Services
Insurance
Loans
Repairs
Advice
About

How to fix a burn hole in car seats or upholstery?

I recently quit smoking, and I’m trying to get rid of all the little reminders of cigarettes from my life. One of the worst is a nasty cigarette burn in the driver’s seat of my Ford Escape. How do I fix a burn hole from a dropped cigarette?

avatar
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Congratulations on quitting smoking! Let’s help you fix that burn hole in your car’s seat and leave that chapter of smoking cigarettes in the past.
Fabric, vinyl, and leather upholstery all have slightly different processes, so let’s learn how to fix a burn hole for all three.
Upholstery:
  • Use a razor to remove a tiny bit of fabric from underneath the car’s seat or carpet, from an area where no one will see it
  • Rub a little mayonnaise (yes, really!) on the burn and give it ten minutes to sit
  • Wipe away the mayo, which will take up some of the burn with it. Use your razor to scrape away what’s left
  • Use fabric glue and set the clean fabric over the hole, allowing it to dry
Vinyl:
  • Get yourself a vinyl repair kit
  • Cut out the burned area
  • Gently rub the surrounding area with fine-grit sandpaper
  • Clean the area with rubbing alcohol
  • Follow the vinyl repair kit’s instructions to install the replacement vinyl
** Leather**:
  • Cut a tiny “X” into the leather over the burn, and use a scalpel to remove the burned leather
  • Tuck some canvas cloth into the resulting hole, if there is one. Leave the cloth flat and slightly overlapping underneath the edges of the hole you made.
  • Put a small amount of glue down along the edges of the hole, and underneath the edge of the hole, and let it dry for a while (20 to 30 minutes should do)
  • Apply one thin layer of leather filler, drying it with a hairdryer and occasionally pressing it down with your finger, gently. Repeat this again with three more layers
  • Use a leather touch-up kit to color the area, following the kit’s instructions.
We hope these tips save you some money while you’re fixing that burn hole. And if you’re interested in saving a lot more money (potentially hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year), shop for
car insurance
using the
Jerry
app. Jerry users save an average of $887 per year on car, home, and renter’s insurance!
View full answer 
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings