What Fabric is Best for your Car Upholstery?

Whether you are looking to find a good fabric to cover your sedan seats, some comfortable cover for your sports car or you just want to replace the old seat covers of your family van, there are unlimited choices in the market. However, a number of factors will guide your selection of the right seats upholstery.

Ease of cleaning, the model of the car and personal preferences are some of the things one should consider when selecting a material for their seat fabric. Vinyl, cloth and leather are the most common materials for car upholstery.

Here is how they compare in durability, appearance, cost and maintenance.

Cloth

When you are looking for a nice look and affordability, cloth is an ultimate choice. Cloth is available in different textures and colors, making cloth a great choice if you want to add some personal touch to your car interiors. It is also affordable than the likes of leather and vinyl. However, if you are applying fabric in your family, you may be forced to consider other materials. Children are likely to spill over their fruit squashes, making cleaning a nightmare. It is also prone to wear and tear. Only choose the cloth fabric if you are single or you are done rearing the little ones.

Vinyl

This has been used in the car industry for ages, especially on the cars of 1950s and 1960s. Its appearance is reminiscent of leather but it retails at a price that lies somewhere between the affordable cloth and the pricey leather. It also takes the trophy for being the easiest upholstery to clean. It is sold in a variety of colors and textures but its feel does not come closer to that of leather. In addition, on sunny days, the seats of your car will be uncomfortable, since it absorbs heat easily. Vinyl cracks when exposed to direct sunlight and very hot temperatures. Vinyl can be a great choice for family use since it is resistant to stains and it does not require you to do much when cleaning.

Leather

Leather is an emblem of luxury. However, it comes with a high price tag. Some people cannot resist the feel of leather and the scent produced by supple leather car seats. Although it retails highly, it is the most durable of the car upholstery materials. Even if its requirement for conditioning makes it a high-maintenance material than its look-alike vinyl, it is easily cleaned with a cloth and water. It is also easily reparable than vinyl, it lasts longer and maintains a timeless appearance.

To sum up, when it comes to selecting the best car upholstery, there are no set guidelines for the right material in the pool. Your needs and preferences should guide your choice. For instance, if you want fabrics for your family car, it is not feasible to pick cloth as an option. This is because children tend to be mischievous. Spills and scratches are likely to damage the fabric. In addition, leather will be not good in a family van, since the stains will force you to clean it regularly and with time, the lustrous look will fade. In such cases, vinyl will be a perfect choice. Lastly, you may want to consider the price of the fabric and the model of the car. You cannot afford to use cheap auto upholstery on your elegant sports model, can you now?