You rely on your
vehicle's upholstery to create a clean, soft place to sit and relax
as you travel in your car. Unfortunately, making a few simple
mistakes could compromise the texture and structural integrity of
those carefully stitched fabrics. Here are three common threats to
your car's upholstery and how to protect it.
1. UV Light
UV light is
incredibly powerful, entering through car windows and doors.
Depending on the day and the parking situation of your vehicle, your
car's upholstery could be subjected to minutes or hours of UV light
damage a day, which can damage the fabrics and coverings on a
molecular level.
Over time, UV light
can cause the dyes in fabrics and leathers to fade, creating an
uneven, unattractive appearance. UV light can also break down the
bonds holding fabric together, making it more brittle and susceptible
to physical damage like tearing. Leather can dry out when exposed to
sunlight, contributing to cracking.
While it may be
possible to moisturize dried-out leather before it has cracked, faded
fabrics, cracked leather, or torn material typically needs to be
replaced instead of repaired. Because of how damaging sunlight can be
to your car's upholstery, it is important to protect your car's
interior from UV damage.
To keep your car's
upholstery in top condition, consider having your windows tinted to
prevent UV light, and always try to park under awnings or inside of
garages. If you park outside when you shop or head in for work during
the day, try to park underneath trees to offer you partial shielding
from the sun.
2. Cigarette Ash and
Smoke
Although most people
assume smoking is harder on their own bodies than it is on their
cars, cigarettes and the ash they produce are hot enough to melt or
ignite many varieties of upholstery fabrics.
Mid-puff, the end of
a cigarette can be as hot as 900˚C
or 1652˚F, while the temperature drops to about 400˚C, or 752˚F
between puffs. Unfortunately, since the melting point of nylon is
about 484°F
,
it is easy to see how fallen ash or a dropped cigarette could pose
problems to your car's upholstery.
Hot cigarettes and
ash are also hot enough to melt or ignite other common upholstery
materials, including polyester, leather, and vinyl.
Unfortunately, since
fire damage is a form of chemical damage that impacts the actual
structure of the upholstery, it usually cannot be repaired.
Additionally, the byproducts from cigarettes can permeate fabrics,
creating bad odors that are difficult to eradicate.
However, you can
keep your car's upholstery smoke and ash damage-free by banning
cigarettes from inside your car. If you smoke or are traveling with
others who do, consider lighting up at rest stops along the way and
keeping cigarettes out of your vehicle.
3. Soda
The bright,
beautiful colors of soda pop only add to their appeal, with varieties
including everything from dark, cola shades to fluorescent blue,
yellow, or green hues. While many of these dyes are made from
artificial colorants, others are derived from anthocyanin, which is
the same compound that gives dark berries and grapes their
purple-blue hue.
Stains are
categorized into four major categories, enzymatic, oxidizable,
greasy, and particulate. While soda stains are typically oxidizable
and capable of being removed with oxygen-bleach compounds, evaluate
each stain carefully before cleaning upholstery.
If you spill soda or
another beverage in your car, always turn to professional detailers
for help. In addition to applying the proper stain removal treatment,
they can also apply protective coatings to the upholstery to make it
more hydrophobic.
If you are in the
market for a filtered car wash or high-end detailing services, stop
by and visit us here at Grand
Prix Car Wash. With a commitment to quality, we offer
filtered-water car washes, hand detailing, upholstery shampooing,
professional waxing, and even interior leather conditioning. Visit us
today to make your car look and feel newer.
