Best interior drying method (wet carpet)in cold weather.

**peteg1** · 12-07-2007, 08:58 PM

I`m a novice in the detail profession and working exclusivly for a car dealer in Boise, Id. My detail bay is nothing more than an enclosed metal carport that is awful in terms of retaining heat in the winter. Other than idling the car with the heat on what would be my best chance (or piece of equipment) for thouroghly drying the carpet and underlying pad? Any advice you may have to offer would be a great help!

**Deep Gloss Auto Salon** · 12-07-2007, 09:00 PM

forced air propane heater?... home depot for about $100 I think

**baseballlover1** · 12-07-2007, 10:42 PM

is this an open car port or enclosed? If its enclosed wouldnt a butane heater be harmful? I have been looking at propane and butane heaters and it looks like they are all unsafe.

**salty** · 12-08-2007, 12:08 AM

In cold weather i have no problem idling the car to dry the carpet. As long as you are using a quality-suction-extractor, it drys pretty fast, make sure you crack a window. Done that for years.

Another option is a small ceramic heater on low, window cracked, inside the vehicle. Use at your own discretion.

Heat drying will stiffen carpet, wipe or brush it to soften.

**imported_mirrorfinishman** · 12-08-2007, 06:47 AM

Based on the conditions you have described, your best chance for thoroughly drying the carpet and underlying pad is to not get it wet in the first place.

**howareb** · 12-08-2007, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by peteg1

I`m a novice in the detail profession and working exclusively for a car dealer in Boise, Id. My detail bay is nothing more than an enclosed metal carport that is awful in terms of retaining heat in the winter. Other than idling the car with the heat on what would be my best chance (or piece of equipment) for thoroughly drying the carpet and underlying pad? Any advice you may have to offer would be a great help!

Please tell me your method of cleaning the carpets.

**CARWAX** · 12-08-2007, 09:50 AM

you could always run the car with the heater on high on the floor setting.

**Cleaning Fool** · 12-08-2007, 10:16 AM

Yes, your method of cleaning would help. Hard to offer a solution without knowing what tools you have. You should not be getting the underlying pad wet, if you are, you are using way to much water/chemicals to clean with. A cardinal sin in carpet cleaning is overwetting the carpet. Of course if you do this it will take forever to dry.

**cheapshot** · 12-08-2007, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by CARWAX

you could always run the car with the heater on high on the floor setting.

this seems to work for me also, but I extract and remove as much as I can first. If you don`t have an extractor, try a couple large cotton shower towels, and fold in half and lay them down over area (passenger side, drivers side etc.) and step on them with your feet, repeat until towels appear dry, then start car and run the heat on floor setting.

**David Fermani** · 12-08-2007, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by CARWAX

you could always run the car with the heater on high on the floor setting.

Don`t use heat!! The chemicals in the carpet will crystalize and harder & if there`s dirt left (which there always will be) it will turn brown. The best way is to use a forced air drier mixed with medium temp. Make sure to towel dry as much wetness out of the fabric to minimize drying time.

**imported_Jakerooni** · 12-08-2007, 04:00 PM

small fan usually works great.

**Scottwax** · 12-09-2007, 12:04 AM

Here ya go, on sale too. Looks like it would do the job.

Interior Dryer /Air Mover

**kaval** · 12-09-2007, 12:12 AM

I`d also recommend taking a microfiber towel and wiping the carpets to pull more liquid up into the towel. Do this a few times and it should dry faster. Couple it with some form of the above mentioned methods and I think your carpets will dry very quickly.

**David Fermani** · 12-09-2007, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by kaval

I`d also recommend taking a microfiber towel and wiping the carpets to pull more liquid up into the towel. Do this a few times and it should dry faster. Couple it with some form of the above mentioned methods and I think your carpets will dry very quickly.

Any reason why you`re recommending a microfiber instead of a regular towel? Are they more absorbent?

**Chris@Optimum** · 12-09-2007, 12:35 AM

Haven`t got the money for an extractor, but my system hasn`t let me down and I`ve seen some sh**. Foam the carpet with TUFF STUFF after testing for color fastness, 1:1 APC and toothbrush stains, within 5 min foam dies down, go over each section 3-5 times with PC fitted with carpet brush attachment from TOL, then vacuum. I guess its the foam that rises instead of soaking in but the floors do not require any type of drying. Brushes do a great job and I`ve been so happy with this quick process that I may not ever buy an extrctor!