How to Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat

Cigarette burns leave holes that can be an eyesore for you and your passengers. Fortunately, you don't need to pay hundreds of dollars to have a shop repair them! You can repair burn holes yourself with glue and a few other items found at your local hardware store.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Repairing Burns in a Cloth Car Seat

  1. Image titled Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat Step 1
    1
    Find a spot in your car to collect fibers that match the seat. Choose an inconspicuous place such as under your seat. You can also get fibers from the carpet that is hidden underneath plastic paneling.
    • To expose carpet, inspect the paneling first. Check if the weather stripping is covering the area where the panel meets the door. If so, gently pull back the weather stripping in this area only.
    • Try to locate the fastener clips. These are located between the panel and the door, usually near creases where two panels meet. Use your fingers or a panel pop tool to gently pry off the panel at the fastener clips, where the plastic is reinforced. If you can’t find the fastener clips, try wiggling and prying the panel from the bottom. Be careful not to bend the plastic permanently.[1]
  2. Image titled Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat Step 2
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    Shave off enough fibers with your razor blade to cover the burn hole. Angle your razor blade and gently run it along the area. Do not apply too much pressure to avoid the blade cutting into the fabric.
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  3. Image titled Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat Step 3
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    Reinstall your paneling now if it was removed. The fastener clips should snap easily back into place. If you pulled back your weather stripping, restore it by guiding the strip back into place and applying pressure.[2]
  4. Image titled Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat Step 4
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    Apply a small amount of Gorilla Glue to the bottom of a deep hole. It will expand and fill some of the space. Allow it to dry. If the hole is not deep, you may skip this step.[3]
    • Alternatively, you can fill the bottom of the burn hole with a small piece of foam. Cut the piece of foam to fit the hole. Apply fabric glue to the bottom of the hole and insert your foam. Allow it to dry.[4]
  5. Image titled Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat Step 5
    5
    Place a drop of fabric glue inside the burn hole. Do not apply too much or attempt to fill the hole with glue. You can do multiple layers of glue and fibers later.
  6. Image titled Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat Step 6
    6
    Apply the matching fibers to the fabric glue. Place some fibers on top of the glue while it is wet and gently pat them into place. Repeat layers of glue and fibers until the surface of the hole is level with the seat. Allow it to dry.[5]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Filling Burns in a Vinyl or Leather Seat

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    Cut around the burn hole with a scalpel and remove the burned piece of leather.[6] Try not to enlarge the hole. Cut out only what is necessary.
  2. Image titled Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat Step 8
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    Push the cloth patch into the hole using tweezers. Since the patch is larger than the hole, you may have to wiggle the patch around to completely submerge it.
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    Flatten the patch underneath the leather with your tweezers, spreading out any bunching. Make sure it sits completely flat underneath the hole.[7]
    • This subpatch will help to smoothen any puckering of the leather surrounding the hole, as well as and give you a backing to fill the hole later.
  4. Image titled Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat Step 10
    4
    Apply some glue underneath the edges of the hole. Use a toothpick to apply the glue for small holes or a palette knife for large holes. Press down firmly on the outer edges of the hole to firmly adhere the subpatch to the leather. Allow to dry completely. [8]
    • You may use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process.
  5. Image titled Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat Step 11
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    Spread a layer of flexible glue or filler into the hole. Smoothen to an even layer, making sure it reaches all the edges of the hole. Allow the layer to dry completely. Repeat this process until the hole is completely filled.[9]
    • If using a hairdryer to dry the layers, position the dryer so that the air blows across the glue or filler instead of directly onto it to prevent heat and moisture buildup.[10]
  6. Image titled Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat Step 12
    6
    Sand the final layer so that it is level with the edges. Gently sanding the layer will smoothen the dried glue or filler so that its texture more closely matches the surface of the seat.[11]
    • Do not apply too much pressure while sanding. If the repaired layer dips beneath the surface of the hole, you will need to add another layer and allow to dry before sanding again.
  7. Image titled Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat Step 13
    7
    Dab on your leather pigment with a sponge for a leather seat. Apply the pigment to and around the repaired hole until it is completely covered. Allow to dry.[12]
    • You may also want to apply a leather conditioner to the seat after the pigment is completely dry.
  8. Image titled Fix Cigarette Burns in a Car Seat Step 14
    8
    Coat the repaired hole with vinyl spray paint for a vinyl seat. Spray an even layer across the repair to completely cover it.[13] Make sure not to spray too much so there is no drippage. Allow to dry completely.
    • If the seat is in poor condition, consider repainting the entire seat for a seamless finish.
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Things You'll Need

Cloth Car Seats

  • Razor blade
  • Fabric glue
  • Gorilla glue (optional)
  • Small piece of foam (optional)

Vinyl/Leather Seats

  • Scalpel
  • Cloth patch, substantially larger than the hole
  • Tweezers
  • Flexible adhesive (preferably for vinyl)
  • Toothpick or palette knife
  • Fine sandpaper
  • Leather pigment or vinyl paint
  • Sponge
  • Flexible filler (optional)

Warnings

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X9WXBAUx8I
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X9WXBAUx8I
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD7NODrDz_k
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt6ZOVAUy8w
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD7NODrDz_k
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGjU48QX1e0
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGjU48QX1e0
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwL8O-LZb_k
  9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGjU48QX1e0
  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwL8O-LZb_k
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwL8O-LZb_k
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGjU48QX1e0
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhFpinR7Y1g
  5. ↑ https://spotremoval.coit.com/how-to-get-burn-marks-out-of-upholstery
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhFpinR7Y1g

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 147,027 times.
47 votes - 76%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: April 12, 2020
Views: 147,027
Categories: Cigarettes
Article SummaryX

If you want to fix cigarette burns in your cloth car seat, find an inconspicuous spot in your car, like the carpet underneath the plastic paneling, where you can cut off some fibers without anyone seeing the damage. Once you’ve found a spot, use a razor blade to shave off enough fibers to cover the burn hole without cutting into the fabric. Then, place a drop of fabric glue inside the hole and cover it with the matching fibers. When it’s dry, repeat the gluing process until the spot is level with the seat. If the hole is deep, fill it with expanding glue or foam before applying the fibers. For more tips, like how to fix burns in a vinyl or leather seat, read on.

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