Water marks on seats

[expat]

We have a 2009 Toyota Matrix with light Grey, cloth covered, seats.
The problem is, it seems if the seats get damp, as in the case when you get in the car with a wet rain coat, the seats show water marks, rings, around the damp patches when they dry out.
After a while, this begins to look really bad.
Even when cleaning the seats I have to be very careful and clean evenly, or water marks will appear around a damp area.
It seems a strange problem, is there anything that I can put on (other than seat covers) that can prevent this?

 

[HyundaiGuy]

I have the same problem with my Accent. I have no prevention, but cleaning with grocery store rubbing alcohol works really well.

It will be nice when (if) the economy straightens out and I can go back to a car with black leather.

 

[Scorch]

Scotchgard auto interior protector. Should help with the water marks, just a suggestion if you're willing to try it.

 

[Panzerman]

What is up with these new interiors, they are awful. I have a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 and the seats are a synthetic material like you are talking, water stains them, my old truck,a 1994, had a velour type seat and any stains would come right off. You would think things would get better. Id like to strangle the idiot, that invented those new cloth material seats, They arent as comfortable either and they look like [censored].

 

[dparm]

This is actually why I prefer leather.

 

[Panzerman]

Who does not prefer leather, but sometimes leather isnt alays a option. I bought the Dodge new, But I was told I couldnt upgrade to leather seats, I had to upgrade to the whole Thunder road package, which was considerably more and added stupid stuff like 20" wheels and extra little chrome emblems, that old people like me arent really into. After 5 years of those seats, if I could do it over, I would have bought the downgraded work truck version, with vinyle seats and rubber floor.

 

[expat]

Up-date:
Scotch guard does not make any difference.
Now looking a seat covers, although Toyota says they should not be fitted because of the seat Air Bags

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

If you have hard water, I suspect something that acts as a chelating agent would help. Maybe DI water?

 

[JHZR2]

leather???!? What a headache and hassle to keep.

Good quality vinyl seats (MB tex or equivalent) FTW!

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
leather???!? What a headache and hassle to keep.

Good quality vinyl seats (MB tex or equivalent) FTW!



I've never had to do much at all to keep my leather looking good...but you got a good point about the MB-Tex!! That stuff is like them old Sears "Tough Skin" jeans I wore as a kid - you can't wear 'em out! When I was looking at getting an E350 I couldn't believe Mercedes still offered the stuff but they do and I bet more than 75% of the E350's on the lot had it. I once saw and older 1980's 300D with it and they still looked darn near new.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: expat
Up-date:
Scotch guard does not make any difference.
Now looking a seat covers, although Toyota says they should not be fitted because of the seat Air Bags


Did you try a shampooer? Go to the grocery store and get one of those Rug Doctor things with the upholstery head and the requisite chemicals. It's certainly worth a shot.

 

[The Critic]

I have the exact same color interior on my Prius and it is ridiculously difficult to keep clean.

I've had good luck with the $5 Turtle Wax ICE upholstery cleaner. It comes in an aerosol can from O'Reilly (or any auto parts store) and has a stiff nylon brush attached to the top of the can. Depending on how severe the marks are, I've never had a problem removing stains from my interior using this stuff.

 

[expat]

We don't have a problem cleaning the seats, any cleaner or shampoo will clean the marks away. It's just as soon as a rain drop hits the edge of the seat or for any reason the seat gets damp, another Ring, or water mark will appear around that damp area.
I now remember seeing this a while back when I rented an Elantra in Hawaii, that had similar type seats. I returned the car because it looked as though the previous occupant must have been incontinent! but I now realise it was probably just someone that had sat there in a 'less than dry' swimsuit.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: expat
We don't have a problem cleaning the seats, any cleaner or shampoo will clean the marks away. It's just as soon as a rain drop hits the edge of the seat or for any reason the seat gets damp, another Ring, or water mark will appear around that damp area.


Ahh, I get you now. Well, if Scotch Guard doesn't prevent it, I don't know what else will. That's a head scratcher.