Carpet

[plumcrazzy]

'70 Challenger 440 six-pack. Took the car out this evening to a church picnic---had the wife along. Pulled out of our side road and started down a long straight. Was really "airing" her out in third gear when the wife squalled like a panther---looked down and anti freeze was pouring from the heater core box. Mat is soaked as is the carpet. Anybody got any slick tricks to get this mess (and smell) cleaned up or do I need to remove the carpet? If I remove the carpet can it be power washed or are there other methods to clean it? It's black. Should I just replace the whole front carpet even though only the passenger side got wet? Any help will be appreciated.

[burdar]

Antifreeze is nasty and hard to clean up. Pull the carpet and clean it. Really get in there with soap and water. You might have to do it a couple times. Let it dry completely.

[1 Wild R/T]

Pull the carpet... peel the jute off the back side of the carpet.. Pressure wash & scrub with carpet shampoo... A hand squeegee for windows does a great job of getting most of the water out, then let it air dry... Got to an upholstery shop & get new jute, use your old jute as a pattern, cut it & glue back to the carpet...

[anlauto]

Go to the grocery store and rent one of those Carpet Steam Cleaners

[plumcrazzy]

This is what I did. Removed console, seats, glove box door and glove box. Removed soaked carpet. Removed/replaced heater core. Jute backing was thermally attached to the back of the carpet so removing it was not an option. Laid out soaked carpet on clean concrete and power washed with 2500 psi until no more residue came out of carpet (had a greenish cast). Mixed up 1/2 cup of Tide with Fabreze in 1 1/2 gallons of warm water. Poured solution onto carpet and scrubbed with a soft bristled scrub brush until I got a decent lather. Let the soap soak for about 30 miutes then power washed again until water ran absolutely clear. Hung carpet up to drain/drip dry. Laid carpet out in 85 degree bright sun. Took carpet in at night and hung in shop in front of a running box fan all night. All day sun the next day--back in at night--sun again third day. Everything dried just fine and smells a lot better as well--carpet fit well going back with no signs of shrinking. Just thought I would report my findings.