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Mad Scientist Puts YES Essentials to the Test
Mar 27 2008 by Sara Lacey
3/27/08
Fabric Holds Up Well to Stains and Smells
My son, Liam, recently told us he wants to be a scientist. He only panicked when, post announcement, my husband and I listed all the types of scientists he could be; he thought he was going to have to pick one right there on the spot. With that new career aspiration in mind, he was thrilled when I got a nifty YES Essentials test kit from my boss.
YES Essentials is a fabric upholstery offered in Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles that claims to be stain-resistant, odor-resistant and anti-static. I couldn’t wait for my mad scientist to get his hands on it.
The kit came stocked with all kinds of YES-related supplies, including two small vials, one containing a piece of non-YES fabric that had spilled milk on it and another with a piece of YES fabric with spilled milk on it. The non-YES fabric vial was horribly stinky (and I hate to confess it, but I recognized it as a familiar smell). The YES fabric vial smelled like … no, you guess. That’s right, it smelled like nothing! Liam loved running up to any victim willing to participate in the experiment, waving the vials saying, “Smell this! Now smell this! Isn’t it GROSS?!”
The mad scientist aspect, however, came into play with the kit’s fabric and carpet samples and its host of stain-making substances. Soy sauce, ketchup and relish were offered up as the stinky offenders, and given that my son has a penchant for anything scientific or experimental, I figured we could bond over some legal mess-making. Watch the video above to view our trial.
Ultimately, the YES Essentials fabrics performed pretty well, though it took a lot of elbow grease to get the smell completely out of the ketchup sample. The relish sample wasn’t as bad, possibly because it didn’t soak in as much. A week later, it smelled brand new. My favorite sample was the soy sauce on the carpet — it beaded up and refused to go anywhere until my son insisted he needed to wipe it extra hard. If coffee were spilled on that carpet, a dry paper towel would be all you needed to eliminate the evidence. What’s more, you can order YES Essentials floormats for your car, meaning you don’t need to buy a new Chrysler car to get it.
All that said, while I did like the YES Essentials fabric, I’m not sure I’d sacrifice leather, or even faux leather, for it. If leather — faux or otherwise — isn’t an option, ditch regular fabric. Your next-best bet is YES.
User Comments
The fabric is neat in its ability, but I don’t like it in the car. It’s too rough or weird feeling. I prefer the plusher seat fabric. My home carpet cleaning machine can clean car interiors with the hose attachment and I’ve never encountered anything that wouldn’t come out yet - as long as it hasn’t set in for several days.
Oooh, interesting point L. They did not have a sample I could sit on (with any efficacy anyway). If I get a test car with it, I’ll note the fabric texture.
I want to know if there is anyone else out there that has the 2008 chrysler town and country that is spending to much time cleaning the light slate fabric color. we have had our van since october of 2007 and the front passenger seat looks like someone threw up on it no matter how i try to clean it. i wonder if i am doing something wrong, i use oxi clean should i be using just soap and water. i’m not happy with the interior at all and may opt to get seat covers. can anyone relate to this? yes i agree it doesn’t smell but did the stains actually come out?
THANK YOU, Sandra!! We, too are having the problem with the fabric. It looks like someone has spilled, though no one has! If I clean the spots with a cloth and water, you have to clean the WHOLE seat and be sure to wet the fabric equally, or it leaves bigger spots!
I don’t know how to clean this fabric. HELP!
I will try my carpet steam cleaner…
I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 with the Yes Essential fabric seats. I haven’t spilled ketchup on it, but I my passengers have dumped everything on it from french fries to MCd’s orange drink. nothing sticks to it (except gum….) and it doesn’t seem to stain, absorb liquid or pick up mysterious gray/black spots from past sticky spills. The only thing I haven’t done is try and hose the seats off.. no retained smells at all either. also no static in the dry cold winters. Altho I am defininately a fan of leather, this fabric breathes well, so no damp shirtbacks in august here in east texas!
Yes, I have it in my Pacifica and I used my carpet cleaner and you can see all the water marks… Any suggestions this fabric has been horriable. I wont let anyone have any food or liquids in my car due to the marking just from water.
As an auto detailer for over 20 years, this type of fabric should be pulled of the market. It is terrible to clean, if it ever comes clean. Never seen such a load of crap.
Your only chance is to make sure your seats are always vacuumed and you wipe up the stain instantly. Never seen any fabric get stained from water and the stain can not be removed without a lengthy, costly process.
What is it that is suppose to make the Yes Essentials fabric stain resistant ? Is it a chemical treatment or is it the fabric itself? If it’s a chemical treatment, what exactly is it ? Is it safe for people, pets and the environment ? Are the chemicals persistent in the environment like Teflon ?
Sara - that video rocks!
Yes Essentials fabric is one of my favorite technological developments - I played with it once, kind of like Liam did, and thought I could wreck it. I was pleasantly surprised!