5 Ways to Get Your Wet Car Seats Dry: Helpful Tips

So you got caught in the rain and now your car seat is wet? Don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to dry it. Whether you have forgotten to keep the windows down during a rainstorm or spilled something, when the seats are wet, you should dry them up as soon as possible. Otherwise, wet seats will reek and mildew will form on the fabric in a few days.

5 Ways to Dry up Wet Car Seats

There are 5 easy ways for how to dry wet car seats fast! Read on below for helpful tips that will leave your car looking as good as new without any hassle.

1) Use a towel or something absorbent

First things first — use an absorbent towel or rag to soak up as much of the water as possible. This will help prevent mold from forming and will also keep your leather seat free from permanent damage.

Lay the towel out on the seat, and take another one to gently pat down the water. If you have leather or fabric seats, use more caution, as they may get damaged from wiping too hard with a towel.

If there is not much water inside, you can also use newspaper instead of towels. Take some old newspapers and spread them out on top of the seats. Just be careful when removing the paper, so you don’t leave any shreds behind.

car seat drying
Drying the wet seat with a towel. (Credit: HGTV)

2) Vacuum all nooks and crannies

A vacuum cleaner can be used to suck up any water that has seeped into the fabric of your car seat. Turn on the wet setting and vacuum vigorously in all wet places. Use an attachment and get into all the tight spaces, including under the headrests, armrests, center console, cup holders, floors, etc.

3) Use fans to quicken the process

Drying up your car seats is an unpleasant task, but it can be made easier with the help of a couple of fans. Point them to the wettest parts of the seats and keep all windows open, so the moisture does not trap inside. This allows water to evaporate more quickly out of your vehicle.

If possible, keep the fans running for 24 to 48 hours. However, don’t stuff the interior with too many fans because they will generate extreme heat in such a small space.

4) Bring in a dehumidifier

Dehumidifiers work wonders in drying out something big. They are even better than fans. If you have a high-powered, portable dehumidifier, run it inside the car for several hours.

If there is no dehumidifier, hang some DampRid bags inside the car. This absorbent chemical will absorb the moisture and help quicken the drying process.

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5) Fight damp spots with sunlight

If the seats still feel slightly dampened, keep the car under the sun by opening all the doors. Instead of sun-drying the whole car, you can also remove the seat in question (if possible) and dry it naturally. However, don’t do this if the car seats have leather upholstery because the leather will crack under heat.

Conclusion

Wet car seats can be hard to deal with, but there are a number of different options for drying the seat out faster. With the right tools, it is no longer an issue. Drying off seats as soon as possible is necessary to avoid stains and smells. These tips will help you do this faster and at a minimum cost.