Would like to clean my seats,carpets but what's best to use to clean them ? Never been cleaned since 2005 and front seats are sort of dirty. I'd hate to spend big bucks on an interior detailing.
Interior shampoo etc
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Traditionally, what I've done is rent a Rug Doctor and its upholstery tool, and used whatever branded chemicals they sell. It's always done the trick for me.
Originally Posted By: Garak
Traditionally, what I've done is rent a Rug Doctor and its upholstery tool, and used whatever branded chemicals they sell. It's always done the trick for me.
This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The rug shampoo used in these machines seems to be safe for the car. I have never had a problem.
Traditionally, what I've done is rent a Rug Doctor and its upholstery tool, and used whatever branded chemicals they sell. It's always done the trick for me.
This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The rug shampoo used in these machines seems to be safe for the car. I have never had a problem.
I just use the upholstery tool on everything, make sure not to overdo the chemical, and take my time. When I had the old LTD, I used to give it the works once a year. For a $30 rental and $10 or $20 in chemical (even at the high Rug Doctor chemical prices), it's significantly cheaper than getting someone else to do it.
I'm not a fan of renting the rug doctor, so I bought a hoover rug machine at lowes on clearance for $89 a few years back.
Has an upholstery tool that does a good job.
I do both cars once a year, on a hot day. I park it overnight with the windows down in the garage (100 degrees in garage during summer). Rugs and upholstery are bone dry in two days.
Has an upholstery tool that does a good job.
I do both cars once a year, on a hot day. I park it overnight with the windows down in the garage (100 degrees in garage during summer). Rugs and upholstery are bone dry in two days.
I have had a BISSELL Little Green machine for years and its still going strong, it does a great job. the trick to getting better results with these is is to use hot tap water and Zep carpet cleaner solution, its much cheaper and does a better job.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/35702152?wmls...13=&veh=sem
http://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-128-oz-Premium-Carpet-Shampoo-ZUPXC128/100619255
https://www.walmart.com/ip/35702152?wmls...13=&veh=sem
http://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-128-oz-Premium-Carpet-Shampoo-ZUPXC128/100619255
Some car washes has a shampoo vacuum. Only $2 or $3 dollars.
The key to upholstry or carpet if you don't have pro tools is a brush. If you ever see the car wash guy who has to carpet clean, he's liberally using the brush to agitate the stain.
Then yes you could use any wet-vac equivilant whether it's a wet shopvac, a carpet cleaner, or something else.
Then yes you could use any wet-vac equivilant whether it's a wet shopvac, a carpet cleaner, or something else.
You could get away with a Rug Doctor or similar consumer-grade extraction machine first - however, the cleaning chemicals with these machines don't dry without a little bit of soapy residue, the pros use low/no sudsing cleaners or do an clean water rinse to pull out most of the surfactants.
The next step would be a rent a hot-water extractor from a tool rental shop.
But try a brush and either an all-purpose cleaner like Simple Green or a interior cleaner. I took a brush and rag with Griot's Interior Cleaner on my new(well my parent's old) car and it was able to take off coffee and makeup stains with a little work.
The next step would be a rent a hot-water extractor from a tool rental shop.
But try a brush and either an all-purpose cleaner like Simple Green or a interior cleaner. I took a brush and rag with Griot's Interior Cleaner on my new(well my parent's old) car and it was able to take off coffee and makeup stains with a little work.
10 years old and never been cleaned, you have your work cut out for you. I detail for a living so I have a dual vac hot water carpet extractor, steam cleaner, pro spotters, traffic lane cleaners etc. If I didn't have all the specialty tools to get interior cleaned, I would just hire someone to do it the right way.
Originally Posted By: nthach
You could get away with a Rug Doctor or similar consumer-grade extraction machine first - however, the cleaning chemicals with these machines don't dry without a little bit of soapy residue, the pros use low/no sudsing cleaners or do an clean water rinse to pull out most of the surfactants.
That's why I said to go easy on the chemical. I'd usually go over it a second time, like you mention, a clean water rinse, to get everything out.
You could get away with a Rug Doctor or similar consumer-grade extraction machine first - however, the cleaning chemicals with these machines don't dry without a little bit of soapy residue, the pros use low/no sudsing cleaners or do an clean water rinse to pull out most of the surfactants.
That's why I said to go easy on the chemical. I'd usually go over it a second time, like you mention, a clean water rinse, to get everything out.
I bought a '94 Ford E150 Conversion van with a wheelchair lift last year. I don't think the carpets in the front or back had ever been shampooed. I hoisted my Hoover Steam Clean & Vac into the van and went to work. Smaller areas such as the foot wells I used the upholstery attachments. Behind the front seats extending to the rear bench seat/bed I used the machine as you would in the home. I went through a gallon of solution and was pulling up black water even on the third slow pass! I stopped at that point as I was tired. Try tight quarters maneuvering in a wheelchair while using the shampooer/vac! It will get another thorough clean soon but the difference is huge! Hot water, scrubbing, good cleaner and vacuum extraction is the way to go. 
Carpet cleaning is about the chemicals. Forget about Rug Doctor type chemicsls. They are more formulated to be harmless to the machines and to leave a slight residue on your carpets to attract dirt so you need to rent the machine, buy more chemicals...etc. If you can get to or order from a janitorial supply house you will get stuff that was made to clean the filthiest commercial establishments greasy rugs.
I use a powder mix called Power Max and a hot water extractor with an all fiber rinse agentIt will make auto upholstery and carpets/mats like new with little effort .
I use a powder mix called Power Max and a hot water extractor with an all fiber rinse agentIt will make auto upholstery and carpets/mats like new with little effort .
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