[ApeXX]

A few days ago I bought a heavy duty carpet cleaner to clean out the carpet of my stang (the previous owner smoked in it). As I was applying the cleaner, I noticed that it had a horrible sour smell, however I assumed it was due to the potent chemicals in the cleaner and that it would go away.

It's now been at least 2 weeks since I applied the cleaner and the carpet has still retained the cleaners "sour" smell. I actually think the carpet smells worse now than it did before!

How would you guys recommend to get the smell out of the carpet?

[wraitherx]

i took one of those "Sharks" the one that blows out steam and cleaned my fox when i first had it. the car had coolant, drink, and smoke stains in the carpet, seats, and overhead and it was a sour smell. I took the steamer and cleaned everything in and out and then took a wet vac and vaccumed up most of it. it worked like a charm.

[ApeXX]

You mean like a mini carpet steamer? I'd have to rent one I guess. I've read that baking soda and vinegar work wonders on carpets... I'm just worried it'll leave white residue on my black carpet.

[stephen]

If you have a shop vac, put hot water on the carpet and suction it out. After doing that a few times let it dry out thoroughly. As an alternative to a shop vac, rent a rug doctor machine and the furniture attachment. You can use plain hot water or some of the rug doctor soap.

[Mustangshar]

I'd find a good detailer and discuss with them unless you want to do it yourself.? They are professionals and should know exactly what to do.

[mustanginky]

ehh smells are hard to get rid of. gotta wet vac and extract. who knows what chemicals are in there, and if you didn't let it air out or wet-vac them out then they're still in the carpet, still causing the smell.

[00redgt]

well if you really want the carpet to smell good,then take it out,its not a hard thing to do and scrub it good with something like blue wolf or grease lightning or some kind of detergent and hose it off with some pressure and let it sit outside and dry in the sun.

[zinc02GT]

When peopel want me to truley detail the interior I take the seats and carpet; ALL of it out.

I have gotten my best results by either A) Steam cleaning it with the Rug Doctor chemicals and our own steam cleaner, or by B) Hanging the carpet up on the fence by appying a carpenters clamp on an inconsicuous area and hanging it. I test out an area that can't be seen to see if there are any discolorations and if there is not I spray the entire thing or the the section that I am working on. I let it sit for about 1 minute, then I take a semi stiff brush and go to work. 95% of the shit will be removed here. Keep cleaning this way for best results. When you are happy, take the hose and set it on the JET setting. Now, stand back and start at the top and go side to side while slowly working your way down. This method lets the hard hitting water beat out the remaining dirt and also letting gravity work.

After that, you can add a scent if you'd like.

With that method I managed to restore a 2001 Jeep Wrangler's interior to ALMOST brand new condition. The carpet was a little too far gone with mud stains and shit, but you could barely tell after I was done.

[ApeXX]

Here's my theory: While I do remember the chemicals smelling pungent, I actually believe what I'm smelling now is the beginning of mildew. I vaguely remember being in a rush to get the carpets done before work, and may have put the floor mats back in before the carpet had dried completely. Now I don't think there is much mildew, to be honest I don't know how fast the stuff grows, however I'm thinking I should see a professional soon.

Does anyone know of a good tutorial on how to get out the carpeting? I may try that myself first if its not too difficult.

[zinc02GT]

Well, you're going to need to rip the center console out, the backseats, and the interior part of the rocker. Once, you have those trim peices out it should be simple.

[weems]

At a minimum take the seats out, get yourself a some good carpet cleaner and go to town. Soapy water and a good scrub brush would also help, just make sure you have a wet vac to get it all up afterwards. If it were me, I would pull the entire carpet out and pressure wash it.

[ridinfast03]

Baking soda is great at sucking up moisture deep into fabric and then is easy to vacuum out after a few days. Had to do this when a friend spilled 2 gallons of gas in his civic's interior.