Pre-test Spot Procedures



Diagnosis is the key, not guess work. Before using a cleaning product a detailer needs to know the material they are working on, what they are trying to remove and wither the product chosen is compatible with the material and will not damage it. With all cleaning products, always test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it won`t discolour or stain the surface, and ensure that the pH of the product is suitable for the material. As can be seen stain removal requires some knowledge of basic chemistry.



Read the product labels and manufacturers safety data sheets (MSDS) to obtain a basic idea of contents, pH levels etc. Depending on the pH of the product you use you should return the surface to neutral (pH 7.0) before you apply any dressing or protective products. Always select a chemical / cleaner that are biodegradable, environmentally friendly and safe to use by observing any precautions recommended so that they won’t harm you, your vehicle or the environment. Read the product labels and manufacturers safety data sheets (MSDS) to obtain a basic idea of contents, pH levels etc.



When spraying any surface with a liquid, it is always advisable to spray a small area first (test area) then allow to dry to make sure the solution does not react with the surface.



Providing the cleaning product selected is suitable, apply several drops of the selected cleaning solution in an inconspicuous area and rub gently with a clean, white micro fibre towel. Do not over wet. Use small amounts of the product and blot frequently, do not rub or use too much pressure. Do not use the product if it adversely changes your fabric`s colour or texture.



Different cleaning methods to remove two different types of contaminants



Hot water and liquid soap to remove water-soluble contaminants:

• Dirt, Mud

• Road Salt

• Latex Paint



Wax and Grease Remover to remove solvent soluble contaminants:

• Grease and Oil (Stoner’s Tarminator)

• Road Tar ditto

• Tree Sap ditto

• Bird Droppings ditto

• Wax and Polishes (DuPont PrepSol)

• Silicone ditto



a) Carpet and upholstery cleaning:



P21S Total Auto Wash is a Limonene (citrus) based cleaner and a good stain remover and is gentle on your carpet. Gently blot into the stain using a sponge; don’t frantically rub at the stain as this will only cause the stain to spread and may weaken the fibres. Rinse the sponge and blot with cool clean water, dry material thoroughly



A good place to start is to clean the carpet, floor mats and upholstery. This method of cleaning the carpets and upholstery first, will allow the most drying time between cleaning and the finishing of an interior detail.



Use a stiff brush to loosen any debris as a regular vacuum can leave contaminants behind attached to the fibres, when hot water and detergent is used with an extractor; this debris is loosened and removed with the water.



Most vehicle fabrics are comprised of nylon or olefin. Leather and wool (natural fibres) require more delicate care, and will be discussed later. Carpet and upholstery can be cleaned using three methods; hand cleaning, an orbital buffer with brush attachment or machine extraction. The hand cleaning method remains most popular due its low cost.



Realizing that carpet is a vehicles second largest surface area, your shoes may have dirt / grit on them, twisting and turning in one spot your embedding minute particles into the fibre, which in turn abrades the surface and wears it away. If this is the case there is no easy-fix other than replacement. Heated water breaks down water-soluble soiling faster, as it reduces overall chemical usage because it reduces the surface tension of the fibre. Heat acts as a catalyst promoting quicker reactions between chemicals and the soil.



Note- Use the hottest water available, it also helps to pre-spray the carpet with hot water



It is very important to ensure that the carpet / upholstery are very thoroughly rinsed, as the cleaners will pull (wick) the dirt to the surface. The soap and oils will attract dirt and oily grime like a magnet (re-soiling) if they are not thoroughly rinsed away giving the appearance that they have not been cleaned. Once the carpet is cleaned and dried a final vacuuming will remove any light moisture and give the carpet a finished / detailed look



Turn your orbital polisher into an interior shampooer, for its ease of use and high quality results it produces when shampooing carpeting and upholstery. Scrubbing by hand with a brush takes time and effort, the Ultimate DA Polisher Shampoo Brush is designed to fit all most orbital polishers, the 5/16 shaft easily screws directly into your polisher. Heavy duty built construction for long lasting performance



1. To hand clean carpet and upholstery



A heated carpet extractor is going to work much better than a shop wet-vac. You should be able to find a place in your area that rents these machines by the day. Cleaning interiors by hand is a labour intensive and time-consuming process.

