Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning by GSRstilez

[p_dubs]

Great instructions! I just tried it out, I wish I took some before pictures because I could not believe the results. The original beige interior has turned gray from years of use, it looks almost new now. Thanks again for your help.

[Happyman]

Nice work Sean!

I clean carpets at a large University and used to sell commercial extractors and chemicals. The Oxiclean / Perixide cleaners work well. My only sugesstion would be to use a lemon juice/water rinse then extract. The PH of the Oxiclean is around 12 which is very caustic. Lemon juice is around 3-4 undiluted. It will significantly help the oxiclean and any residue left to release and rinse free. It will also make the carpet feel softer. The residue left in carpet acts like a magnet for new dirt to accumulate, especailly if it is damp. The Lemon Juice water rinse neautralizes the high Ph of the Oxi and allows it to rinse free. Smells good too.

You can also use it to help with winter salt contamination inside entrances ot car carpets for that matter. The acid in the Lemon neutralizes the salt and helps it rinse free.

[Brenton]

Hi Happyman.
What kind of dilution rate would work for the lemon juice?

[Stephan]

I am curious as well...mainly for my carpets at home...

[Larry A]

Are we talking Real Lemon lemon juice? Will vinegar do the same thing?

[Brenton]

I hate the smell of vinegar in my car, though it is a lot cheaper. If it takes a litre to do a car, it isn't economical.
But a cup might be.

[Stephan]

Agreed vinegar is a little overpowering of a smell...Lemon I can deal with.

[Brenton]

I tried it on mats today. I have no idea if it helped. I used 1:10 Reallemon to hot water and then extract.

[Stephan]

I am going to start trying it, but its getting tiring juicing all of these lemons. I have done a whole bag and I only have one glass.

[Happyman]

Lemon Juice can work. It is kind of an home grown solution similiar to vinegar but it might not be as economical as this comercial product. It is called "Back to 7" from Multi-Clean. You can use just 1 ounce per gallon in your rinse/extract cycle. It can be purchased at any Fastenal location throughout the US. Just call and have them bring some in. Works excellent as a rinse agent. Here is the link...

http://www.multi-clean.com/specs/Car...k%20To%207.pdf

[Brenton]

Where do we get the strips that say that Oxiclean is a base? I would hate to try to pH balance an acid with an acid.

[Bunky]

I think the Oxyclean method should be reserved for the toughest situations - last resort. There are products that are not as harsh so you do not end up using an overly strong alkaline cleaners when you do not need one.

[ShanesG]

Originally Posted by chml17l

Instead of having an arsenal of spot removers, try using Goop Hand Cleaner. Yes, the stuff my dad used after working on a grimy engine to clean his hands. This stuff is super cheap-- ~$1 for a 14 oz. can at Walmart. Apply the Goop to the dry stain and work it in. The longer you leave it the better it works. Then rinse with water or launder as usual. It will remove ink, tar, blood, grease, you name it... It is also the best stain remover for clothes and makes Shout and other pretreatments seem like over-priced sissies. It's available in much larger quantities too for the overly messy folks out there.

I can't say enough good things about it and no I don't work for the company that makes it. I saw this tip on a PBS fund drive show and believe me it works. My wife hand a brand new pair of slacks that she left a tube of chapstick in the pocket. They went thru the dryer and then she discovered the baked in greasy stains all over her new pants. We figured we would give the Goop a shot and it removed all the spots and saved the day.

Will it give the interior that orange smell?

[ShanesG]

which oxi-clean do you get? there's 3-4 diff. kinds

[Mindflux]

Your initial writeup (with those pictures included) have completely different 'chemicals' used over on Autopia. I think back in 04 you weren't using Oxyclean but Hi Temp's carpet cleaner?

I'm a bit concerned with using Oxy, it's got some bleaching agents AFAIK.