, and then putting on the new cover. Some seat covers may need clips or straps to stay in place. Once everything is in place, give the fresh seat covers a test drive to ensure safety before you go for a ride.

Caring for Your Seat Covers 

To get the most use out of your seat covers and ensure they don't damage the inside of your car, you need to keep them in good shape. Regular cleaning with light soap and warm water may assist in keeping them looking good. It's also important to avoid using strong chemicals or rough materials. 

If you need to clean your cloth seat covers more thoroughly, you can use a cleaner that is made just for furniture. Also, it is always an excellent idea to follow the care and upkeep guidelines the maker gives. By following these easy steps, you can help ensure that your seat covers continue to protect your seats and keep the inside of your car looking its best.