Best way to recover sun bleached seats?

Printable View

09-30-2010, 10:26 AM
Matt V

Best way to recover sun bleached seats?

My seats in the '90 are now a light gray because of them being exposed to the sun for 20 years. What are some ways that I can recover them? Would new covers be the easiest way?
09-30-2010, 10:29 AM
Titus

Go to the auto-parts store and buy a can of black fabric paint. Worked wonders on my faded seats.
09-30-2010, 10:31 AM
trickyrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus

Go to the auto-parts store and buy a can of black fabric paint. Worked wonders on my faded seats.

+1... if the fabric's not ripped up or worn out, then that's the way to go.
09-30-2010, 10:36 AM
modernbeat

I use commercial carpet dye. But same as the other guys. If it's not ripped, and only faded, then dye it back to black.
09-30-2010, 11:08 AM
Matt V

I was thinking that dye or fabric paint would work. I'll have to grab some today.

I imagine you paint the cover with it still on the seat?
09-30-2010, 11:16 AM
trickyrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt V

I imagine you paint the cover with it still on the seat?

Yep... just take them out of the car first... ;)
09-30-2010, 12:40 PM
farphle

+1

Worked GREAT on my seats! Went on easy, dried in a couple of hours in the sun, not much smell (and not for long), didn't come off on clothes. Win!
10-01-2010, 10:13 AM
Matt V

You used the fabric paint?
10-01-2010, 11:53 AM
farphle

Sure did!

http://starsfan.net/pics/seats.jpg
10-01-2010, 12:14 PM
modernbeat

Yes. Use Mar-Hyde or Duplicolor vinyl and fabric paint.

Here's a short tutorial

http://www.miata.net/hakuna/0041/aindex.htm

The only thing I did differently is I used a scrub brush to work the paint into the fabric as I sprayed it. Then again after the seats were dry to break up the stiffness some people complain about. I also scrub them with dishwashing soap and then power-wash them clean.

I recently bought another pair of black seats that I'll have to paint. I'll most likely be doing it in a couple weeks if you want to come into town and see it done. I'll be washing on the 12th, and painting on the 13th.
10-10-2010, 01:17 AM
Matt V

I just finished doing this tonight, I took a picture that looks similar to farphle's.

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...iata/Seats.jpg

I'll be renting a RugDoctor tomorrow so I can shampoo and scrub these seats once they cure overnight, they are slightly stiff from the paint and I'm hoping the RugDoctor treatment will fix that.