What to Do When Car Seats Get Soaked?
2 Answers
Solutions for soaked car seats are as follows: 1. Remove seat covers: If the car seats have covers, take them off immediately because covers prevent air circulation, making it harder for wet seats to dry and increasing the risk of mold. 2. Wipe with a towel: For leather seats, use a clean towel to wipe them dry. To avoid unpleasant odors and corrosion caused by rainwater, it's best to clean the seats with cleaning products before wiping them dry. 3. Use warm air: Turn on the car's heater to raise the interior temperature and help dry the wet seats.
Last time my seats got soaked because I forgot to close the windows during a heavy rainstorm, and the entire back row was drenched. I quickly used old towels to repeatedly press and absorb the water, avoiding vigorous rubbing to prevent scratches. Then, I opened all the car windows for ventilation and parked the car in the sun for half a day to speed up evaporation. If the seats are fabric, I would add some dehumidifiers like silica gel packets in the crevices. After a few days, there was no odor, but prevention is key—now I always double-check that the windows are closed. If the seats are completely soaked, never use a hot air blower directly, as leather can become brittle and crack, and fabric can shrink. What's even more troublesome is that moisture can seep into the electronic circuits, like causing issues with seat heating, so it's best to address it early to avoid expensive repairs. Since then, I've bought waterproof seat covers and use a car cover when it rains, which has made things much easier.
