What Are The 5 Types of Materials For Car Seats?

Any car owner wants to select the interior of their car after paying attention to the exterior appearance of the vehicle. The elegance of car upholstery indeed adds value to a vehicle, which is why many owners are concerned about the type of material used to make their car seats.

LEATHER 

Leather car seats are the most expensive, but they are also the most stylish and functional. You'll agree that it was worth every penny spent on a leather seat when you think of the softness, the feel, and the comfort it provides.

You will want leather seats if you can afford them, as leather seats add value to your vehicle.  Hand-stitched leather is used in luxury cars, which is why they cost more.

Leather has unbeatable durability. Applied correctly, this material can provide a stylish and comfortable ride. Basic maintenance will be necessary to keep leather upholstery in good condition. Leather can crack and peel when exposed to high temperatures. Conditioning regularly will help prevent this. Car conditioners are available at any auto parts store. Besides being durable, leather is also very easy to clean. Leather stays cool during hot weather. If leather is treated well, it can last a lifetime.

NYLON FABRIC

Seats made from nylon may not look as luxurious as those made of other materials, but they are still very attractive and comfortable.

Nylon has the benefit of being sturdier and more resistant to stains than some other fabric options. This material is a universal seat fabric most cars come with because it is durable and affordable.

It is one of the most common car seat materials used by car upholsterers due to its comfortability, affordability to manufacturers, and material values.

VINYL FABRIC

Vinyl is the preferred option for most car owners because it is easy to clean and maintain. It is available in varieties of colors making it suitable for all types of vehicles whether for commercial or private use. The material is a durable and quality car seat fabric that can stand out among other materials.

FAUX LEATHER

At first glance, you would think the seat material is leather. Nowadays, it is an increasingly popular material for car upholstery due to its high affordability, ease of cleaning, and attractive appearance.

The faux seat material is high quality and soft. One of the advantages it has is the price. It is a handy material for use when you need your car seat to look high-class like leather, but you can’t afford the cost of a leather seat material.

The material is easy to maintain and clean and is especially the choice fabric for car owners with children and pets.

POLYESTER

Several cars have microsuede seats, which give the interior a more luxurious feel. Microsuede is made from polyester and looks and feels like suede. However, it is difficult to clean.

If you have kids, you should be careful with this material as it collects dirt and stains easily. Sticky fingers and muddy boots ruin microsuede.

Ideally, you should use a soap made especially for microsuede, so ask about the best product for your car.

Nationwide Fabrics offers custom auto shops and retailers the finest fabrics for their class or exotic vehicles. They offer the best upholstery fabrics in Miami for your vehicle.

Since everyone has different budgets and needs, there is no definitive 'best' car seat material. With the information we have provided above, you probably have a good idea of which would be best for you.

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How many hours a day do you spend sitting in your car as you dart around town? How about in a month? A year? The average American spends 267 hours a year sitting in their car. And if that’s the average, that means a lot of you are spending a lot more time than that in your vehicle. It’s almost like a second home. Earlier on the blog we covered carpet care, and today we are following up with upholstery care. With so much time spent sitting in the car, the upholstery you’re sitting on is an important investment. Depending on your needs, the type of car upholstery fabric is important. Today, we will go over the pros and cons of some different types of upholstery to help you make the best decision.

Faux Leather

This can be a good alternative to real leather if you want the look without the price tag. Faux leather is considerably cheaper than real leather and is also a breeze to clean. Spilled drinks, dirt-covered shoes, wet clothes on a rainy day—faux leather can roll with punches and remain unstained. The downside to faux leather is that it’s not as durable as real leather. After a few years the upholstery can start to crack, and it won’t get that classic aged look of real leather.

Real Leather

Some manufacturers only include leather seats in more high-end models, and the price for custom installment will have definitely have four digits. However, real leather is also luxurious, stylish and durable. Real leather can last up to 20 years and acquires a sophisticated aged look over time. Also, to compliment the durability, real leather is also easy to clean and wipes off most messes without staining. Despite all that, leather still has its downsides (the obvious one being the price). To keep it looking extravagant it needs to be cared for and kept clean. Otherwise, your investment will fade overtime. If you live somewhere with a hot summer, the leather will feel hot as a cattle brand. Then in the winter it will become just as uncomfortably cold.

Vinyl

Of all the options on this list, Vinyl takes the prize for being easy to clean. Mud, soda, and even tough spills like ink won’t stain the seat. Whether you’re a parent with roughhousing kids or an outdoor enthusiast with gear in the backseat, vinyl can take it. Also, quality vinyl can look almost identical to leather but will start to wear earlier. However, cleanliness and durability come at the cost of comfort. Long drives or long days driving around town aren’t vinyl’s specialty. Vinyl may start to wear on you if you have a long commute or spend hours in the car a time.

Suede

Along with leather, suede is attractive, comfortable, and expensive. If you’re looking for a suave, polished interior to match your slick look, suede delivers. If you’re looking for upholstery with a delicate cotton feel, suede delivers. However, suede isn’t used as often as other fabrics. It doesn’t last long, is easily scratched, worn, and stained, and isn’t particularly easy to clean. The main draw is definitely the look. The drawback is the lack of practicality.

Polyester

Installing polyester seats comes with a trade-off. On one hand, polyester resembles suede for a luxury look without the luxury price. Technically, it is made out of a material called microsuede which is designed to mimic the expensive fabric. Spruce up your car with polyester and you’ll transform your interior with an eye-catching look. On the other hand, polyester upholstery is a wimp when it comes to stains. It doesn’t up put up a fight against dirt, spills (even water) or food. Keep cleaning products on hand, and make sure they are approved for your specific upholstery. Otherwise, Polyester’s rich décor will be haunted with distracting stains.

Nylon

If nylon makes you think of nylon stockings, don’t worry. You won’t be paying for a burlesque show when you purchase nylon. Instead, you’ll be purchasing a durable, inexpensive and decently stain-resistant fabric. While dirt easily can get stuck in polyester, the fabric is simple to clean or vacuum. The superpower of Nylon, though, is that it has superman-like resistance to abrasions. However, the kryptonite of Nylon is sun damage. Over time exposure to the sun will crack the upholstery. Regularly cleaning the fabric can help, but sun damage is difficult to prevent.

Which choice is best for you? Car upholstery fabric, like many things, is not a one-size-fits all product. Today we covered the basics, but no matter which choice you make you want keep your upholstery in tip-top shape. To protect your investment and make your upholstery last as long as possible, contact us at VIP European Auto. Upholstery is our passion and we’ll deliver the best upholstery care in the Valley.