• Before vacuuming use a stiff brush to loosen any debris as a regular vacuum can leave contaminants behind attached to the fibres

• Use a rubber bristle brush to go over the carpet material to raise the fibres

• Vacuum area very thoroughly (Metro Vac N` Blo®) to lift all the loose dirt from the carpet

• Remove any stains with a ‘spot’ remover (303™ Spot Remover & Cleaner)

• Spot treat really bad stains (303â„¢ Cleaner & Spot Remover or Woolite® Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam)

• Use a pre-cleaner solution, 10:1 distilled hot water/ P21S® Total Auto Wash, let solution remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react

• After sufficient remain in place time agitate pre cleaner solution with an upholstery brush to ‘friction scrub’ surfaces

• Mist spray surfaces with hot water

• Brush the carpet to raise the nap and loosen ground in dirt

• Remove the excess moisture, using cotton terry towels to blot the moisture, repeat until towels are ‘clean’ or use a Wet/Dry vacuum (preferably a carpet extractor system) and allow carpets / mats to thoroughly dry before use

• Once fabric is dry apply a fabric protection (303™ High Tech Fabric Guard)

Note: Use the hottest water available it also helps to pre-spray the carpet with hot water when hand cleaning carpets / mats



2. Using an orbital buffer (with a brush attachment)



• Before vacuuming use a stiff brush to loosen any debris as a regular vacuum can leave contaminants behind attached to the fibres

• Use a rubber bristle brush to go over the carpet material to raise the fibres

• Remove any stains with 303™ Spot Remover & Cleaner

• Spot treat really bad stains (303™ Cleaner & Spot Remover)

• Use a pre-cleaner solution, 10:1 distilled hot water/ Hoover Deep Cleansing Carpet/Upholstery Detergent or Woolite® Heavy Traffic Carpet) let solution remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react

• Agitate surfaces with a random orbital buffer (speed #4) and brush attachment, scrub carpet / fabric upholstery

• Mist spray surfaces with hot water

• Attach a terry-cloth bonnet and go over areas, changing the bonnets frequently

• Use a rubber bristle brush to go over the material to raise the fibres

• Remove the excess moisture, using a Wet/Dry vacuum or a carpet extractor in one direction only, do not scrub, allow carpets / mats to thoroughly dry before use

• Once fabric is dry apply a fabric protection (303™ High Tech Fabric Guard)



Note: Use the hottest water available it also helps to pre-spray the carpet with hot water when hand cleaning carpets / mats



3. Using a Carpet Extractor



A carpet extractor is a machine that uses a wand to inject water/cleaning solution deep into carpet fibres and then, as the wand is pulled back, removes the moisture from the carpet along with soils and contaminants.

Residual Moisture

Early carpet extractors put down considerable amounts of water/solution into the carpets, often as much as two gallons per minute. Unfortunately, the carpets could take a long time to dry, in some instances more than 48 hours. Because the drying time was so long, the development of mould, mildew, fungi, and other contaminants became a serious problem.



Low-Moisture Carpet Extractor



As defined by the Low Moisture Carpet Cleaning Association (LMCCA), this refers to any cleaning system that ensures carpets will dry within two hours or less at 65 percent relative humidity at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Note that this refers to any type of carpet cleaning system (shampoo, dry, bonnet, etc.). However, the most common carpet cleaning system used in cars, most and experts agree the most effective system overall in any type of setting is extraction.



A low-moisture carpet extractor will use a gallon of water or less per minute. This reduction in water use can be important to operators in drought-plagued areas of the country or where water conservation is a key consideration.

Pressure

Pressure levels can have a significant impact on cleaning performance and the most effective ways to clean different types of carpet, fabrics, and soiling situations.



Heat



Some carpet extractors use only cold water to clean carpets. Although this may work to an extent, it is not viewed as the most effective, expedient, and efficient way to clean carpets, upholstery, or other surfaces. Heat is one of the four fundamental factors, along with agitation, time, and chemical required in cleaning, according to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). When carpets are cleaned, heat improves the effectiveness of the cleaning chemicals in loosening and dissolving soils, making them more extract-able.



