How to Fix Cigarette Burns in Cars: Step by Step Guide. My guess is that you’re here because you have a cigarette burn on your car upholstery you want to get rid of, or you’re being a responsible car owner and are learning about this to be ready for it whenever (if ever) it happens to you.
You’re doing a great job! We’ll tell you all about why it’s super important to tackle this type of damage as soon as possible in just a while.
In this article, you’ll learn about all the steps you need to take to fix cigarette burns in cars, and we’ll hold your hand through the process from start to finish. (And no, don’t worry about it, you won’t be reweaving the seat fabric!).
Starting from all the supplies you need to have on hand before you begin the process, to everything you need to do to get the job done – we have you covered. For those of you who aren’t fans of DIY projects, we’ve covered alternative solutions as well.
Finally, we share some tips to avoid repeat incidences. One thing’s for sure: You don’t want to make upholstery repair a regular activity!
Why Should You Fix Cigarette Burns in Cars ASAP?
Your average cigarette is hotter than your imagination. In fact, the temperature of a lit cigarette can reach 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, ashes that have been dropped can easily burn through almost any material.
If you have a car cigarette burn, you should make an effort to address the issue as soon as possible. Otherwise, the hole can get worse over time, and decrease your car’s value if you were planning to sell it.
Worsening Damage
This is more likely going to happen if it’s in an area that sees a lot of action, like the middle of the driver’s seat. The stuffing inside your chair can begin to emerge, making things look worse.
It isn’t just about aesthetics, either. It’s simpler to patch up the surface of the material rather than plug up a deep groove.
Decrease Resale Price
Those of you who are aiming to sell your vehicle one day will surely want to get the best price for it.
If the cigarette burn starts to look really bad, you may have to involve a professional to get it properly fixed, which can be very costly. Otherwise, you could end up selling your car for less than what it’s worth.
What Different Types of Upholstery Can Experience Cigarette Burns?
Let’s begin by getting familiar with the different varieties of upholstery.
Your car might have a combination of one or more of these materials in it. If you’re not sure what you have, consult your owner’s manual – 9 times out of 10, it’ll all be clear to you when you check the details out over there.
Nylon
These can then be made to feel soft or coarse, depending on the application. In our cars, it’s always the former: no one wants to sit on rough seats!
There are several advantages to nylon in cars. For the most part, it’s resistant to heat, general wear and tear, and staining. These qualities make it easy to clean whenever it gets dirty.
The downside, though, is that it melts almost instantly when exposed to fire. (Speaking of fire, be sure to keep a car fire extinguisher with you when driving at all times).
Polyester
Polyester is a versatile substance made from synthetic polymers. Aside from being used for upholstery in our cars, it’s also found in rubber tires, enamel paints, and more.
In fabric form, it’s nearly as tough as nylon. Polyester won’t wrinkle, stretch or shrink, and it dries quite quickly when wet.
If exposed to fire (or hot cigarette ashes), it melts and can catch fire at the same time. You want to be careful beating out flames, as the hot melted polyester can stick to skin.
When left to cool down, the melted parts harden.
Vinyl
Vinyl is created from synthetic plastics; it’s also known as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).
It’s durable, stain-resistant, moisture-repellent and doesn’t wrinkle with time. However, being plastic, it’ll melt quickly if it catches fire.
It can be made in a range of textures and colors.
Faux Leather
Faux leather is a cheaper alternative to genuine leather. The manufacturer will determine the construction.
These fabrics include polyester fabrics that have been treated with PVC (vinyl), or other plastic-based fabric. The surface material is treated during manufacture to have a similar look and feel to real leather.
How It can burn differently depending on the base materials.
Leather
Leather is an animal skin (or hide) that has been treated with chemicals to preserve it. Most leather is made of hides from horses or cows.
This is the most expensive type of upholstery you can get in your car. Cost is directly related to the labor-intensive process.
It takes a lot of time and effort to fashion leather products, whether we’re talking about car upholstery, clothing, or bags.
Leather is also more flame-resistant than other fabrics made from plastic. In other words, it shouldn’t sustain serious damage if you drop ash on it, as long as you put it out fast.
What Supplies Will You Need to Fix The Cigarette Burns in Your Car?
The first thing you’ll need for burn spot removal to do is prepare your supplies.
There are a few items that are specific to certain upholstery repairs, and we’ll list those in the appropriate section below.
Others are general in nature, meaning that anyone looking to fix a burn should buy them, regardless of the type of upholstery they have in their vehicle.
General Supplies
Get the following equipment and tools:
- Fabric scalpel (optional, but it will make the task much easier).
- Sharp scissors (for cutting patches, filler, etc).
- Toothpicks and tweezers.
- Cloth or foam material (to use as filler).
- Fabric glue.
- Use the appropriate cleaning product to clean your upholstery.
Nylon and Polyester
You have two options here.
First off, if the carpeting on your car matches the seats, you’ll need a razor blade. You’ll be using the carpet fabric as a patch.
If not, you’ll have to buy a similar matching fabric to use as a patch. In this case, you won’t need a razor blade.
Vinyl
As with nylon and polyester, you have a choice. You can choose vinyl spray paint to completely cover the burn, which is ideal for smaller burn holes.
You’ll need:
- Vinyl spray paint (matching your upholstery).
- Sandpaper.
- Filler glue.
Spray paint may not suffice for a bigger cigarette burn. In such a case, you’ll have to buy a vinyl patch instead.
Leather
You’ll need:
- Leather pigment.
- Leather conditioner.
Tips to Keep in Mind When Fixing Cigarette Burns in Cars
In the following section, we’ve listed a few tips to keep in mind for before, after, and during the repair.
These tips will help you get the results you desire and keep you as safe as possible while doing all that work.
Safety First
You’re going to be handling sharp items and chemical adhesives, so keep curious pets and children away from you and your vehicle until you’re finished.
Invest in the Right Supplies
Invest in quality glue and sharp fabric scissors or a scalpel.
Dull blades can make the task much harder than it has to be, and a cheap brand of glue may take longer to dry or might have poor consistency. Super glue is recommended.
Let There Be Light
When doing any vehicle-related work, you need to be able to see what you’re doing – and this is especially true for a delicate task like this.
This isn’t the kind of task you should do in a dark garage with just your interior lights on. Set aside time during the day to perform this work, preferably when it’s sunny outside.
Take Your Time
Some of you may find this sort of repair easier than others. You might find it easier to work with fabrics if you are more familiar with the process.
If this is your first time fixing upholstery, don’t rush yourself through the task. There’s nothing wrong with taking some extra time to make sure you don’t make mistakes.
How to Fix Cigarette Burns in Cars
Now that you have all the necessary equipment you’ll need to work with, and a few valuable tips to keep in mind, let’s dive deep into what you came here for: how to fix car cigarette burns.
Please note that results may vary depending on how severe the burn is. Usually, the larger and deeper the hole, the trickier it will be to hide completely.
Nylon or Polyester
Here’s how you can fix the burn on nylon or polyester:
Conclusion:
By now, you’re aware of all the options you have for fixing cigarette burns in cars.
Always remember that you should make it a priority to repair the damage quickly, as soon as you can. Time is not on your side here, and you don’t want the hole to grow larger or stuffing to come out of your seats!
Ideally, you shouldn’t be smoking in your car at all. You, and your passengers, should not smoke in your car.
However, if you absolutely must smoke in your vehicle, reduce your chances of accidents or injuries by limiting smoking breaks to when you’re parked.
Plus, think of the aesthetic benefits there are to have. Spills and stains are simple to clean away, but patching up a burn mark is definitely not so.
