What's your can't-miss approach for salt in carpet?

[oneheadlite]

As the title says, what's your can't miss method for tackling salt crust and stains in carpet?

My new daily has a fair dose of it on the driver's side that I've gotta address. I've heard of diluting vinegar into warm/hot water, what ratio do folks use? I've also heard of pounding the carpet for big buildup to help break the bond to the carpet.

Looking forward to some advice to make the task a bit easier to get through.

Relevant Tools/materials on hand: Carpet brushes (drill and standard), Tornador black, Carpet shampoo'r (full size Rug doctor style + little bissel spot bot), Optimum MDR (not sure if anyone's ever used it on carpet, just throwing it out there). Griot's interior cleaner, Citrus multi-surface cleaner. APC.

No steamer, though I've considered it (just so hard to justify...); no formal extractor.

[MisterSnoop]

I used 50/50 warm water/vinegar on my floor mats.

[The Guz]

[Danube]

I usually use any APC that I have at hand.

Also, a stain removing liquid that my wifey use in the laundry for dirty kids clothing works fine as well.

Many options out there.

[MisterSnoop]

I will add that vinegar does leave a smell behind. With floor mats, you can let them air out outside the car (unlike carpeting).

[oneheadlite]

I will add that vinegar does leave a smell behind. With floor mats, you can let them air out outside the car (unlike carpeting).

Yeah, I’ve been in customer cars where you can tell they did the vinegar treatment. Feels like you’d need to follow it with an odor eliminating carpet cleaner, though being mindful to not over-saturate the carpet.

PSA: Remember there’s frequently wiring and control modules down there! (Not to mention the ill effects of leaving too much moisture in the carpet padding).

One of the videos that made me stop watching detailing videos - the guy sprayed purple power all over the carpets, and had so much water sprayed in there you could see puddles of liquid as he was scrubbing it with a brush. As a technician, Having dealt with the aftermath of water under carpets and what happens when it gets into splices and such, that was a heck-no for me…

[oneheadlite]

Well, with an absence of free time to play around, I ordered a bottle of Salt Chisel to try out at Guz's recommendation.

Had a chance to spray it in a corner just to see how it works as well as see if it has any kind of odor - was pleasantly surprised that it seems like it's really going to work. And the biggest benefit (and truthfully the reason I went this route vs DIY vinegar treatment) - really no odor to note.

When I have a chance to really sit down with it I'll be sure to get some before and after pictures and share more of a write up on it.

[BlakeC]

Best preventative. WeatherTechs . 6 winters no salt.


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[MidnightNarwhal]

Best preventative. WeatherTechs . 6 winters no salt.


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Ha I wish... on my BMW E92 the WeatherTechs really aren't that great. I got them last year and still a lot of salt in the same areas I had with the BMW rubber winter mats.

[BlakeC]

Sorry to hear. I’ve had WT floor liners in the last 4 Lexus RXs and they have protected my carpets perfectly.


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