This may also mean less chemical is necessary, making the cleaning process environmentally preferable. The correct amount of heat along with the other fundamentals of cleaning will do more of the work, making the cleaning task easier for the operator.



An extraction system process is the choice of professional detailers due to its cost effectiveness, performance efficiency and time saving over conventional methods. Extractors work by using a cleaning solution dispensed from a tank that heats the solution to 200oF+ and is sprayed at medium pressure (50 PSI +) and a high volume from the machine via a cleaning wand; it is then filtered and re-circulated. The water is heated and pressurized, which produces a dry vapour. When the vapour leaves the nozzle it is then subjected to atmospheric pressure and expands (a phase change), vapour micro-molecules are able to penetrate the pores on any permeable surface. When the molecules come in contact with a surface they expand forcing any dirt, debris, and bacteria to the surface (steam vapour also kills bacteria) Dry vapour has a water content of about 5%, so the surface dries extremely quickly



Extraction also allows the ability to remove cleaning residues due to its high suction power (100-inch water gauge +). Rinsed fabrics look and smell cleaner and resist soiling better. I know ‘lesser’ machines may give the appearance of a clean interior, but in reality, the soil is being migrated the bottom of the carpet, this dampened soil will cause mould / mildew formation as the suction lift on lesser machines is pretty much non-existent. Mould uses enzymes to digest nutrients from organic materials, the mould forms on top of the material and also down into its fibres leaving circular or black spots in an irregular pattern Dirt and moisture are essential to mildew propagation



Pre-cleaner



a) Organic stain removal- quarter (1/4) cup Protein Stain Remover (topoftheline.com) / 1-cup 303â„¢ Cleaner & Spot Remover / one gallon hot water let remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react

b) Other stain removal- 10:1 distilled hot water/ P21S® Total Auto Wash, let solution remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react



Methodology

• Use a rubber bristle brush to go over the material to raise the fibres

• Vacuum area very thoroughly (Metro Vac N` Blo®) to lift all the loose dirt from the carpet Remove any stains with 303â„¢ Spot Remover & Cleaner

• Spot treat really bad stains (303â„¢ Cleaner & Spot Remover or Woolite® Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam)

• Use a pre-cleaner solution, 10:1 distilled hot water/ P21S® Total Auto Wash, let solution remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react

• After sufficient remain in place time agitate pre cleaner solution with an upholstery brush to ‘scrub’ surfaces

• Use a carpet extractor to clean and remove liquid and dirt. (Vapour Clean Products T5 Extractor / Spotter®)

• Use a 16:1 solution clean distilled hot water / Hoover Deep Cleansing Carpet/Upholstery Detergent or 303™ Cleaner & Spot Remover

• Use a rubber bristle brush going over the material to raise the fibres

• The next step would be to use its high-volume vacuum, in one direction only (do not scrub) to remove the excess moisture and grime, immediately recovering it.

• Allow carpets / mats to thoroughly dry before use

• Once fabric is dry apply a fabric protection (303™ High Tech Fabric Guard)



Notes:

1. Carpet cleaning is based upon methods recommended by the Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Institute (CUCI)

2. Use the hottest water available it also helps to pre-spray the carpet with hot water when hand cleaning carpets / mats

3. Run a 2:1 solution distilled water / distilled white vinegar thru the extractor either weekly, or after every ten fresh fills. Vinegar, contains Acetic acid, an organic carboxylic that will help eliminate scale, mild mineral deposits etc. from clogging your extractor.

4. Rug Renew from top of the line can revive stained or dirty fabric’s, you can use its super-concentrated formula diluted 5:1 with Distilled water as a spot remover, or dilute 20:1 in your extractor. Top of the Line Auto Detailing Supplies

5. Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover - removes spots and stains

6. Odour removal- adding 4 ounces Odor Terminator to each gallon of extractor solution

7. Clean interior glass after use to prevent spotting. ( Valugard Product Line)

8. Carpeted floor mats: Floor mats take a majority of the wear away from the interior carpet. However, this leaves floor mats with soiling as well as oily stains. Inspect for oily stains. Use a solvent-based spot remover to remove oily stains. Spot treat really bad stains (303â„¢ Cleaner & Spot Remover or Woolite® Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam)

Pour a small amount of cleaner onto a terry towel and wiping toward the centre of the stain to remove the spot. Clean normal to heavy soiling as described above. Floor mats may get as wet as necessary to properly clean them.



