washing carpets

[br1gg5y]

If it will fit, can I get away with putting the carpet in the washing machine. Or will it just fall part?

Wife is ok with this, I checked first ;D

Or is it better /safer just to use the bath? and just put washing powder in the bath water.

If it makes a different it is a 1985 ford carpet. We have got a wet vac, but it won't get the really ground in dirt out.

[steveo3002]

gentle go over with the jet wash works well

soap em and let it sit for 10 mins , then jet wash going in several directions to lift the pile back

hang em in the sun and the come up like new

[ejenner]

The old upolstery cleaners from likes of Halfords ain't bad either - use in conjunction with other cleaning methods. I normally go for the one with the agitator brush on the top of the aerosol.

If it's still not good enough after the clean then there are carpet dye products you can get off bay of e which will brighten up your rug.

[Ratdat]

Back in the 80's I put some carpet from an Austin 1300 in a washing machine. All the pile came out and completely clogged the machine up. I was only 15 at the time. Mum wasn't best pleased.

If I want clean carpets these days I use a pressure washer and usually TFR.

[austinpowers]

If there's really grubby patches on the carpet then paint thiners soaked in to a rag then rubbed over the area will bring it up like new, used to do this a lot during my Long valeting career. Gos with out saying that you should do this in a well ventilated area and probably not a good idea to have rollup on the go at the same time.

[pauldaf44]

Hehe naughty trick but has worked for me in the past. Take one rattle can in the right colour spray from 1.5 times the distance you would spray a car. Then run the hoover over it. It will come up nicely but untill youve hoovered it 2 or 3 times will be a bit stiff. Worked lovely and hadn't faded 2 years later

[Ratdat]

Jun 1, 2010 21:58:46 GMT @pauldaf44 said:

Hehe naughty trick but has worked for me in the past. Take one rattle can in the right colour spray from 1.5 times the distance you would spray a car. Then run the hoover over it. It will come up nicely but untill youve hoovered it 2 or 3 times will be a bit stiff. Worked lovely and hadn't faded 2 years later

When I briefly worked for a valeters many moons ago, they used to do this with any cars that had black carpets. A quick dusting of satin black and they'd look like new. It lasts surprisingly well too.

[binboy]

I'm always cleaning carpets as I sell older cars for a living. The stuff I like the best is that 1001 household cleaner. I poor it straight on the heavy stains, then have a bucket of hot water with about 4 cap fulls of 1001 in and really work the foam in to the seats and carpets, then suck it up with a wet & dry hoover. Its hard work but can make a car look so much better.