Some cars come with seat warmers, which heat up the seat at the push of a button. In some cars, just the bottom of the seat warms up. In other cars, both the bottom and back of the seat warm up.
Heated seats can get wet when rained on or through spillage of liquids. The main concerns for drivers are that water could either cause an electric short-circuit or shock the person seated. The element is insulated and thus, water can’t easily penetrate.
While it’s natural to harbor such concerns, the protective cover around the heating element is near impenetrable. Read on to find out more about the chances of water causing damage or injury on a heated car seat.
Can You Seat on a Heated Car Seat in Wet Clothes?
When you’ve just left the beach or your local swimming pool some of your clothes may still be wet. Especially if you didn’t change into dry clothes. It’s also possible to get into the car straight from the rain.
Car manufacturers take into consideration such scenarios when installing heated car seats. For example, most heated car seats are vented. They have small holes which allow water to drip over to safe areas free of electrical components.
Nonetheless, a little dampness is no cause for concern. However, if you’re dripping wet it would be more prudent to proceed with caution. Some steps you could take include:
Seat on a folded dry towel to absorb the dripping water.
Remove your dripping outer clothing before you seat, then turn on the car seat theater and the set the a/c to a high temperature so you don’t catch a cold.
Make your trip short so you can get a chance to dry off or change clothes before getting back into the car.
Turn up the heater to a high temperature for the first few minutes. However, beware of prolonged heating at high temperature. There might be some risk of getting “toasted skin syndrome, also known as erythema ab igne.
Dry the seat with a hair blow dryer as soon as you can.
How Can You Dry a Wet Heated Car Seat?
There are many ways your heated car seat can become wet. At best, someone spilled a sip of water on the seat. At worst, you left your window open in a rain storm. For even the worst-case scenario, there are several ways you can dry out a wet heated car seat. These include:
Use Dry Towels
Dry towels absorb water without creating smudges or having to spill water to the floor of the car. Find a few towels made out of absorbent material such as cotton. Microfiber towels work great too, though they typically come in smaller sizes than your regular bath or beach towel.
Use a Shop Vacuum
Shop vacuums, also known as wet/dry vacuums, are high powered vacuum cleaners that can suck up water and large debris. They can suck up bucket loads of water without splashing all over the rest of the car.
When using a shop vacuum, make sure you do both vertical and horizontal runs so you get all the water.
Turn On the Fans
Cars have in-built fans that can be useful for drying out the damp interior. If there’s not too much water on the heated car seat and other areas, leaving your fans on and leaving the doors open for a while can dry out the moisture.
In most cases, the fans can dry out the interior of the car in between 30 to 60 minutes. Select the highest temperature setting, especially if you won’t be waiting inside the car. Put the fans on the fastest settings for quick results.
Use a Dehumidifier
If you won’t be using the car for some few hours, you can leave a dehumidifier running inside. It works slower than fans but will likely leave you with a fresh-smelling car. The dehumidifier not only dries out the dampness but also helps avoid the growth of mold and removes any smell of dampness.
Air Dry the Car
For slight dampness you can leave the car doors open to let the moisture dry off naturally. This works well in the daytime if you’re parked in a safe area.
You can add floor fans from your home or office. Stand them near the doors and put them on full blast. The air circulation will help dry out the whole interior, not just the wet heated car seats.
Can You Wash a Heated Car Seat?
Yes, you can wash your heated car seats just like you wash regular car seats. If you’re using
water, just use a damp cloth. Do not directly pour water onto the car seat.
Even though pouring a little water isn’t likely to cause damage, it might be tougher to dry off compared to when you wipe the car seat with a damp cloth.
Can You Steam Clean Heated Car Seats?
Using steam not only helps in removing stains, dirt and grime, but also works to disinfect the seats. Moderate steam isn’t likely to get to the electric component or damage them in any way.
However, avoid the fuses and plugs. The seat heater’s plugs are normally located under the seat, so there’s little chance the steam will get that far.
Once you’re done steam cleaning, leave the doors or windows open for a few minutes to let the water evaporate out. Leaving the car closed can result in condensation which may leave the car interior damp.
Can You Shampoo Heated Car Seats?
Yes, you can and should regularly shampoo your heated car seats without fear of damage or electric shock. Just be careful not to used too much water or shampoo. Also, act to dry out the car as soon as you finish shampooing.
Shampooing is one of the best ways to deep clean your car. It works to remove stubborn stains and grime while leaving your car smelling fresh. You should shampoo your car seats even more regularly if:
You frequently snack or drink inside the car.
You normally have dirt or mud on your shoes.
You regularly carry pets in your car. Shampooing works great in removing animal smells and fur.