If you drive to the beach regularly in Australia, the inside of your car tells the story. Salt water on the upholstery. Sand embedded in the seat fabric. Sunscreen on the headrests. By the end of summer, every beach trip has left its mark.
Most people manage this by draping a beach towel over the seat. It slides around. It only covers the cushion, not the back. It has no water-resistant backing, so moisture soaks straight through to the upholstery regardless. A beach towel was designed to dry you off, not protect a seat. Will and Wind car seat towels were designed specifically for this job.
Shop the Will and Wind car seat towel range. 7 designs at $99.99 each.
How Will and Wind car seat towels are built
The front: soft rPET microfibre. The face of every Will and Wind car seat towel uses the same microfibre as our travel towels: 80% recycled polyester (rPET) and 20% polyamide. It absorbs up to four times more water than standard cotton, which means wet swimmers are not sitting in a puddle for the drive home. It is quick drying, comfortable directly against skin, and the same loopless construction that makes our travel towels sand resistant applies here too.
The backing: water-resistant and non-slip. The polyamide backing stops moisture from reaching the seat surface underneath. Sand, sunscreen, sweat and salt water do not pass through it. The non-slip finish grips the seat so the cover stays in position when passengers shift around or get in and out repeatedly.
The hood: slips over the headrest. The hood at the top slips over the headrest, keeping the cover in place and ensuring both the seat back and the seat cushion are covered simultaneously. One product, full coverage, no adjusting mid-drive.
The elastic strap. When not in use, an elastic strap keeps the cover rolled up neatly. It fits in the door pocket, the boot or the matching drawstring bag included with each cover. Light and compact enough to keep in the car permanently without taking up meaningful space.
16 recycled plastic bottles per cover. Every car seat towel repurposes 16 post-consumer plastic bottles through GRS-certified manufacturing. For the full rPET story, see our what is rPET guide.
What Will and Wind car seat towels protect against
Wet swimmers after the beach or pool. Salt water and chlorine both degrade upholstery over time. The water-resistant backing prevents either from reaching the seat. The absorbent microfibre front means passengers sit comfortably rather than in a wet patch for the drive home.
Sand. Sand embedded in seat fabric acts as an abrasive. Every time a passenger moves, fine particles grind against the upholstery. Over a summer of regular beach trips, this causes real and visible wear, particularly on fabric seats. The car seat towel stops sand from reaching the seat surface. For the wider strategy on keeping sand out of the car after beach days, see how to keep sand out of your car and sand free beach essentials every family should own.
Sunscreen. The microfibre front absorbs sunscreen residue from skin before it contacts the seat. For stubborn marks, a brief pre-treatment with dish soap before a cold machine wash removes most sunscreen residue effectively.
Post-gym sweat. The same cover works after a gym session. The quick-drying microfibre handles sweat without staying saturated, and the water-resistant backing keeps moisture off the seat below.
Pets. Muddy paws, wet fur and pet hair are all handled by the same water-resistant construction. The non-slip backing stays in position even when a dog moves around on the seat.
How it fits: cars, boats and sun loungers
The hood slips over most standard car and 4WD headrests and the universal fit covers the seat back and cushion of most standard vehicles. If your seat has an unusually deep bucket shape, minor adjustment may be needed. Beyond the car, the cover works equally well on boat seats, protecting the upholstery from wet, salt and sun on the water. Customers also use them on sun loungers at pools and resorts as a quick-dry, comfortable surface. For guidance on choosing the right format, see the car seat beach towel: how to choose the right one.
Why a purpose-built car seat towel beats a regular beach towel on the seat
A beach towel draped on a seat slides when passengers move, covers only the cushion or the back rather than both, and has no water-resistant backing so moisture soaks through regardless. A Will and Wind car seat towel has a hood that keeps it secured over the headrest, covers both surfaces simultaneously and has a fully water-resistant backing that stops moisture reaching the upholstery.
For the detailed comparison, see towel on car seat: why a proper one makes all the difference. For the family-specific case, see why car seat towels are a must-have for beach-loving families. For the broader post-beach car protection picture, see how to protect your car after beach days.
The 7 designs
Every Will and Wind car seat towel carries an original Australian photography design. Current designs: Ningaloo from Above (by Violeta Brosig of Blue Media Exmouth), Leopards Yin Yang, Kimberley, Heart Reef, Kalbarri, Whale Shark and Green Sea Turtle. For the stories behind each location and photographer, see the Our Photographers page.
Will and Wind is a named partner of the Australian Marine Conservation Society. For the conservation story behind the designs, see marine conservation in Australia: why we care and what you can do.
What customers say
"I bought the car seat towels after seeing them in a friend's car. I am so happy with them. They are very good quality and so easy to put on and off. Highly recommend."
"Love these towels, so worth the wait. Have come in so handy from the moment we got them, travelling Australia and stopping at the hot springs, can jump straight in the car and not worry about our seats getting wet. They dry so fast so they are fantastic and look so good."
"LOVE LOVE LOVE. Great quality, soft, pretty prints, non-slip. What more can you ask for? Great for beach days or saving your seats from getting dirty. I bought 2 sets for myself and another couple for family members."
Storage and care
When not in use, roll up with the elastic strap and stow in the door pocket, boot or the included drawstring bag. Cold machine wash, mild detergent, line dry out of direct sunlight. No fabric softener as it reduces the microfibre's absorbency over time. No tumble drying on high heat. Full instructions at the product care page.
The complete post-beach car kit
Car seat towels handle the seat. For the rest of the car: floor mats, the shake-out routine before loading and footwells. See how to keep sand out of your car. Pair car seat towels with Will and Wind travel towels: the sand free loopless microfibre sheds sand on a shake before the towel goes anywhere near the car. For the full family beach day planning guide, see the ultimate beach packing list.
Frequently asked questions
What are Will and Wind car seat towels made of?
The front is 80% recycled polyester (rPET) and 20% polyamide, the same microfibre as our travel towels. The backing is water-resistant non-slip polyamide. Each cover repurposes 16 recycled plastic bottles through GRS-certified manufacturing.
How does the car seat towel stay in place?
A hood at the top slips over the headrest, keeping the cover in position on both the seat back and the cushion. The non-slip water-resistant backing also grips the seat surface.
What size are Will and Wind car seat towels?
Designed to fit most standard car and 4WD seats. They also fit most boat seats and many sun loungers.
Will they protect leather seats?
Yes. The non-slip backing holds the cover without scratching or marking leather. The water-resistant backing means salt water, sunscreen and sweat do not reach the leather surface underneath.
Can they be used for pets?
Yes. The water-resistant cover handles muddy paws, wet fur and pet hair. The non-slip backing stays in position even when a dog moves around on the seat.
How do I wash my car seat towel?
Cold machine wash, mild detergent, line dry. No fabric softener, no tumble drying on high heat. Full instructions at the product care page.
Can car seat towels be used on a boat or sun lounger?
Yes. The same water-resistant construction works on boat seats and sun loungers. The universal fit suits most seating surfaces beyond the car.
How do I store it when not in use?
Roll up with the elastic strap and stow in the door pocket, boot or the included matching drawstring bag. Compact enough to live in the car permanently.
Shop Car Seat Towels | How to Choose a Car Seat Beach Towel | What Are Car Seat Towels?