White Seats Stain Very Easily

[yeahdave]

I know people say its crazy to get white leather in a car, but I really wanted them and people have been saying the Tesla seats are easy to clean if you put in some effort. So I have been extremely careful. I don't wear jeans almost ever. I wipe down the seat with a baby wipe almost daily. All was well. Until today.

It was raining and I was in my hospital scrubs. The same scrubs that get washed with really harsh chemicals a million times a year. Well when I got out of the car it looked like someone had done something unspeakable to a smurf.

These same scrubs don't transfer any color to my white coat even when wet. It was a crazy day so I didn't have much time to clean right then and there. I tried wiping it down with the baby wipes in my trunk and maybe 20% came off.

Since coming home I have tried several things with limited success.

More baby wipes - did nothing
Slightly warm water and dish soap - nothing
Lexol leather cleaner - nothing
Leather cleaner/conditioner combo - nothing
70% Isopropyl alcohol - Maybe a 10% effect
99% Isopropyl alcohol straight on - 70% effect

It is not as bad as it was before and probably wont show in pictures, but there is definitely a dusky/dirty haze compared to the passenger seat. Sucks...

Here is the seat manufacturer guide for others who will come across this:
https://www.ultrafabricsinc.com/sites/default/files/environment/Disinfectants_3-2018.pdf

People warn that magic eraser is sandpaper and not to use it. I will see how much it bothers me going forward, but I might have to.

Long story short: white seats + any moisture + any color = seat will never look the same

 

[TSLA Pilot]

Do we know, for sure, that the material used by Tesla is Ultraleather?

I like the document you provided, but can't validate that it applies to Tesla's interiors.

Also, please provide a picture of your seat--Tesla should know about this. You are far from the first person to get into a white Tesla interior with damp or wet scrubs, yet this is the first post on the subject?

My wife wears scrubs often; never had an issue over the past 3 years, and this is with a Tesla white interior. Perhaps Tesla has changed the supplier?

Something is odd with this situation; please advise Tesla and ask them to escalate this ASAP.

Thanks!

 

[iCeMaNxLb]

yeahhhh that's why I didn't go for the white interior.........

i wear scrubs every few days ago - i went with Jaanuu or Wearfigs and they never stained anything (don't like any other brand of scrubs)

 

[JManangan]

Curious to find out the why the scrubs stained as well... Deciding between black or white myself when I order.

Unfortunate that it happened so soon after getting your car... ugh. Sucks. I use Cherokee Infinity scrubs.

 

[TSLA Pilot]

That's an excellent post.

To the poster with the stains: What brand of scrubs were you wearing?

Thx!

 

[Larryfl1]

This makes me rethink the desire to have the white interior.... my wife always has dye from the jeans on her current cars...currently a 1 year old Audi grey interior and we see the jean dye already....

I may have to go back to black

 

[iCeMaNxLb]

an option is to put a puppy pee pad on the seat when you all drive

 

[mgraff]

informative post and reinforces my decision to go with black interior.

 

[Bigriver]

I ceramic coated my white seats. They still look like day 1 a year and a half later. Something to consider for those, like me, who much prefer the white look.

 

[yeahdave]

I do think the scrubs have a big part of the blame. I have warn other colored dress pants and scrubs without issue. But the same wet scrubs did not stain my white coat even when I sat on the coat.

The point of my post was not to imply that literally everything will stain the seats. It was to say that the seats do in fact stain and when they do stain, it may not come off. They will particularly stain if there is any moisture and/or the garment has any dye/color or is new. This has relatively broad implications including right after the gym or when it rains. From doing research, this is not an isolated event. Others on the model 3 forums have had this too. It is a particular risk if the garment has moisture.

Stains that do not imbed (such as dirt) come off really easily with a baby wipe if cleaned right away.

I am going to get a "seat towel" that drapes over the chair for after the gym or when it rains. I will probably also get a leather ceramic coating kit. Otherwise I am going to just keep being careful. So far I don't totally regret getting white. The true test will be with girlfriends and their accessories/jeans/leather jackets etc

 

[ragedogg69]

I ceramic coated my white seats. .

I have seen so many applications of ceramic coating being used on a Tesla, I will believe anything at this point.

 

[jkoya]

I am going to get a "seat towel" that drapes over the chair for after the gym or when it rains. I will probably also get a leather ceramic coating kit. Otherwise I am going to just keep being careful. So far I don't totally regret getting white. The true test will be with girlfriends and their accessories/jeans/leather jackets etc

I bought neoprene waterproof seat hoodies/covers from Amazon for our Model 3. Was getting new tires mounted on new wheels on a rainy day and just wanted the extra protection for the white seats.

 

[myMY808]

I bought neoprene waterproof seat hoodies/covers from Amazon for our Model 3. Was getting new tires mounted on new wheels on a rainy day and just wanted the extra protection for the white seats.

I totally get why you’d do it, but doesn’t it defeat the purpose of getting those beautiful white seats if they are covered by neoprene seat covers?

My initial order was for the white seats. I changed it a few days later to black, realizing that I just won’t have the discipline or desire to constantly be cleaning those seats.

 

[TSLA Pilot]

I ceramic coated my white seats. They still look like day 1 a year and a half later. Something to consider for those, like me, who much prefer the white look.

Interesting.

Any details to share? Cost? Longevity? Etc.

Thx!

 

[Mr X]

I wear jeans almost everyday. 8,300 miles and my white seats look brand new with no stains


Don't know what you guys are doing to get these unremovable stains


No problems here


And there is no leather in the seats. They are synthetic/polyurethane.

I ceramic coated my white seats. They still look like day 1 a year and a half later. Something to consider for those, like me, who much prefer the white look.

Not necessary

 

[Lozzy]

I contacted my ceramic coat guy about this today since my car is already there. He actually talked me out of it and he had financial incentive not to FWIW.

 

[yeahdave]

I bought neoprene waterproof seat hoodies/covers from Amazon for our Model 3. Was getting new tires mounted on new wheels on a rainy day and just wanted the extra protection for the white seats.

Just be careful with these. The underside of the cover itself can stain the seats.

 

[yeahdave]

Interesting.

Any details to share? Cost? Longevity? Etc.

Thx!

From the research I have done, the two most common DIY ceramic coating kits that I have seen mentioned specifically in relation to Tesla white seats are:

CarPro CQuartz Leather
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00REX3LFM/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=AF1OLLMGUD71U&th=1

and

GYEON Quartz LeatherShield
https://www.amazon.com/GYEON-quartz...ds=ceramic&qid=1586309795&s=automotive&sr=1-9

 

[bchan911]

I bought neoprene waterproof seat hoodies/covers from Amazon for our Model 3. Was getting new tires mounted on new wheels on a rainy day and just wanted the extra protection for the white seats.

Just a warning if you chose to use seat covers. All Tesla models have seat-mounted side airbags. Using seat covers could restrict deployment of the air bags if a collision occurs. It can also reduce the accuracy of the occupant detection system. While having pristine seats is ideal, I just want you and your occupants to be safe in an event of an accident.

You can read up on the airbag locations and warnings on pages 43-46 of the Model Y owners manual.

Be safe!

 

[jkoya]

Just a warning if you chose to use seat covers. All Tesla models have seat-mounted side airbags. Using seat covers could restrict deployment of the air bags if a collision occurs. It can also reduce the accuracy of the occupant detection system. While having pristine seats is ideal, I just want you and your occupants to be safe in an event of an accident.

Thanks for the warning. The seat hoodies I purchased from Amazon only cover the face of the seat, similar to placing a towel on a seat. The sides and the back are open and not covered.