Stains



The first thing you should do upon discovering a stain is to act immediately. Don’t wait because heat and/or time will just cause the stain to set in deeper, do not over-wet, resist the urge to rub or wet it as this will make it much harder to remove.



Be patient, some stains respond slowly, some stains cannot be removed due to differences in fibres, dyes, construction of fabric, finishes, etc; this would also depend on the length of time the stain has remained on the fabric. Some stains will require professional treatment and/or re- dyeing.



Before deciding upon treatment, you should first access what ‘type’ of stain it is, before a stain can be removed the surface tension that bonds it must be released, then the stain encapsulated and held in suspension to be removed. With all cleaning products, always test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it won`t discolour the surface, and ensure that the pH of the product is suitable for the material.



Select a suitable stain removal cleaner and then use a solution of 20% stain remover and 80% distilled water, shaving cream or foam to remove stains from fabrics. Spray a small amount of the solution onto the stain. Wait for a few minutes, and then lightly scrub the stained area with a soft bristle brush or old toothbrush. Blot the area with a soft clean cloth



Food



Eating while you drive is one of the most distracting things you can do, according to several recent surveys by insurance companies and data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.



Insurance companies analyzing what people eat? And you wonder why we`re paying such high insurance rates. Anyway, here goes... the top 10 food offenders in a car are:

1. Coffee

2. Hot soup

3. Tacos

4. Chilli

5. Hamburgers

6. Barbecued food

7. Fried chicken

8. Jelly or cream-filled donuts

9. Soft drinks

10. Chocolate



Classifying stains



a) Organic stains- these include proteins and fats, body oils, mould yeast, bacteria, bugs and carbohydrates. Most of the stains found in the vehicle interior are of an organic nature and require an alkaline type cleaner. Some organic stains (i.e. blood, vomit, urine) should be removed with an enzyme type cleaner and a disinfectant applied to the area - Protein Stain Remover HT-67 – http//:Auto Detailing Supplies, Car Care Products, Car Cleaning Supplies will remove blood, urine pet, and food stains,



b) Non-Organic stains- mostly found on the exterior of the vehicle, hard water scale (calcium) lime deposits, Road tar, grease and oil film, and require an acidic type cleaner.



c) Petroleum soils - substances that do not contain water, nor are they miscible, these soil types include, motor oils, and crease and road tar, and require a solvent type cleaner.



Stain Types



a) Water Soluble Stains- These stains can be dissolved in cool water or loosened with water based cleaner, coffee; soft drinks, cocoa and chocolate are good examples.



b) Oil soluble stains- These are stains that are comprised of oily or greasy substances, which include cooking, oil from fried foods and suntan oil.



c) Combination Stains- These stains contain both water based and oil-soluble properties. Cleaning these stains require treatment with a petroleum solvent followed by water based cleaning solution.



d) Unidentifiable Stains- Sometimes stains cannot be identified. Treat these stains like a combination stain. Clean with a petroleum solvent followed by water based cleaner

.

The Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Institute (CUCI) of America



This is the basic governing body that provides training and standards for quality carpet, upholstery, restoration, odour, and leather care techniques.



They have regional units and trainings classes throughout most of their regions. The classes are taught by certified instructors, who teach the procedures, processes, chemicals, and equipment that can best be applied to your style of work.



Some of the basic classes-

(a) Basic carpet cleaning techniques

(b) Basic upholstery cleaning and care techniques

(c) Basic leather care techniques. These classes will teach you fibre, soil and stain identification, ‘spot’ stain cleaning techniques and the proper procedures for the removal of soils quickly and cost effectively.



• Vacuum thoroughly to remove all dry soil prior to adding any moisture

• Remove any stains utilizing appropriate stain removers

• Pre-Spray lightly with a carpet shampoo or detergent to emulsify the oily soil on fibres

• Allow to remain in place for a few minutes

• Friction scrub with hand brush or rotary shampoo tool.

