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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / August 2005

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Auto upolstry

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stryped@hotmail.com - 18 Aug 2005 16:37 GMT
Is it possible to recover seats yourself? I have a 96 zz1 with stains
on the seats and would like to replace them. Can I do this myself and
it look good? They are captains chairs I believe.
HLS@nospam.nix - 18 Aug 2005 18:22 GMT
> Is it possible to recover seats yourself? I have a 96 zz1 with stains
> on the seats and would like to replace them. Can I do this myself and
> it look good? They are captains chairs I believe.

It is certainly possible.  If you have no experience at upholstery, it will
present some challenges,
but if you can re-cover a LazyBoy or a sofa, you can do this.
stryped@hotmail.com - 18 Aug 2005 18:38 GMT
I have never done either. Can I still od this. ANywhere I can go on the
web for more info?
HLS@nospam.nix - 18 Aug 2005 19:50 GMT
> I have never done either. Can I still od this. ANywhere I can go on the
> web for more info?

I found a site once, but have lost it in a hard drive failure.  Run a google
search amd see what you
can locate.

If you can purchase the covers for the units ready to put on, that should be
easy.
If you intend to remove the old ones, sew new ones,  reinstall, this would
require attention
to selection of appropriate fabrics, pattern making, sewing, etc.

My mother learned how to do all this sort of thing herself, with no
instruction whatsoever.
With experience, it became easier for her.

You might be able to take off the old upholstery, take it to a shop which
has the industrial type
sewing machines and fabric choices, and have them sew up some new covers for
you.  Then
you could reinstall.  If the cushioning foam is damaged, you can replace it
at the same time by
simply cutting new pieces from foam stock.
sdlomi2 - 18 Aug 2005 21:17 GMT
> Is it possible to recover seats yourself? I have a 96 zz1 with stains
> on the seats and would like to replace them. Can I do this myself and
> it look good? They are captains chairs I believe.

   I'm assuming they are fabric.  If you have time, like several(2 or
more)days of  hot, outdoor, sunshiny weather to allow for complete drying:
one can do wonders with Purple Power, detergent, and pressure washing, like
a steam cleaner or even a commercial diy-carwash.
   But, 1st try spraying a little PurplePower directly on the stains, let
it soak in, and then use a whitewall bristle brush dampened with hot water.
Then come behind with a towel, wet with hot water & rung(wrung?) out, and
wipe them vigorously.  This 1st attempt uses the theory to not WET them, but
to WIPE them.  Keeps underneath foam relatively dry and doesn't allow stains
to rise again later.
   Even knowing how well this has worked in the past, I am still often
amazed at how nearly perfect some come out on more recent jobs.  This
technique has also saved many sets of carpets, which looked hopeless in the
beginning.  Luck to you, s
stryped@hotmail.com - 19 Aug 2005 01:47 GMT
So take the seats out and use an engine powere dpressure washer to wash
the whole seat?
> > Is it possible to recover seats yourself? I have a 96 zz1 with stains
> > on the seats and would like to replace them. Can I do this myself and
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> technique has also saved many sets of carpets, which looked hopeless in the
> beginning.  Luck to you, s
sdlomi2 - 19 Aug 2005 02:14 GMT
> So take the seats out and use an engine powere dpressure washer to wash
> the whole seat?

   Only if the brush and wipe technique fails.  The high-pressure,
regulated to about that supplied by a do-it-yourself car-wash wand, would be
the most you should use.  I really have used the pressure technique more on
carpets than seats.  Most seats come out fine w/o use of pressure.  Be sure
to spray the stains directly with a cleaner like Purple Power first and let
them sit for 30-45 minutes.  Then the damp brush.  Then the damp towel.
Repeat process several times if necessary.  You should be amazed.  And this
can be done w/seats in place.
   If you have to wet them so much as in the pressure technique, yes, take
'em out, clean them using P/Power & detergent.  Bear in mind that the
detergent/cleaner along with pressure should do the work more so than
*drowning* them in water; and then let 'em dry in the sunshine for several
days.  This drying is important.  As they dry, you'll find you have to
re-wipe w/the towel repeatedly, as the stains will probably  rise--depending
on how deeply into the foam they reached.  But on the final wipe as they
completely dry, the stain will NOT rise again.
   Good luck and enjoy the comfort of cloth AND the (somewhat) cleanability
of vinyl.  s
HLS@nospam.nix - 19 Aug 2005 14:00 GMT
> > So take the seats out and use an engine powere dpressure washer to wash
> > the whole seat?
>
>     Only if the brush and wipe technique fails.

When I first answered this post, I had assumed the seats were beyond
washing.  So much for assuming.

I have rented a carpet shampoo machine from the local stores which have a
wand for seat cleaning and
have had good results.  In one case I had a deep seated spill that had
soaked into the seat cushion and
even that was satisfactorily dealt with.

I have this on my 'do list', as my van is getting to look more like a
farmers vehicle than a transportation
pleasure.

Pretreatment of stained areas can help a lot.  Lately I have been using one
of those over the counter
orange flavored (for oil based stains) sprays, and it has done a good job.

You gave him good advice, SD.
N8N - 19 Aug 2005 14:24 GMT
> > > So take the seats out and use an engine powere dpressure washer to wash
> > > the whole seat?
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> You gave him good advice, SD.

How about removing the cloth and running it through a big laundromat
washer assuming that they are still in good shape?

this is why I prefer leather or vinyl seats by the way...

nate
stryped@hotmail.com - 20 Aug 2005 13:53 GMT
Can I take the seat off and run them through my home washer?

> > > > So take the seats out and use an engine powere dpressure washer to wash
> > > > the whole seat?
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
> nate
HLS@nospam.nix - 20 Aug 2005 15:13 GMT
> Can I take the seat off and run them through my home washer?

Normally, yes.  These fabrics are often designed for heavy service.  I would
take the fabric off  and wash
them in cold or warm water, with a very mild detergent.  No chlorox.  I
would dry them on a delicate cycle,
and take them out while they were still slightly damp.

Slightly damp, they are usually easier to get back onto the seat forms, and
normally dry tighter and with
fewer wrinkles.
 
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