MASTER THREAD: Removing marks from white seats

[Chuckie69]

Hard to believe that this stain transfered from one dry surface to another dry surface, especially with no pressure being applied.

Thanks for the good tips, I’m thinking at this point I’ve got to hit up the local service center to see what they can do. I’ve already gone up the chain of cleaners and tried the magic eraser. I’m worried I may have already damaged the fabric, so I’m not touching it myself any more.

The hat is a Melin Trooper II, a hat that’s actually designed to get wet and wear outdoors to the beach/pool/lake. The front is neoprene and the back is a quick-dry nylon fabric (that’s the part that was touching the seat). That adds further mystery to my it transferred. This hasn’t happened between the hat and other clothes or my head when I’ve gotten it wet before.

 

[Chuckie69]

I’m trying an experiment today to see if I can get the dye to transfer to a viva paper towel. I wet the hat a bit to simulate me wearing it and sweating in it.

 

[GeoX750]

How is this a warranty issue? The seats have a stain resistant coating, but are not advertised as stain proof. Sounds like you want someone else to pay for your mistake.

You can't leave a hat on a seat and you think that's OK ?

 

[WilliamG]

Is it possible the stain was already there when you threw the hat back on the seat?

The only other thing I can think of is people’s sweat and skin oils vary greatly. We’ve seen some crazy headrest pictures - even on black interiors, where the headrests has been effectively ruined by that person’s sweat/oils type.

 

[Camera-Cruiser]

What if there was cleaner residue on the seat from detailing at delivery. In essence not so much the hat but something that was there aiding transfer?

 

[TW14 9LF]

Sunscreen from your head or neck that transferred to the hat and then to your seat?

 

[Watts 4 Me]

The manual says to use 99% rubbing alcohol to clean the white seats.

 

[Chuckie69]

Is it possible the stain was already there when you threw the hat back on the seat?.

No, absolutely not. The pattern of the hat fabric matches up perfectly with the stain.

 

[Chuckie69]

The manual says to use 99% rubbing alcohol to clean the white seats.

Didn’t even lighten the stain. Completely ineffective.

 

[Chuckie69]

Sunscreen from your head or neck that transferred to the hat and then to your seat?

I was on my way in to work. No sunscreen, lotions, etc. I’m bald so no hair products either.

 

[Chuckie69]

What if there was cleaner residue on the seat from detailing at delivery. In essence not so much the hat but something that was there aiding transfer?

The car is six months old. I bought it used from a fellow member on here. Seat was in perfect shape when I got it from him. I suppose something could have been on the seat chemical-wise but I dont know if he used anything or not. Good suggestion, I’ll follow up with him to see.

 

[Jefla]

I heard on a Tesla focused podcast today that people are starting to ceramic coat the white seats to prevent staining. What particular product though?

 

[WilliamG]

No, absolutely not. The pattern of the hat fabric matches up perfectly with the stain.

Then I’m going with sweat/oils. Some people have pretty aggressive variants.

 

[Chuckie69]

Then I’m going with sweat/oils. Some people have pretty aggressive variants.

That’s good info to keep a eye out for. I’ll have to avoid resting my head on the seat back as well without a hat or something in the summer time.

 

[WilliamG]

That’s good info to keep a eye out for. I’ll have to avoid resting my head on the seat back as well without a hat or something in the summer time.

I wouldn’t sweat it (pun intended). Most people have no issues. There’s always a few outliers with really aggressive sweat/oils or lotion they put in their hair. You’d know by now if you were one of those people because there would be other things in life you’d have destroyed.

 

[Bill Foster]

You can't leave a hat on a seat and you think that's OK ?

It’s it Tesla’s fault that the hat transferred dye?

 

[KenC]

Insect spray?

 

[Chuckie69]

So, the paper towel trick worked, and lo and behold the hat stained it. So, a little bit of liquid and it transfers dye.

The good news is that it enabled me to try different things to see if anything would get the dye out of the paper towel. The only thing I had any luck with was nail polish remover. So, armed with a small paintbrush and a bottle I carefully attacked the stain in the car one small spot at a time. Each time I’d finish a spot, I’d thoroughly clean the remover off of the seat. After a nerve-wracking eternity, I was able to get most of it to come out. There’s still some left but it’s a lot better than it was. Perhaps I’ll get up some more courage another day, but for now I’ll live with it.

 

[VT_EE]

So, the paper towel trick worked, and lo and behold the hat stained it. So, a little bit of liquid and it transfers dye.

The good news is that it enabled me to try different things to see if anything would get the dye out of the paper towel. The only thing I had any luck with was nail polish remover. So, armed with a small paintbrush and a bottle I carefully attacked the stain in the car one small spot at a time. Each time I’d finish a spot, I’d thoroughly clean the remover off of the seat. After a nerve-wracking eternity, I was able to get most of it to come out. There’s still some left but it’s a lot better than it was. Perhaps I’ll get up some more courage another day, but for now I’ll live with it.

You are brave using acetone. That stuff will dissolve all kinds of stuff. I used it once to attempt a scuff removal on a BMW plastic trim and it removed the plastic’s color.

 

[GeoX750]

It’s it Tesla’s fault that the hat transferred dye?

Yes, the touted stain-resistant seats should resist stains. The seats were not abused or exposed to anything unusual.

A ball cap was simply left on the seat.