Black carpet, caked salt

**Lakeside Detail** · 05-06-2014, 03:34 PM

Hi guys, detailed a 2014 Ford Fusion today that went through a horrible Michigan winter with just the OEM all weather mats for protection, which is pretty much none. Black carpet with salt caked thick, maybe 1/8in. on some spots with no carpet visible.

I vacuumed while chipping away at it, removing as much as possible while dry. Then I hit it with the steamer lightly, and the carpet turned murky gray. I then extracted and dried the area. Then I used Folex, let it soak, brush lightly, extract, and dry. I repeated this 4 times. I would say the carpet is 90% clean.

On the worst salted areas a murky grey spot remained, but the carpet feels normal again. Do I just need to keep working it to get it perfect, brush harder, or did this much caked salt cause damage? I was kind of afraid to brush it really hard, the worst areas I thought could of been damaged from the salt.

I informed the customer about weather tech mats, he ordered them while I was still vacuuming.

**HD.Detailing** · 05-06-2014, 04:19 PM

use carpet brush on DA before any cleaning, be shocked how much that will remove

**kevin_1981** · 05-06-2014, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by HD.Detailing

use carpet brush on DA before any cleaning, be shocked how much that will remove

HD Detailing - Do you mean to use the brush while the carpet is still dry? I ask because my g/fs car has the same issue. An abudance of salt caked onto the floormats, as well as the seats! (she drives people around a lot, and instead of people putting their wet bags on the floor, they ended up putting them on the seat.

**parttimer** · 05-06-2014, 04:35 PM

Throw them in the laundry machine.

**Audios S6** · 05-06-2014, 04:42 PM

I use a similar method to the OP, but do not steam as it seems to just spread the salt.

Break-up, Brush and vac as much as possible. Then go straight to extraction. Pretreat with a mild acid, like citric acid or vinegar. Do the extraction a little at a time, it may take 3-4 times soaking a small section and extracting to clear it. If you try to do a large area and soak it, the salt migrates and you get the gray areas.

**HD.Detailing** · 05-06-2014, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by kevin_1981

HD Detailing - Do you mean to use the brush while the carpet is still dry? I ask because my g/fs car has the same issue. An abudance of salt caked onto the floormats, as well as the seats! (she drives people around a lot, and instead of people putting their wet bags on the floor, they ended up putting them on the seat.

yes

**Lakeside Detail** · 05-06-2014, 04:57 PM

Ill have to pick up some DA brushes. I don't have any yet. But, I think the bristles may just glide over caked salt. I tried to brush it pretty heavily at first and no salt was removed. I had to chip it away with a small sharp plastic scraper.

You think the stiffest DA brush would be best?

**EVOlved** · 05-06-2014, 04:59 PM

Rinsed mine with the pw that seemed to take care of it.

**Lakeside Detail** · 05-06-2014, 05:01 PM

That's a good idea, I thought about it. I need to make a buy a cone to prevent water overspray. I just don't go blasting a pw on customers interior. Maybe a short blast with a cone.