Carpet cleaning issues...Need help.

[AutoNova]

Over the last couple weeks I have had 2 customers return their cars saying the carpet smelled like a wet dog? I am not sure what is occuring, I usually don`t use alot of chemical?



Process:

1. Little green machine ( Bisssell) that heats.

2. Woolite mixture, about 1 ounce woolite and about 1/2 gallon of water.

3. Spray the interior lightly wwith the mixture and allow to sit for a couple minutes.

4. Vacuum with lgm.

5. I pressure wash the mats using the same mixture.

6. I sit the mats out to dry and they are about 80% dry before I put them back in the car.

7. Lately I have been adding about 1 ounce of Febreze to the mixture.



What do you all think, I can`t figure where I am going wrong, it seems to be more in the mats. How do I dry them? I don`t have a place to hang the mats or any blower? Is it the woolite that smells?

[Sirslap2]

Get rid of the dog..hehe.

Just kidding.

I picked up a Green Machine and I really don`t think (after using it once) that it is useful for interiors other than those that are clean to begin with.

If I were you I would get a good wet/dry vac and use that instead.

It may be the water musting the interior.

Are you useing fans to make sure it is totally dry?

I wouldn`t use Febreeze either.

No smell is a good smell.

[AutoNova]

I really like the GM, it fits into all kinds of cracks and crevices that large extractors won`t and for $100 you can`t beat it. The one I have heats and that helps alot to permeate the carpet. I don`t have a fan, I am not sure what type of fan would work? I usually turn the car on and run the AC fir a while, maybe I should run the heat?

[AutoNova]

If i am using the woolite mixture is their a need to go back over it with water and re-vac?

[teacherray]

One trick I have used is to add a little ISO alcohol to the cleaning solution. About 1/4 cup per gallon of H20. The ISO prevents nasties from growing in the carpet and helps it to dry quicker. Because the alcohol changes the surface tension of the fluid the cleaner will not foam up as much but it doesn`t effect (or is it affect I can never remember) the cleaning ability. I have never experienced any problems with it hurting the carpet. That being said always test first. Good luck let me know how it works.

[kpounds]

Yes I think thats it. Kind of like washing clothes, have to do the final rinse w/water then extract/dry. A final rinse will remove more dirt, smells and cleaning solution.



Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone know the best way to apply water to carpet without oversaturating it? I`ve been using a spray bottle but havent been getting enough water down for a thorough rinse.

[Scottwax]

Don`t put the mats back in unless the carpet is 100% dry. Don`t get the carpet or fabric any wetter than needed to clean.

[eran]

some cars (Honda for one) you can run the AC and the heat at the same time (for defogging) as the AC makes the hot air dryer.

[kpounds]

Black Regal,



Thanks for the tip and instructions. I think you`re probably alot more mechanical than I am. (I`d probably put out the first 2 pieces of the diagram and be lost in space!) I have the Ultimate hose nozzle, maybe I can get by with a fine mist over the carpet.

[togwt]

~One man’s opinion / observations ~



I don`t know if it would be something for you to consider but a carpet extractor system would solve the problem, but they are expensive ($1,000-2,000 first cost) but well worth it in labour saving and ultimate customer satisfaction.



Look for a model that has a high lift vacuum (measured in inches water gauge not amps or HP) and a water heater. I use a Sensei ($1,500) with a 200oF water heater, 11 gal recovery tank and a 159 “wg vacuum.



~Hope this helps~



Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/



justadumbarchitect *so I question everything*

[imported_Dave Holmes]

All of the above ideas are good, and could solve your problem.

Another one I thought of is that maybe you are "agitating" deep dirt/odors, and making them come to the surface without actually removing them. Kind of the same principle as "wicking" (dirt rises to the top surface of the fibers, making it dirty because it wasn`t fully extracted).

Hope that made sense. Just another possibility.



Dave



(I like the Iso alcohol idea. It probably would speed up drying).