Advice on 42 Year Old Carpet Cleaning

[Jack C.]

Has anyone used the Dry formulas or is the conventional water based cleaners perferred? I'm trying to avoid any damage to the original carpets.

Thanks

[Alexander C.]

Re: Advice on 42 Year Old Carpet Cleaning

I'm also curious. I have 3 grease spots that dripped from the back of the tach onto my carpet. I'm wondering how to clean the black grease without discoloring the carpet...

[Steven B.]

Re: Advice on 42 Year Old Carpet Cleaning

I tried cleaning the light beige carpet on our Suburban with the dry and it did not work as well as I had hoped so I tried the foam in a can and same result. Finally I spoke with the professional carpet cleaners who did our house carpet (I also wait to ask directions) and they did it with their steam system, removed all of the soil and stains without soaking the carpet and they had special equipment (smaller heads) for vehicles. They also sprayed a protectant on the carpet, similiar to Scotch Guard.

Steve

[Jack C.]

Re: Advice on 42 Year Old Carpet Cleaning

Thanks Steve.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Advice on 42 Year Old Carpet Cleaning

If you can get a carpet cleaning shop to do this, best. If not you can get close with hot water and a shop vac. In either care...

Then you need to do this on a 100 degree day and let the car bake for a couple for days to cook all the moisture out of the matting under the carpet.

[Alan S.]

Re: Advice on 42 Year Old Carpet Cleaning

Hi Jack,
I caution you to be very careful with your old carpet physically too, not just chemically.
I recently put some of my 71's original carpet back in place and was surprised how fragile it had become; both dry and brittle.
So, just suggesting caution.
Regards,
Alan

[Jack C.]

Re: Advice on 42 Year Old Carpet Cleaning

Thanks Alan. Since we are into the colder months, doing a full steam job is out of the question. I'll give a light dry chemical in a sample area and report back with the results.

[Paul J.]

Re: Advice on 42 Year Old Carpet Cleaning

Jack,

I've never had much luck with dry cleaners on automotive carpets. I'd either use wet chemicals or just good old soap and water. When the stains are bad enough, I've used the hand held attachment from the household carpet machine. I've also taken carpets out and cleaned them with soap and the hose, and once I even soaked them in the kids bathtub (don't tell my wife!).

The fibers and backing get brittle with age, so the physical scrubbing action is probably harder on it than the chemicals. Just be sure that you wash all of the chemicals out.

Paul

[Stephen R.]

Re: Advice on 42 Year Old Carpet Cleaning

I used Ivory liquid dish washing soap. Figured if it can cut bacon grease, might work on grease stains on the rug. It did, grease disappeared.

[Edward J.]

Re: Advice on 42 Year Old Carpet Cleaning

I have used Dawn dish washing liquid with a tooth brush or nylon brush with good results.

[Richard G.]

Re: Advice on 42 Year Old Carpet Cleaning

I am unsure about the dry formulas for cleaning.
However I know how many of the detailing shops clean the soiled carpet. They remove it and hang it vertical and hot water pressure wash it with soap. Now I am not sure I would recommend this treatment for a 40 year old carpet. However I have used it extensively and never had an issue.
(1100psi) I have had what looked like unusable carpeting come out remarkably better. I have used it on newer slightly soiled carpeting and it came out like new.
Rick