How to Fix your Auto Upholstery

By EHow.com member: maddiemom6

From Maryland Classic Car Upholstery

Nothing can give you the old car blues more that torn auto upholstery. It happens to just about every car at one time or another and now that we are keeping our cars longer it is happening to even more of us. This does not mean we have to accept this wear and tear since there are a couple of different ways we can mend our auto upholstery erasing those visible years of use. Auto upholstery takes a significant amount of daily abuse and under high tension given the way it’s made firm to support you while driving or riding. Of course you could use automobile seat covers but before spending that money give this low cost option a try. Once fixed you can fall in love with your car all over again.

1. 
   

   First this to do is to analyze the type of rip that has occurred since some are easier to fix than others. Did the fabric rip due to stress on a seam? Did something cut into the fabric? Is the rip horizontal or vertical? Another variation on this is the “L” shaped rip that comes from stress that is then pulled at or caught on something.

2. 
   

   Seat covers can also be worn away from infant car seats rubbing on the auto upholstery. This one has an easy fix that should be used from the very start. Under the car seat place an approved car seat protector. Use only an approved product for this since otherwise you can compromise the safety of the infant car seat. The auto upholstery protector will help distribute the pressure points of the car seat minimizing wear on the automobile seat.

3. If the rip to your auto upholstery is on the seam near the edge it’s possible to use a highly pliable glue to make the mend. A product such as Mighty Mendit claims to be able to bind just about any fabric surface to another. To increase you odd of getting a good bond place a piece of same type fabric under the rip, tucked into the seat. Apply the Mighty Mendit to both the fabric of the seat cushion and the under patching fabric forming a bridge of fabric to help secure the bond.

4. If you need a quicker and easier fix look at your Auto supply store for patching fabric that is a close match to your auto upholstery. Then use it from the inside of the rip to bind the rip together in an invisible fashion. Do this by tucking a generous size piece of the patching material under the rip and then pull the edges of the rip together with either a couple of hand sewn stitches or with an extra set of hands pushing from each side until the ripped edges just meet.

5. When the ripped edges are well aligned apply heat from a household iron carefully to the surface. Go slow and keep the temp low as to make the bond and not melt your auto upholstery fabric. After bond has occurred leave the are untouched for a couple of hours for an even stronger bond to form.

Article Source: Ehow.com

Maryland auto upholstery shop

Joe’s Upholstery Shop in Frederick Maryland

Maryland Classic Car Restoration

301 662-5006