Mess Happens. Color Transfer Shouldn’t.
You know what it’s like—your dog hops in the car after a muddy hike or your kids climb in straight from soccer practice. Mess? Expected. But what about your seat cover’s color rubbing off onto your seats or your clothes?
That’s where colorfastness comes in. At 4Knines, we take this seriously because protection isn’t just about spills—it’s also about keeping your car looking great over time.
So, What Is Crocking?
Crocking is the term for when fabric color rubs off onto another surface through friction. It happens when dye isn’t properly fixed to the fabric or when the material breaks down under wear and moisture.
- Dry Crocking: Color rubs off when the fabric is dry—like from sliding across the seat.
- Wet Crocking: Color transfers when the fabric is damp—like after a rainy hike or wet paws.
If your seat cover crocked easily, you'd see stains on light-colored seats or even your pet's fur. Not cool.
How Crocking is Tested
To make sure our fabrics perform in real life, we test colorfastness using an industry-standard tool called a Crockmeter, based on the AATCC TM8-2016e method.
It simulates rubbing under controlled conditions—both wet and dry—and grades the resulting staining using the AATCC EP2 Gray Scale:
- Grade 5: No staining (best)
- Grade 1: Heavy staining (worst)
The test is done under strict conditions: 21°C ±2°C and 65% ±5% humidity, simulating real-world environments.
4Knines Test Results: We Don’t Just Look Good. We Stay That Way.
| Fabric | Dry Crocking | Wet Crocking |
|---|---|---|
| 600D Oxford | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| K9-Shield™ | 4.0 | 4.0 |
These scores are considered excellent for automotive-grade materials. You get long-lasting color that won’t fade or rub off under normal use—even when things get messy.
Industry Comparisons
- ACT Guidelines: Dry ≥ 4.0, Wet ≥ 3.0 for acceptable upholstery fabric
- Many Commercial Standards: Consider 4.0 dry and 3.0 wet acceptable
4Knines exceeds or matches these marks—our 600D scores a strong 4.5/4.5, and K9-Shield™ holds its own with 4.0/4.0. That’s elite-level protection from color transfer.
What “Colorfast” Really Means
Even fabrics labeled as “colorfast” can still transfer dye under certain conditions, especially when exposed to prolonged moisture, heat, or friction.
“Colorfast” typically means the dye resists fading or bleeding under standard conditions like washing or light exposure.
It doesn’t guarantee resistance to all forms of stress—especially prolonged dampness, sweat, or pressure.
Situations That Can Override Colorfastness
Extended moisture exposure: Water can weaken dye bonds over time, especially in humid environments or when damp clothing sits on upholstery for hours.
Body heat and sweat: Heat accelerates dye migration, and sweat contains salts and acids that can break down dye-fiber bonds.
Friction: Repeated rubbing (e.g., sitting or leaning) can mechanically transfer dye, even from “colorfast” fabrics.
Chemical interactions: Cleaning agents, lotions, or even air pollutants can react with dyes and reduce their stability.
Time: The longer the rubbing or contact continues, the more opportunity for dye to transfer. Even low-pressure contact, if prolonged, can cause minor color transfer, especially on fabrics with poor fixation
Pressure: The more force applied when rubbing fabric against another surface, the more likely dye will transfer. This is especially true for wet crocking, where pressure can push loose dye particles out of the fabric and onto other materials (like leather seats or clothes).
Real-World Example:
If a damp dog lies on your seat cover for 30 minutes, and shifts around, there’s more crocking potential than if they hop in and out quickly. Add in pressure (like a pet sitting or shifting weight), and the chance of color rub-off goes up—even with well-dyed fabric.
In short, just like with waterproofing, crocking isn’t absolute—it’s about resistance. At 4Knines, our fabrics are tested under controlled conditions to ensure they resist crocking under everyday use. And we test both wet and dry so you’re covered in real-life situations. We recommend cleaning and drying your product as soon as it is exposed to moisture to ensure the best results.
Why Testing Matters (And Why Most Brands Don’t Do It)
At 4Knines, we don’t just design premium products—we test them to prove they perform. Every fabric we use goes through third-party lab testing for colorfastness, waterproofing, and durability. Why? Because we build our seat covers from the ground up with care and quality in mind.
Most other companies don’t even know what tests like AATCC crocking are, let alone how their products would score. They copy-cat designs, skip the science, and hope for the best. That means when you buy from them, you’re taking a gamble.
But when you buy from 4Knines, you can be confident you’re getting a product that’s been engineered, tested, and proven to perform. We don’t cut corners—and your seats won’t pay the price.
