Replacing Rear Seat Foam After Spill

[Rodrigo_Borgia]

We ran into an unfortunate situation with our Mach-E involving a gallon of homemade organic weed killer (vinegar, salt, and dish detergent). Long story short, the bottle tipped over in the back, and the cap came off, spilling quite a bit. While we’ve cleaned the cargo area and dried it out, the vinegar seeped under the rear seats, and now the foam bottom smells strongly of vinegar.

We’ve already lifted the rear seats (thanks to the repair manual) to air things out, but the smell persists. We’re considering removing the foam entirely to wash and dry it properly. However, the upholstery is held in place by a cord that looks tricky to loosen and tighten back up.

Has anyone tackled removing and reinstalling the rear seat foam before? Is it manageable to get the cord tightened back securely afterward, or does it risk not fitting properly again? Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

P.S.: Yes, the frunk would have been the better choice for the bottle! Lesson learned, though it’s not yet second nature to use it, especially after the recent update enabling the frunk opening from the Sync 4A screen.

 

[Siddgeir_8Ykc]

We ran into an unfortunate situation with our Mach-E involving a gallon of homemade organic weed killer (vinegar, salt, and dish detergent). Long story short, the bottle tipped over in the back, and the cap came off, spilling quite a bit. While we’ve cleaned the cargo area and dried it out, the vinegar seeped under the rear seats, and now the foam bottom smells strongly of vinegar.

We’ve already lifted the rear seats (thanks to the repair manual) to air things out, but the smell persists. We’re considering removing the foam entirely to wash and dry it properly. However, the upholstery is held in place by a cord that looks tricky to loosen and tighten back up.

Has anyone tackled removing and reinstalling the rear seat foam before? Is it manageable to get the cord tightened back securely afterward, or does it risk not fitting properly again? Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

P.S.: Yes, the frunk would have been the better choice for the bottle! Lesson learned, though it’s not yet second nature to use it, especially after the recent update enabling the frunk opening from the Sync 4A screen.

Yikes, vinegar has such a stubborn smell! Before fully removing the foam, have you tried an enzyme cleaner? They’re great for breaking down organic materials and might help neutralize the smell without needing to disassemble everything. As for the cord, I’ve heard it’s tricky but not impossible to reattach, you could use clamps or heavy-duty string to help pull it taut while you secure it. And yeah, I totally get the frunk hesitation, it takes time to adjust, but this might be the push you needed.

 

[Jumbo_13]

Sounds like a messy situation, but it is definitely fixable! I am so confident because I have replaced seat covers before, and honestly, removing the lower back seat foam isn’t as hard as it seems. Here’s what I would do:

1. Remove the seat cover carefully. That tricky cord can be loosened, but just take your time.
2. Dissolve baking soda in water and wash the foam. Squish it to make sure it soaks in. Baking soda is magic for odors, and it won’t hurt if some stay in the foam.
3. Sunbake the foam on a hot day. A thorough dry is key.
4. Clean the seat cover separately. Removing it now will save you headaches later.
5. If the foam’s too far gone, you can buy replacement foam from Ford or check local scrapyards. Recyclers are often connected online and can ship if needed.

Don't worry about re-covering, an upholstery shop can handle it in minutes. Have a bit of patience and I am sure you got this. Good luck!

 

[sherwin143!]

Replacing the seat covers in my last Mustang wasn't as hard as I initially thought. The lower back seat was surprisingly easy and I did it myself. Don't let the naysayers deter you.

If you need to patch the foam, a bread knife, some foam, and spray adhesive can do the trick. Alternatively, you could source replacement foam directly from Ford.

Finding a used seat from a scrapyard might be the most straightforward solution. Many scrapyards now have online networks, making it easier to locate the part you need.

Now, to clean the existing covers, I recommend a solution of baking soda and water. Gently squish the foam to allow the solution to penetrate. Don't worry if some baking soda residue remains. Sun-drying is a great way to dry them thoroughly.

If you prefer to avoid reupholstering yourself, many upholstery shops can strip the old covers and re-cover them once you've prepared the seats. It's a quick and easy solution if you're not comfortable tackling that part of the job. Goodluck!

 

[Lily_Shen]

Before fully removing the foam, have you tried baking soda and activated charcoal? I had a similar issue (not vinegar, but bad spill), and after blotting everything dry, I packed the seat foam with baking soda for a couple of days, then placed charcoal odor absorbers under the seat. It took a week, but the smell was gone without needing to remove the foam.