Author Topic: Removing salt (Read 11029 times)

Hammy · « **on:** April 03, 2015, 08:04:51 pm »

What is the best way to remove salt from car upholstery? I have tried several products but just wondering what everyone thinks is best. It's been a looooong winter.

Thanks.

CanuckS2K · « **Reply #1 on:** April 03, 2015, 08:21:19 pm »

To break up the crystallized salt, mix 50% water with 50% white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray it on the salted areas. Let it soak in for a bit and use your shop vac to remove the crystallized salt. Then shampoo your carpets as normal if you so choose to.

CanuckS2K · « **Reply #2 on:** April 03, 2015, 08:26:13 pm »

Btw, I really hear ya on the LONG winter!

Scarecrow · « **Reply #3 on:** April 03, 2015, 08:55:09 pm »

Salt Eraser works pretty well: http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/automotive/cleaning-products/interior-cleaning-products/carpet-upholstery/salt-eraser-0390421p.html?utm_campaign=bazaarvoice&utm_medium=SearchVoice&utm_source=RatingsAndReviews&utm_content=Default

UCD · « **Reply #4 on:** April 05, 2015, 10:06:25 am »

Easiest approach - a hot water carpet extractor.

You can rent a carpet extractor (not a hot one) from the Home Depot. Just use really hot water in the cleaning solution tank. Or pre-treat the salt spots with some boiling hot water.

No need to use any chemicals or vinegar. Let the hot water do the work for you

Before:

After (carpet is drying out):

Took me about 5 minutes to remove the stains. Using only a hot water carpet extractor.....no pre-treating.

Snowman · « **Reply #5 on:** April 05, 2015, 03:31:19 pm »

Geezus, We just buy proper winter floor mats and clean off our footwear before getting our vehicles. Be proactive.

pi314 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 05, 2015, 04:13:11 pm »

I find even with the proper floor mats and kicking of feet, etc there's still some salt that sneaks by.

But the picture UCD posted has a lot

sailor723 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2015, 04:24:58 pm »

My ML looks like that

.........thanks for the tips.

Hammy · « **Reply #8 on:** April 05, 2015, 04:48:25 pm »

Quote from: pi314 on April 05, 2015, 04:13:11 pm

I find even with the proper floor mats and kicking of feet, etc there's still some salt that sneaks by.

But the picture UCD posted has a lot

Yeah I only have a little, I totally forgot we have a bissel mini carpet cleaner I can use.

Snowman · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2015, 05:03:47 pm »

Quote from: pi314 on April 05, 2015, 04:13:11 pm

I find even with the proper floor mats and kicking of feet, etc there's still some salt that sneaks by.

But the picture UCD posted has a lot

Agreed, that is bad. If I see a build up I try to deal with it ASAP. Even when I had no garage I would turn the vehicle on and crank up the heat set to the floor. After it was warm enough I would clean up with hot water and towels then suck it up with a shop vac.

wing · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2015, 07:41:08 pm »

Shop vac and hot water works well.

CanuckS2K · « **Reply #11 on:** April 05, 2015, 11:26:37 pm »

Quote from: UCD on April 05, 2015, 10:06:25 am

Easiest approach - a hot water carpet extractor.

You can rent a carpet extractor (not a hot one) from the Home Depot. Just use really hot water in the cleaning solution tank. Or pre-treat the salt spots with some boiling hot water.

No need to use any chemicals or vinegar. Let the hot water do the work for you

Sure a hot water carpet extractor is a great way to remove salt stains......but IMHO it's neither a cost effective solution nor a convenient one for the typical person. Boiling water works really well, like you mentioned, but I do find that adding vinegar breaks up the crystalized salt quicker.

UCD · « **Reply #12 on:** April 06, 2015, 12:21:28 am »

The owner of this pictured Merc has Weathertech mats and I detail her car every year. Excess salty water has nowhere to go but under the mat and the sides.

Shop vac doesn't have enough waterlift. And flooding floors on these luxury vehicles is not recommended due to electronic components.

I hate the smell of vinegar, and so most of my clients so I don't use it

CanuckS2K · « **Reply #13 on:** April 06, 2015, 12:35:36 am »

Interesting, when diluted with water I can't say that I smell the vinegar, nor have I had any clients in the last nine years say anything. I guess YMMV.

My point with the hot water extractor, while it's a fantastic tool for the job, it's not something that our average forum user is going to go out of their way to pick up and spend the money on renting, especially when it's a pretty straight forward DIY. Just my .02 cents.

initial_D · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2015, 12:50:58 am »

How about use a regular household floor steam cleaner? Steam temperature is higher than boiling water, and less mess.

Ex-airbalancer · « **Reply #15 on:** April 06, 2015, 06:41:50 am »

Quote from: UCD on April 06, 2015, 12:21:28 am

I hate the smell of vinegar, and so most of my clients so I don't use it

Have you tried balsamic or malt vinegar

UCD · « **Reply #16 on:** April 18, 2015, 11:28:44 pm »

Quote from: Airbalancer on April 06, 2015, 06:41:50 am

Quote from: UCD on April 06, 2015, 12:21:28 am
I hate the smell of vinegar, and so most of my clients so I don't use it
Have you tried balsamic or malt vinegar

No, lol. Have you tried Iron-X original?

UCD · « **Reply #17 on:** April 29, 2015, 03:18:49 am »

No chemicals, no vinegar........used plain water in a hot water carpet extractor. Took ~5 minutes.

Before

After

Hannibalsmith · « **Reply #18 on:** April 29, 2015, 12:38:09 pm »

^^I have to deal with this. Can this be done by hand and a regular vaccum or do I need special equipment?

CanuckS2K · « **Reply #19 on:** April 29, 2015, 07:21:17 pm »

^ No, you don't need to use any special equipment. UCD uses a hot water carpet extractor, and they work absolutely fantastic. BUT, you have to rent one. I'm not sure about other Provinces, but here in NB they cost $75 + tax to rent, and of course you have to go pick it up and then return it. IMHO, too much cost and bother. For customer vehicles and also my own, I simply use a 50/50 mix of hot water and vinegar and a shop vac. Never had a salt stain that I couldn't remove yet. Just my .02 cents.