Drying wet interiors after extraction

[Jpostal]

Just wondering what everyone is doing to dry wet interiors after extraction. I hate giving a vehicle back to a customer when it is still damp so I want to find something that will speed up dry time.



Currently I will extract, do a couple dry passes, use a clean terry cloth and rub down the carpet, and then leave the doors open until the customer picks up. Occasionally if I am on a tight time line I will roll up the windows and shut the doors and let the car run with the heat on, but not something I like to do.



There has got to be a better/faster way...

 

[MrCLRider]

What type of extractor are you using? I usually put box fans leaning against the dash and steering wheel aimed at the floor and leave those in while I finish up other stuff.



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[(901)]

I rub like a mad man with thick terry cloths. If its cold out, shut the doors and turn the heater on full blast. Make sure you don't lock the keys in the car though



Still not dry? Give the customer a garbage bag and tell them to remove it when they get home. Oh, and leave the windows cracked unless its raining

 

[MichaelM]

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_2637.jpg



I use these from Harbor Freight. You can get heaters for them as well, nice in winter.

 

[smokinfastlegen]

I have a floor fan I lean into the interior and leave the doors open. Leaving in the sun also works well.

 

[(901)]

Alot of times its just easier to remove the seats and leave them outside to dry

 

[David Fermani]

Currently I will extract, do a couple dry passes, use a clean terry cloth and rub down the carpet, and then leave the doors open until the customer picks up. Occasionally if I am on a tight time line I will roll up the windows and shut the doors and let the car run with the heat on, but not something I like to do.



There has got to be a better/faster way...

You're doing a good thing by toweling the carpet because it's not only lifting the moisture, but also excess soiling too. I use to own a high volume operation where we would do many times 35 interiors each day(without an extractor btw) and what we would do is hook up 2 air driers, run the MEDIUM (not hot) heat and things would be totally dry in no time. If you run heat, you create a much greater chance of wicking the dirt, hardening up the residual chemical residue(whiting effect) and making this dry "crunchy". If this did happen, I would use either a foam glass cleaner or a damp towel and it would then be perfect once again.

 

[DaGonz]

I have two floor fans... I make sure the interior lights are off, open the doors, extract as much as possible, use a terry towel to wick up any remaining moisture, set one fan up front and one in the back, then turn the fans on high. It doesn't take long.

 

[Jpostal]

Thanks for all the input guys. I'll have to pick up a good fan.

 

[buda]

Be sure you get an interior dryer that produces 2100 cubic feet of air per minute. You need that high volume of air to dry quickly and effectively.



BTW explain how you use the extractor as a part of your carpet cleaning.

 

[Jpostal]

Be sure you get an interior dryer that produces 2100 cubic feet of air per minute. You need that high volume of air to dry quickly and effectively.



BTW explain how you use the extractor as a part of your carpet cleaning.

I have a Thermax extractor that has a heater coil in the water tank. It heats the water up but will not get it really hot so I usually use my VX5000 steamer along with the extrator. For the most part I follow the David Fermani process outlined here...

1. Vac carpet and blow out cracks and hard to reach areas with compressed air.

2. Pre-treat the area with a carpet lane cleaner (I like Liquid CBS by Esteam) and allow to dwell for a couple minutes.

3. Use steamer with large triangle brush and scrub carpet on high steam setting.

4. Extract and then do a couple dry passes.

5. After maybe an hour I rub down the carpet with a clean terry cloth towel.

6. If I am not doing the classic zebra pattern in the carpet I will use compressed air to fluff up the carpet fibers.

 

[David Fermani]

JPostal - Good to know I made some sense out of this for you. After doing 10's of thousands of vehicles throughout the years you end up knowing what works (for your application) and what doesn't. Bottom line: Nobody likes a wet carpet/interior.

 

[buda]

That is an excellent process. Just be careful to not over use the extractor remember you are only using it to rinse out the oily soil and shampoo residue.



Regards

Bud Abraham

 

[WAS]

Xaact Products makes some very excellent drying fans.



XAACT PRODUCTS

 

[buda]

Double check prices they are traditionally high. Contact Sharie 800 284 0123 Ext 3

 

[WAS]

XAACT's pricing is high ? I have ordered fans from them and found the pricing to be extremely reasonable....

 

[buda]

Are you referring to the 425 cubic feet of air unit or the larger 2100 cfm unit?

 

[Legacy]

That is an excellent process. Just be careful to not over use the extractor remember you are only using it to rinse out the oily soil and shampoo residue.



Regards

Bud Abraham

Very true..mold and mildew is not a good thing.

 

[WAS]

Are you referring to the 425 cubic feet of air unit or the larger 2100 cfm unit?

The 360 degree air mover. The smaller blower is nice as well, but the 360 degree is the extremely useful one for carpets.

 

[buda]

May I ask what you paid for the larger unit which generates 2100 cubit feet of air?