Techniques for using laundry soap on interior?

WuNgUn

WuNgUn

New member
I have a problem...
My carpet and upholstry needs cleaning in the worst way! Except, I don't
have any cleaning solution around except for some Gain laundry soap, and Spray Nine multi-purpose cleaner...
I know, I know, I really shouldn't be trying this stuff, but I have no options...
Would this be safe to use, really thin (and will it work?) in my SVT Focus?
How should it be used? (I have no shop vac either!)
I was thinking a sponge, and a bristle brush for the tough spots, but I'm worried about getting to much solution in the fabric, that I won't be able to get out...
 
Not the ideal for carpets but sometimes needs must…

1.Bucket hot water (hotter the better) put in the measure of soap powder and agitate to ensure there is no powder left.
2.Have plenty of towels available
3.Scrub with a fairly stiff brush and ‘mop’ up water as you go
4.Repeat as necessary (don’t forget to ‘mop’ the water / dirt with a towel)
5.Take your time, it will be hard work…but worth it
Good luck

JonM
 
If you have carpeted floor mats, you might want to try your procedure on them before you get your vehicle carpet soaked.
If you find it gets the mats too wet, you could leave them out in the wind/sun to dry. Can't do that with the vehicle carpet.:)

Charles
 
If you gotta, use just the Spray 9. It's got a germicide and it'll take care of some of the stains too. You could dilute it for the general cleaning.
Using a laundry soap without rinsing is a bad idea. It's made to be fully rinsed out of the fabrics that it's used on (clothes). If you don't rinse it out, you will likely get a "stinky sock" smell within a short period of time.

Also, with the seats, if you leave moisture in them you run the risk of mold/fungus growing in the foam, underneath the fabric.
 
Dude, seriously don't cheap out and try to use powdered laundry soap! You will never get all the soap/suds out of your carpet and you will end up with way too much water left in the carpet. If you don't extract it fully, you will make the carpet even worse in the long run by leaving a soapy residue that will actually attract more dirt into the fibers.

Go to Walmart/Kmart and at least spring for a can of the Blue Coral Upholstery/Carpet Foam cleaner. It can't be more than ~$2 for a dedicated decent OTC cleaner thats designed for the job. I'd also recommend finding some kind of vacuum cleaner to throughly vacuum the carpet after it has dried.
 
I've heard good things about Prestone Upolstry cleaner, it also has a brush on the can. check the stick at the top about carpet cleaning.
 
There is nothing wrong with using laundry detergent for shampooing your interior. The proper method is to put the suggested amount of detergent (I personally prefer Tide powder) into an empty bucket and then fill with water using a strong jet spray to create as much foam as possible. Use only the foam and a scrub brush, not the liquid, to avoid over-saturating your carpet and upholstery. Then use either cotton terry cloth towels or a wet/dry vacuum to remove as much moisture as possible after cleaning.
 
This is just my opiniion, but carpets should be cleaned with carpet cleaner. You wouldn't wash your hair with Dawn dishwashing liquid. It would get your hair clean but it wouldn't be the best thing for it. You wouldn't bathe in bathtub of Tide. So why wash your carpet in something not made for it.

Another problem is wicking. This is the process of dirty water traveling from the bottom of the fiber to the top during air-drying. Soil that is imbedded in the fibers and backing of the carpet will migrate to the top of the carpet. This occurs because of soil's natural attraction to dry surfaces. That's right, if you do not get all the dirt and shampoo residue out of the carpet fibers, it will, after cleaning, come to the top of the fiber as it dries and you will have dirty carpets, again.

The best way to clean carpets in my opinion, especially if they are as dirty as you said is by using an extractor. If you can't buy one of your own (and I wouldn't expect you to, they are expensive except for the green machine by Bissel which I believe is about $100 or less), and you can't take the car to a professional detailer who has one, then go to your local grocery store and rent a "rug doctor" carpet cleaner, which is an extractor. Rent the upholstery attachement for doing sofas and chairs, but instead of buying upholstery cleaner, buy the carpet cleaner. Then use the upholstery attachement with the carpet cleaning solution to clean your cars carpets. It will shoot the solution into your carpet and vacuum the dirt and used solution all in one step.
Should cost you less than $30 total if they are still offering the mail in rebate.

Frank
 
Thanks for all the tips guys...much appreciated!
Come to think about it, I used laundry soap on my floor mats once...LOTS
of water and soap and scrubbing, then rinsed them out under the garden hose, then sorta 'pushed' off the excess water, and let air dry...
They came clean okay, but they sure didn't smell very nice!
I think I'll try some Blue Coral (and maybe some Oxy-Clean), and Spray-Nine on the tougher spots...the GF has a shop vac that I might be able to use...
I also have some ScotchGuard left over (however, it doesn't seem to protect sh_t!) that I'll use the following day after it's all dry...
Peace
 
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