How do you fix cigarette burns in leather car seats?

What causes cigarette burns in car seats?

Cigarette burns in car seats are caused by hot ashes from the lit end of a cigarette coming into contact with the leather or vinyl upholstery. When the hot ash makes contact, it can melt or burn the material, leaving behind a circular scar or hole. Cigarette burns tend to be relatively small, usually less than 1 cm in diameter. However, they are unsightly blemishes that can devalue a vehicle.

There are a few common ways that cigarette burns occur in cars:

• A passenger sits in the seat while smoking a cigarette, the cherry end touches the seat as they adjust position.
• A cigarette is laid on the seat and forgotten about, eventually burning through the material.
• Hot ashes fall unnoticed from the lit end of the cigarette onto the seat.
• A cigarette tossed out the window lands on the seat upholstery instead of outside the vehicle.

Leather and vinyl car seats are very vulnerable to cigarette burns because they are designed to be soft and pliable. The material easily melts when it comes into contact with the hot temperatures at the lit end of a cigarette, which can exceed 700°C. This allows the cigarette to sink into the upholstery slightly and cause damage.

Cigarette burns can occur in cars on any seat surface including the backrest, bottom cushion, and side bolsters. However, they are most commonly found on the horizontal surfaces of the bottom seat cushion or backrest. This is where a lit cigarette is most likely to be laid and forgotten about. The top horizontal surfaces of seats also allow ashes to fall down due to gravity.

How to identify cigarette burns

Cigarette burns have a very characteristic appearance that makes them easy to identify:

• Small, round or oval shape – Usually less than 1 cm diameter due to the size of a cigarette.
• Dark char or ash color – Can be black, brown, or gray depending on the seat material.
• Melted appearance – Edges are irregular and show melting damage.
• Distinct border – The damaged area stands out from surrounding upholstery.
• Hole or void – The upholstery may be completely burned through.

The circular shape and small size set cigarette burns apart from other types of damage like cuts, scratches or rubbing damage. However, if a burn is located on a fold or seam it may have an irregular shape.

One way to help confirm damage is from a cigarette is to smell the site. Burnt leather or vinyl will have a distinctive smokey, ashy odor. This can remain noticeable for years after the damage occurred.

It is also important to inspect the opposite side of the seat in the same location. Often the cigarette burn will have penetrated fully through the seat leaving a circular hole.

Removing cigarette odor from seats

Even after a cigarette burn is repaired, lingering odors may remain in the upholstery. This stale cigarette smell can be very difficult to eliminate entirely. Here are some methods that may help reduce the odor:

• Ozone generators – Ozone treatments are effective at removing odors. The ozone oxidizes the odor molecules. This can be done professionally or with a home ozone machine.
• Enzyme cleaners – Enzyme based cleaners are made to digest odor proteins. They help break down stubborn odors over time.
• Baking soda – Baking soda is a natural deodorizer. Allowing it to sit on upholstery for a few hours before vacuuming can help absorb odors.
• Charcoal bags – Placing activated charcoal bags in the seats can help absorb lingering odors.
• Vinyl protectants – Protectant products fill in tiny pores in vinyl that hold odors. This seals odors in.
• Steam cleaning – Heat helps release odors from fabrics. Steam cleaning kills odor causing bacteria.

These techniques may need to be repeated multiple times to fully return the interior to a smoke-free smell. Severely contaminated cars may never be completely odor free without replacement seats.

DIY methods to repair cigarette burns

Repairing cigarette burns yourself is often the most affordable option. Home repairs will not restore the seat to flawless condition, but can provide satisfactory improvement. Here are some DIY methods:

Leather seats

• Trim away loose material – Carefully cut away any loose, charred leather around the edges of the hole using scissors or a utility knife. This prevents further unraveling.
• Fill with putty – Force panel bonding putty, auto body filler, wood putty or even white glue into the hole. Press in firmly leaving the filler slightly proud.
• Sand smooth – Once dry, sand the filler down level with the surrounding leather using 120-150 grit sandpaper.
• Texture the filler – Use coarse sandpaper or a wire brush to add texture to the filler so it blends with the leather grain.
• Seal and dye – Apply leather sealant then apply leather dye in thin coats to match the color.

Vinyl seats

• Clean aggressively – Scrub the damaged area with hot soapy water then isopropyl alcohol to remove grime.
• Fill and seal – Smear white glue into the hole and over the surrounding area to seal the burnt edges.
• Touch up color – Once dry, use vinyl paint to fill the hole and restore color.
• Heat smooth – Carefully pass a heat gun over the area to soften and smooth the repair.
• Texture – Use a vinyl restoration tool, wire brush or coarse sandpaper to match surrounding texture.

DIY repairs take practice to perfect but allow seats to be made usable again affordably.

Professional cigarette burn repair techniques

For high quality, nearly invisible repairs, professional services may be required. These services can cost over $100 but properly match dyes, textures and hide damage.