• Use an extractor remove the oily soil/shampoo residue

• Final vacuum to remove any excess moisture



Normal cleaning- brush loose dirt/dust with a stiff brush, lightly spray surface with a carpet cleaner (Woolite® Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam) and let the foam remain in place for 5-10 minutes and then remove residue.



Heavily soiled- brush loose dirt/dust with a stiff brush, use a citrus-based pre-cleaner P21S® Total Auto Wash 10:1 distilled hot water, let solution remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react, and then use a carpet extractor



The rubber backing and the ability to relocate them to a warm place (not direct sunlight) for quick drying aids their cleaning. After mats are clean and dried, brush them to raise the fibres and apply stain guard (303 High Tech Fabric Guard) to repel grease, dirt and oil based stains and provide UV protection against fabric fading.



Use caution- if using Oxy-Clean™ as it’s an oxygen bleach that is also a strong alkaline ( pH 10) as it may discolour or leave a ‘bleach’ type stain if not thoroughly rinsed / removed as its active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide which is considered a corrosive.

Disclaimer-the guidelines for carpet care given in this section are of a general nature and are made in good faith. However, due to the condition, materials, age and other factors, undesired effects or damages might be caused when some of our recommended procedures are used on some automotive carpets/mats, so any procedure or technique you choose to apply is done at your own risk.



Removal of animal hair (Carpets):



1. Solution 10:1 Fabric Softener / Distilled water. Its anti-static properties help to release the hairs from the carpets fibres. The scent will actually help to destroy odour since most contain anti-bacterial agents.

2. Distilled water / Woolite 10:1

3. Powerful Vacuum

4. A pair of household rubber or latex gloves



Techniques used:

1. Vacuum the area first. This will remove any loose hair and surface dirt.

2. Wet area down with the fabric softener mix, but do not soak.

3. Allow to remain in place for 5-10 minutes.

4. Turn your vacuum on and place the nozzle at an angle close to the area to be worked. With one hand, rub the carpet with some pressure in a sweeping motion towards the nozzle. The hair should pile up. I now lightly spray the area with solution 10:1 Fabric Softener / Distilled water



Removing Road Salt



(Dry) Salt is inert but be aware that once you add water ( by meting the snow / ice ) to salt it becomes alkaline (corrosive) take care to dry the affected area thoroughly after the salt has been removed and neutralize it with an mild acid (vinegar) Spray vinegar, agitate, allow to remain in place and then use an extractor. Actually, any mildly acidic product should neutralize alkaline salt crystals (Salt-X - Salt-X = The best salt and salt corrosion fighter! )



Once the product has been tracked in, however, it needs to be cleaned up in a timely manner. Use a vacuum or a mop to clean up sodium chloride products. Mop up calcium chloride or magnesium chloride ice met with a good detergent. If dirt has been tracked in with a de-icer, a mildly acidic cleaning agent works best. Carpets damaged by tracked-in residue will typically require professional cleaning.

Use a stiff brush to dislodge any loose road salt and then remove with a vacuum, spray the area with a carpet cleaner and let it soak in, the salt stains are highly alkaline once mixed with water, so I`d reach for an acidic product to counteract/neutralize. You might find that rinsing with a solution of vinegar /water helps. Repeat until most of the stain has been lifted.



Finally clean carpets by spraying the area with a carpet shampoo like Folex or P21S Total Auto Wash and then rinse and remove with a carpet extractor. Using the vacuum, remove the excess moisture, loose dirt and the grime, allow carpets / mats to thoroughly dry before use, and then apply a fabric protection (303TM High Tech Fabric Guard) Be aware that once you add water to salt it becomes corrosive, so take care to dry the affected area thoroughly (inc the area underneath the carpet / backing) after the salt has been removed.

Removable floor mats; use a pressure washer or hose to get them clean. Deep scrubbing with lots of water and soap works well, then use the pressure washer or the jet nozzle on the hose to rinse the mats. Ensue you thoroughly rinse the mats to remove all soap residue; otherwise they will attract dirt and will become stiff.



Note: reactivity - once you add heat and water to salt this combination becomes very corrosive