Using eco-leather for car covers

Many owners want to create a pleasant atmosphere in their car. Covers do a great job of this. This article discusses what eco-leather car covers are and which ones are best to buy.

Features of materials in car interiors.

There are many types of artificial leather for car interiors, but the most popular is eco-leather. It has high quality and increased wear resistance. It is produced by applying polyurethane to a cotton or synthetic base.

The thicker the polyurethane layer and the better the base, the better the quality of the material. Genuine leather is starting to lose its popularity, as eco-leather looks like real leather and has a number of advantages, but is much cheaper.

Pros

Previously, instead of real leather, they used leatherette made from synthetic fibers, but it quickly deteriorated, had a strong smell and was not very aesthetically pleasing.

Therefore, many people do not have a very good attitude towards artificial leather. But eco-leather covers destroy all misconceptions.

The material is similar to fine-pored polyurethane fabric, fixed to a cotton base. The embossing process produces a pattern similar to natural leather. In appearance, synthetics are almost no different from natural fabric, the difference is revealed only by the reverse side.

This type of leather stretches well and feels pleasant, the only thing better is anil leather, but it is very difficult to find in Russia, and its price is very high.

The quality of eco-leather depends on the density of the top polyurethane layer - the thicker the layer, the better the quality of the product. But in this case, the leather will be much harder.

Eco-leather has a huge number of advantages:

• Air permeability. The composition contains small pores, due to which, eco-leather has good air circulation;
• Water-repellent. Seats remain dry in any case;
• High thermal conductivity. This indicator is almost the same as that of real leather, it maintains a pleasant temperature at any time of the year;
• Frost resistance. The fabric withstands temperatures down to -30 degrees, and does not melt or fade in the heat;
• Durability. Over the years, the leather remains the same as on the day of purchase (with proper care);

• Safety. It does not contain any dangerous chemicals, so it is safe for children and adults and does not cause allergies;
• Ethics. No animal skins are used in production, this is good news for caring people;
• Availability. The price is much lower than natural materials, and is affordable for every car owner.

Cons

Despite a number of advantages, the products have some disadvantages:

• When cleaning, you cannot use ordinary water, as it leaves large streaks;
• If the moisture is not removed immediately, the fabric will swell;
• If the interior is white, then you should try to avoid bright fabrics in clothes. Because the paint from them can be absorbed into the upholstery;

• The material may come out if there are severe defects.

It is not difficult to care for such material, but you need to do everything carefully. In order for eco-leather car covers to last a long time, they must be treated with a water-repellent impregnation, and dirt must be removed with special products or a soap-alcohol solution. It is forbidden to use products that contain chlorine or bleach. Because of them, the covers will immediately dissolve their pigment.

The main criteria for choosing such covers

There are six important nuances when choosing car seat covers.

For a specific model or for all types

Most people buy universal covers. They are not expensive and you don’t mind throwing them away in the future. Model covers are sewn for specific cars.

Model covers

You need to check with the seller about availability. In this case, you need to specify the car brand, model, production date, body type, whether it is equipped with a rear armrest, what kind of backrest is on the rear seat, the number of headrests (working/non-working), and other nuances of the car.

Eco-leather for car seat covers (fabric)

It can be eco, leatherette or faux leather. The base can be cotton or artificial.

What kind of fasteners?

Mostly, elastic bands are used around the perimeter, with additional hooks or clamps.

Quality of production and pattern fitting

Before buying, it is better to check several websites and reviews about the covers that you need to buy. They should be without folds, bends and fit tightly to the chair. They should not hang and be large in size.

Price

Good eco-leather car seat covers, as of today (August 12, 2019) have a price of 5,000 thousand rubles. You can get good discounts during a seasonal sale. The high price is high-quality raw materials, fittings, etc. You should not buy sets at markets, without a receipt, from dubious sellers, and even at a low price.

Rating of manufacturers of eco-leather covers

Below is a table of the most popular manufacturers of covers.

A wide range of car covers can be found at the manufacturer AZARD Group.

T-shirts from Azard

In 2014, after reorganization, the factory became a holding. Production began in Russia and Japan. The most common collection of covers was the Senator Jackward line. As a raw material, the factory uses jacquard, decorated with polyester inserts. The advantages of the covers are pleasant to the touch and wear resistance. They are easy to care for and can be washed in a machine. People like that the capes are resistant to sunlight and do not fade.

But this manufacturer has a lot of fakes, people produce fake products under this brand. You need to be careful when buying. Check the fabric by touch, if it is very hard, then these are not original covers. Also, the fake has a very strong chemical smell, which should not be there at all. This indicates that the composition contains ammonia.

Therefore, before buying, you need to carefully check all the nuances, the quality of the seams, the elasticity and durability of the product. If there are big doubts, you can ask the seller to show the license of this manufacturer, he has no right to refuse. Otherwise, if the seller does not want to do this, then you can understand that this is a fake. Azard stores are not represented in every city, but you can always buy their products on the official website.

Reviews

Irina, Vladimir region: “I have a 2008 Kia Spectra. I bought it 3 years ago, and finally I got the idea to update the interior. I had to choose between genuine and artificial leather. I chose the second option, since it is much cheaper, and looks almost the same as the real material. I liked that it feels very soft, although it is dense, I don’t think it will tear anytime soon. In the summer, the car is constantly in the sun, but after six months of use, I have not found a single place where the color has faded. I bought the covers online, the whole set cost me 7,250. And I chose a combination of colors, dark blue and black. I am happy with the purchase, and I will definitely buy another one for the spare tire.”

Victor, Novorossiysk: “My wife and I thought about buying covers after the birth of our child. Since we had to constantly travel long distances, and the child could obviously spill or stain something. We bought the covers at the nearest auto shop. We were pleased with the abundance of colors and the nice price. In terms of care, everything turned out to be very simple. Moisture was removed immediately, and dirt or dust can be wiped with a dry microfiber or a vacuum cleaner with a thin nozzle. The only problem is when moisture gets on the seat, but it is not removed, in this place the fabric becomes more elastic and stretched. But since it is not in front of your eyes, it is not scary. But water always needs to be removed, otherwise the interior can be damaged.”

Maxim, Ufa: “I work as a builder, and my responsibilities include transporting various materials and tools. My car is a VAZ-21099, but the interior is quite good. So I decided to buy the cheapest covers so I wouldn’t mind getting them dirty. I bought a set for 4,700 rubles. As it turned out, the quality is top-notch, I transport cement, levels, or piercing tools, and the covers are still brand new. I simply vacuum up the dirt at the car wash and wipe it with a damp cloth. Sometimes I treat it with a water-repellent impregnation, in case I spill something in the interior. I was amazed by the choice of covers, some with pictures or patterns, bright or neutral colors. I am very happy with the purchase, I will buy eco-leather covers for my new car, as this is a good saving.”

In conclusion, it should be noted that eco-leather car seat covers have been gaining immense popularity since 2013. They are quite cheap, easy to care for and have a large selection. Some covers can be custom-made, but the price will be twice as high. Installation can be done independently in a few hours.