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xwrench3
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Aug 7, 2019, 4:20 AM
Post #1 of 9
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so, last week i ended up stranding myself in a water hole on a dirt road. i am still dealing with the mechanical issues, but i am getting close to being done with those (i hope!), and the next issue will be how to remove the wonderful "swamp water" odor that is radiating from the carpet. the carpet had about an inch of water laying in it for approximately 5 hours. so it got thoroughly saturated. i figured early on this would be a problem. so right away i removed as much water as i could by soaking it up with old towels, and then i squirted a pint of 91% isopropyl alcohol into each side of the carpet. the theory behind that was the alcohol would mix with the water, and help it evaporate, plus aid in killing bacteria. which i think it did. i ran 2 hi velocity fans pointing directly at the carpet for 4 days, at which point the carpet felt completely dry. thankfully, it has been very warm here to aid this process. the next day i rolled all the windows up (the vehicle sits in the driveway in direct sunlight) with hopes that the heat would also help evaporation. i checked on it a couple of times, and there was not a lot of moisture, so i feel confident the carpet and padding got totally dry. the odor i am getting smells like fresh dirt. thankfully not mold or mildew (that i am extremely allergic to). i figured i would take it to the car wash and vacuum the daylights out of it. i was also thinking about dousing the carpet with an alcohol/baking soda mix to aid in this, the alcohol to help the baking soda to penetrate deep into the carpet padding. and yes, i will remove the battery cable prior to adding the alcohol solution to the carpet. i would like to hear other ideas to help with this. thanks.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 7, 2019, 6:36 AM
Post #2 of 9
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Re: carpet cleaning
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None of that stuff is going to work. Much depends on what type of carpet backing you have. Many makes now use a plastic skin on the bottom of the carpet and backing and they use foam backing. This is done to protect the padding from getting wet from below. The problem now is if the carpet gets wet from the top, it seals the water in and there is NO WAY to ever dry it out. I had a Grand Cherokee with this that got flooded. I totally removed the carpet and put it on the roof of the truck in direct South Florida sun in the middle of summer for over a week and it never dried out.
If you are lucky enough to have a normal jute backing, you can get it dried out if you totally remove the carpet and in your case, wash it again with clean water and then put it outside with fans on it.
Nothing short of this will ever get rid of the moisture or the smell.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 7, 2019, 6:43 AM
Post #3 of 9
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Re: carpet cleaning
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This would be a total loss of a brand new vehicle you know? If you are going to fight the mechanical/electrical battles as they appear and this you'll never get the yuck out without removing the carpet IMO. It's sealed in an under it will grow till the cows come home type thing.
When time comes seek out an "ozonator" (sp?) can destroy odor for real and harsh on living who knows what in dirt. Detail shops might be lot of help with that.
Problems to expect included all sealed bearings and brake parts that were submerged. Air gaps inside wiring connections or items will suck in that junk to those things be a problem NOW or months later just know that,
T
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xwrench3
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Aug 7, 2019, 7:33 AM
Post #4 of 9
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Re: carpet cleaning
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yes, i know on a newer vehicle that has full coverage, it would be a total loss. and believe me, i would be HAPPY to go that route if i could. but this is a 19 year old vehicle, with 143,000 miles on it. and i am basically broke, so i have to deal with it. i can not realistically remove the carpet, due to more injuries than i care to list. if i could, i would, and just throw it in the trash. hmmmmmm, maybe i can hire my nephew to do that for me. then just throw down some removable carpet scraps to help with fighting the cold in Michigan winters. it will not be as warm as it would be with a full carpet and backing, but at least it would get the smell out, and i will not get sick.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 7, 2019, 7:48 AM
Post #5 of 9
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Re: carpet cleaning
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Removing the carpet is the ONLY way you will get rid of that smell and you have to remove the seats and console if it has one to accomplish that.
Also if you are allergic to mold as you say, the sooner the better.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Aug 7, 2019, 7:50 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 7, 2019, 11:02 AM
Post #6 of 9
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Re: carpet cleaning
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You didn't say what kind of car now just age and Michigan can relate to the rust scene. Spray bolts now in hopes of getting seats out from underside see the threads on some types.
Expect those to snap off and drill thru for new bolts. If you get that far just toss the carpet not sure you can clean most if plastic backed anyway. You can get stuff and redo it (I have) if determined but it's the only way if the mold goes to a bad type it would make you sick and most people is why they are a total loss new insured or not even not sold yet can't go that far. Said electrical anything also will suffer later if not just what you know now. It really stinks and ends the life of a vehicle, any age or value short of some insane one of a kind thing take every last thing apart and replace it new just not very practical.
If that old but still nice and rust free get another car just like it or put up with the maybe problems or combine two have lots of parts if that's practical at all,
T
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xwrench3
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Aug 17, 2019, 6:43 PM
Post #7 of 9
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Re: carpet cleaning
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well, i have to thank you guys, the carpet was indeed plastic or rubber backed, and the insulation underneath that was soaked all the way thru the interior. i got the last of it out today. and the truck smells so much better. now i have to find something to put down to help keep the cold from radiating in. the truck is pretty rusty, so i am not going to invest in a factory carpet set. i will try to find a carpet remnant, and slide that in in about 4 pieces.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 17, 2019, 7:28 PM
Post #8 of 9
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Re: carpet cleaning
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What i did with one of mine like that is remove the carpet and remove every bit of foam from the back. Then you can pressure clean the carpet and put it out in the sun. It will dry out with no smell.
Then you can buy some jute backing on a roll online very reasonable. You can cut the jute out to the floor pattern and glue the old carpet down to it.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 18, 2019, 2:42 AM
Post #9 of 9
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Re: carpet cleaning
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Just thoughts: Does it have to be carpet again at all? What about some other workable flooring type totally it's a rusted truck, Michigan - said I can relate to that rust (NE US about anywhere same) will be game over just over rust.
Moldable rubberized something that breathes? Stuff that might be used around swimming pools, indoor/outdoor product. Stuff used for entry matts homes or stores?
Do think of anything electrical to seating, consoles or hidden wiring that might be routed under flooring in vehicles you said truck 40 years worth were NOT real trucks would never put carpet in them rather carpet mats over whatever if wanted.
Whatever products you use have to tolerate all extremes there's almost glowing hot exhaust parts routed along the floor supposed to be insulated from burning the floor/other things do look shields are intact.
FYI from now just ages of combo of rust, road salt made type, metal and floor metal especially for this case: You'll lose in the long run now sped up by the flooding. Salts remain hidden in trapped areas next is open holes and quickly! The vehicle or machine of any type has to be worth a wild amount of metal work to justify the fix. 99% or more are not so figure on this the last season for this thing it's probably going to just be unreasonable to fight with this and other goofy problems brought on by flooding it,
Tom
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