Unfortunately last winter's many icy days resulted in my tracking a lot of salt into my car on the driver's side interior. Looks like a small area was not protected by the floor mats. Was wondering what anyone would suggest to get the salt stains out of the carpeting and the factory carpet floor mat.
Interior salt stains
- Thread starter PeterGreen
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I would start with a cloth soaked in warm water, maybe some vinegar mixed in too. Wipe up as much as you can. Then i would use warm water and a shop vac. Works better in the summer so you can dry out the carpet.
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Originally Posted By: spasm3
I would start with a cloth soaked in warm water, maybe some vinegar mixed in too. Wipe up as much as you can. Then i would use warm water and a shop vac. Works better in the summer so you can dry out the carpet.
Vinegar just gets more Sodium into the mix, making the job harder. Use distilled water liberally.
I would start with a cloth soaked in warm water, maybe some vinegar mixed in too. Wipe up as much as you can. Then i would use warm water and a shop vac. Works better in the summer so you can dry out the carpet.
Vinegar just gets more Sodium into the mix, making the job harder. Use distilled water liberally.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
Also get a set of Husky Liner floor mats. I absolutely love mine, I have a different brand but same thing in my Jeep and my family now has 3 other sets.
Originally Posted By: HangFire
Originally Posted By: spasm3
I would start with a cloth soaked in warm water, maybe some vinegar mixed in too. Wipe up as much as you can. Then i would use warm water and a shop vac. Works better in the summer so you can dry out the carpet.
Vinegar just gets more Sodium into the mix, making the job harder. Use distilled water liberally.
Curious but how? there is no sodium in vinegar.
Originally Posted By: spasm3
I would start with a cloth soaked in warm water, maybe some vinegar mixed in too. Wipe up as much as you can. Then i would use warm water and a shop vac. Works better in the summer so you can dry out the carpet.
Vinegar just gets more Sodium into the mix, making the job harder. Use distilled water liberally.
Curious but how? there is no sodium in vinegar.
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Originally Posted By: HangFire
Originally Posted By: spasm3
I would start with a cloth soaked in warm water, maybe some vinegar mixed in too. Wipe up as much as you can. Then i would use warm water and a shop vac. Works better in the summer so you can dry out the carpet.
Vinegar just gets more Sodium into the mix, making the job harder. Use distilled water liberally.
Curious but how? there is no sodium in vinegar.
I am not 100% of the chemicals involved in either but vinegar and salt are both acidic. If you can neutralize the stain's PH it will make it easier to remove. I recommend renting a hot water extractor or saturating the stain in warm water and baking soda and using a shop vac to really suck out the stain. Might take a few tries. You're best bet is the hot water extractor. Rent it for a day and you can do any carpet you have in the house and clean up your cars. They are worth the cost.
Originally Posted By: HangFire
Originally Posted By: spasm3
I would start with a cloth soaked in warm water, maybe some vinegar mixed in too. Wipe up as much as you can. Then i would use warm water and a shop vac. Works better in the summer so you can dry out the carpet.
Vinegar just gets more Sodium into the mix, making the job harder. Use distilled water liberally.
Curious but how? there is no sodium in vinegar.
I am not 100% of the chemicals involved in either but vinegar and salt are both acidic. If you can neutralize the stain's PH it will make it easier to remove. I recommend renting a hot water extractor or saturating the stain in warm water and baking soda and using a shop vac to really suck out the stain. Might take a few tries. You're best bet is the hot water extractor. Rent it for a day and you can do any carpet you have in the house and clean up your cars. They are worth the cost.
Sodium chloride (salt) is not acidic, it is a neutral salt. And correct, vinegar does not contain sodium but neither will it somehow neutralize the salt. The suggestions to use water and extraction are correct, that is the only way to remove it.
Agh... nevermind. Maybe I was thinking of the Salt/Vinegar solution I use to remove rust. I have a gallon vinegar jug in the garage with NaCl marked on it, to remind me that it's a mix.
I was advised that Whip's Wax Road Salt Remover is a good product for this type of issue. I do not have any personal experience with the product since we do not get snow out here.
https://www.autoality.com/store/pc/Whip-s-Wax-Road-Salt-Remover-36-oz-p6952.htm#.WTiz1rpFwhc
https://www.autoality.com/store/pc/Whip-s-Wax-Road-Salt-Remover-36-oz-p6952.htm#.WTiz1rpFwhc
Originally Posted By: PeterGreen
Unfortunately last winter's many icy days resulted in my tracking a lot of salt into my car on the driver's side interior. Looks like a small area was not protected by the floor mats. Was wondering what anyone would suggest to get the salt stains out of the carpeting and the factory carpet floor mat.
Are you sure it's salt? Absolutely positive? 'Cause if not, then you would use a different method to clean out the stains.
Unfortunately last winter's many icy days resulted in my tracking a lot of salt into my car on the driver's side interior. Looks like a small area was not protected by the floor mats. Was wondering what anyone would suggest to get the salt stains out of the carpeting and the factory carpet floor mat.
Are you sure it's salt? Absolutely positive? 'Cause if not, then you would use a different method to clean out the stains.
I tried all sorts of methods, warm water, vinegar, carpet cleaners, stiff bristle brushes etc. The easiest and most effective, by a wide margin so far is this:
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