Leather seat repair

Experts have specialized tools, dyes, fillers and knowledge to make leather repairs very difficult to spot. The steps include:

• Cleaning – The area is thoroughly cleaned then disinfected.
• Plugging – The hole is filled from the bottom using a specialized interlocking leather hole plug.
• Filler – Layers of flexible filler are built up on the surface then sanded smooth.
• Texturing – The grain is matched by imprinting the filler then hand texturing.
• Dye – Thin coats of leather dye are skillfully applied to blend color perfectly.
• Seal – A flexible sealant is used to protect the repair and prevent cracking.

Vinyl seat repair

Vinyl is repaired to like-new condition by pros using these steps:

• Disassembly – The seat cover is removed to allow full access to the damage.
• Patching – A vinyl patch is glued behind the hole then trimmed.
• Filler – The hole is built up using layers of vinyl filler.
• Texturing – The repair is textured using heat tools to match the OEM grain.
• Dye – Vinyl-specific dyes in the ideal color are used to camouflage the repair.
• Sealing – A flexible sealant is applied to protect the repair.
• Assembly – The seat cover is reinstalled onto the frame.

Professionals have the tools and expertise to make cigarette burn repairs far less noticeable, restoring the look and value of the vehicle’s interior.

Cigarette burn repair cost

The cost to repair cigarette burns depends on the material, number of burns, shop rates, and your location. Typical repair costs are:

• Leather seat repairs – $75 to $150 per burn
• Vinyl seat repairs – $50 to $120 per burn

More extensive damage like holes right through the seat may cost closer to the higher end of these ranges. Simple surface burns without holes can sometimes be repaired for the lower cost.

Shops in major metropolitan areas also tend to have higher labor rates, increasing the per burn costs. Expect to pay toward the higher end of the range in expensive cities.

Here are some examples of total costs:

• 3 small leather burns – $225 to $450
• 1 vinyl burn through – $100 to $240
• 5 mixed leather and vinyl burns – $350 to $700

While not cheap, professional repairs can make burns far less noticeable and prevent further damage. This restores the appearance and resale value of the vehicle.

Preventing cigarette damage to car seats

The easiest solution is to prevent cigarette burns from occurring in the first place. Here are some tips to avoid cigarette damage when smoking in a vehicle:

• Never leave a lit cigarette resting on a seat, even briefly.
• Use car ashtrays properly and empty them frequently.
• Cover seats with a sheet or blanket if you plan to actively smoke in the vehicle.
• Avoid adjusting seats while smoking – This can press the lit end into the upholstery.
• Check seats for stray ashes after smoking and before driving.
• Never toss a cigarette out the window onto seats.
• Don’t smoke when very tired – This increases the risk of accidents.

Following these guidelines and using common sense will help protect your vehicle’s interior from unsightly and costly cigarette damage.

Conclusion

Cigarette burns in car seats are caused by the hot ash of a lit cigarette damaging the upholstery. Circular burns can occur on any leather or vinyl seat surface but are most often found on horizontal areas. Repairing cigarette damage yourself using fillers and dye can improve the look at a low cost. For professional quality repairs, specialists have tools to fill, texture, and color match burns making them practically invisible. While repairs can be costly, they are less expensive than full seat replacements. To avoid burns altogether, never leave a lit cigarette resting on a seat and be very mindful when smoking in a vehicle.

Seat Material	Average Repair Cost Per Burn
Leather	$75 – $150
Vinyl	$50 – $120

Related Questions

How do you get rid of cigarette smoke smell in a car?

Thoroughly cleaning the interior, using odor eliminating foggers or bombs, replacing cabin air filters, using ozone treatments, painting interior plastics, and replacing contaminated upholstery can help eliminate unwanted cigarette odors from a car. But severe smoke contamination can sometimes cause permanent lingering odors.

Can you fix peeling leather car seats?

Yes, peeling and cracked leather car seats can be repaired. First thoroughly clean and condition the leather. Next, use specialty glues and flexible fillers to re-adhere lifting edges and fill cracks. Apply thin coats of color matched leather dye once the filler has dried. Finish by sealing and protecting the repaired areas.

What is the best DIY car upholstery repair kit?

Good quality DIY car upholstery repair kits include tools and materials like vinyl and leather fillers, texture tools, applicators, flexible epoxy adhesives, primers, dyes, paint pens, seam sealers, reinforcement tape and detailed instructions. Brands like SEM Products, Dupli-Color, 3M and Turtle Wax have well-reviewed kits.

Should you repair or replace cigarette burned car seats?

For a few small cigarette burns, repairs are usually the way to go to avoid costly full seat replacements. But if there is extensive burn damage or large holes right through the upholstery, replacements may be the better option since repairs can only do so much. Evaluate the total number, size and severity of burns when deciding.