Hello,

Apologies for multi-posting, but I realised after posting this to
uk.rec.cars.misc that I'd be likely also to get some knowledgeable answers
in uk.d-i-y.

***

Recently my car was stuck in a ditch over a weekend and mud got into the
front passenger footwell. Since then, I have cleaned the fitted carpet
using spray-on "Carplan" car upholstery cleaner and also "Rug Doctor"
carpet odour remover, both times scrubbing it into the carpet with a brush.
I have unclipped the casing at the side, bent the carpet up, and cleaned
and dried under it with rag and tissue paper, and I have left a fan heater
on in the car for hours to ensure the footwell is completely dry, including
both the carpet itself and under it. But there's still a pong.

Advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance!

***

Harry

On 11/11/16 19:01, Harold Davis wrote:
Hello,

Apologies for multi-posting, but I realised after posting this to
uk.rec.cars.misc that I'd be likely also to get some knowledgeable answers
in uk.d-i-y.

***

Recently my car was stuck in a ditch over a weekend and mud got into the
front passenger footwell. Since then, I have cleaned the fitted carpet
using spray-on "Carplan" car upholstery cleaner and also "Rug Doctor"
carpet odour remover, both times scrubbing it into the carpet with a brush.
I have unclipped the casing at the side, bent the carpet up, and cleaned
and dried under it with rag and tissue paper, and I have left a fan heater
on in the car for hours to ensure the footwell is completely dry, including
both the carpet itself and under it. But there's still a pong.

Advice would be gratefully received.


Febreze actually works, if used long enough BUT you should try and wet
shampoo the carpets and get the water out and then run with the heater
full on for a bit.

Thanks in advance!

***

Harry



--
"Anyone who believes that the laws of physics are mere social
conventions is invited to try transgressing those conventions from the
windows of my apartment. (I live on the twenty-first floor.) "

Alan Sokal

Is it the sound deadening under the carpet that is also damp?

On 11/11/16 19:01, Harold Davis wrote:
Hello,

Apologies for multi-posting, but I realised after posting this to
uk.rec.cars.misc that I'd be likely also to get some knowledgeable answers
in uk.d-i-y.

***

Recently my car was stuck in a ditch over a weekend and mud got into the
front passenger footwell. Since then, I have cleaned the fitted carpet
using spray-on "Carplan" car upholstery cleaner and also "Rug Doctor"
carpet odour remover, both times scrubbing it into the carpet with a brush.
I have unclipped the casing at the side, bent the carpet up, and cleaned
and dried under it with rag and tissue paper, and I have left a fan heater
on in the car for hours to ensure the footwell is completely dry, including
both the carpet itself and under it. But there's still a pong.

Advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance!

***

Harry

On 11/11/16 19:01, Harold Davis wrote:
Hello,

Apologies for multi-posting, but I realised after posting this to
uk.rec.cars.misc that I'd be likely also to get some knowledgeable answers
in uk.d-i-y.

***

Recently my car was stuck in a ditch over a weekend and mud got into the
front passenger footwell. Since then, I have cleaned the fitted carpet
using spray-on "Carplan" car upholstery cleaner and also "Rug Doctor"
carpet odour remover, both times scrubbing it into the carpet with a brush.
I have unclipped the casing at the side, bent the carpet up, and cleaned
and dried under it with rag and tissue paper, and I have left a fan heater
on in the car for hours to ensure the footwell is completely dry, including
both the carpet itself and under it. But there's still a pong.

I had a similar problem when my niece came to stay for a few weeks - she
suffered from hideous car sickness with the inevitable results.

After a good wet shampoo, I was recommended this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dakota-Car-.../dp/B006T1MBNI

Not that exact fragrance - they do many. I picked a light fruity one. It
made the car smell fruity for about 4 months, after which the puky
smells it was masking had finally aired out.

Or you could try rubbing bicarbonate of soda into the carpet - leave for
few hours and hoover out. You'll need a decent amount - say 1/2lb or so
- be liberal. It does seem to suck out odours.

On 11/11/2016 19:01, Harold Davis wrote:

Recently my car was stuck in a ditch over a weekend and mud got into the
front passenger footwell. Since then, I have cleaned the fitted carpet
using spray-on "Carplan" car upholstery cleaner and also "Rug Doctor"
carpet odour remover, both times scrubbing it into the carpet with a brush.
I have unclipped the casing at the side, bent the carpet up, and cleaned
and dried under it with rag and tissue paper, and I have left a fan heater
on in the car for hours to ensure the footwell is completely dry, including
both the carpet itself and under it. But there's still a pong.

Advice would be gratefully received.


Are you sure that it's just the front passenger foot well? The mud may
have been the obvious sign but smelly ditch water may have migrated to
the drivers side or to the rear.

Try a large bag of cat litter to absorb the smell and possibly to help
remove moisture - lay down some newspaper first.


--
mailto: news {at} admac {dot] myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

Is it actually the carpet, or is there some place, maybe under the seat
where the muck is trapped inside a cavity?
Not sure how one would get at such places, but it was always a problem one
got in cars of old, which tended to have holes in the floor. Cars such as
minis and cortinas of the 1960s.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Harold Davis" wrote in message
...
Hello,

Apologies for multi-posting, but I realised after posting this to
uk.rec.cars.misc that I'd be likely also to get some knowledgeable answers
in uk.d-i-y.

***

Recently my car was stuck in a ditch over a weekend and mud got into the
front passenger footwell. Since then, I have cleaned the fitted carpet
using spray-on "Carplan" car upholstery cleaner and also "Rug Doctor"
carpet odour remover, both times scrubbing it into the carpet with a
brush.
I have unclipped the casing at the side, bent the carpet up, and cleaned
and dried under it with rag and tissue paper, and I have left a fan heater
on in the car for hours to ensure the footwell is completely dry,
including
both the carpet itself and under it. But there's still a pong.

Advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance!

***

Harry

On 11/11/16 21:53, Tim Watts wrote:
On 11/11/16 19:01, Harold Davis wrote:
Hello,

Apologies for multi-posting, but I realised after posting this to
uk.rec.cars.misc that I'd be likely also to get some knowledgeable
answers
in uk.d-i-y.

***

Recently my car was stuck in a ditch over a weekend and mud got into the
front passenger footwell. Since then, I have cleaned the fitted carpet
using spray-on "Carplan" car upholstery cleaner and also "Rug Doctor"
carpet odour remover, both times scrubbing it into the carpet with a
brush.
I have unclipped the casing at the side, bent the carpet up, and cleaned
and dried under it with rag and tissue paper, and I have left a fan
heater
on in the car for hours to ensure the footwell is completely dry,
including
both the carpet itself and under it. But there's still a pong.

I had a similar problem when my niece came to stay for a few weeks - she
suffered from hideous car sickness with the inevitable results.

After a good wet shampoo, I was recommended this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dakota-Car-.../dp/B006T1MBNI

Not that exact fragrance - they do many. I picked a light fruity one. It
made the car smell fruity for about 4 months, after which the puky
smells it was masking had finally aired out.

Or you could try rubbing bicarbonate of soda into the carpet - leave for
few hours and hoover out. You'll need a decent amount - say 1/2lb or so
- be liberal. It does seem to suck out odours.

Add Neutradol to that list, stocked by PoundLand. I find it pretty
effective drawing out smells near old second-hand furniture.

http://www.neutradol.com/about-neutradol.html

It's a bad thing old car smells...

Back in the 80s, I used to own an ex-driving instructors car that apart
from the welded in dual control peddles (disconnected, but fascinating
interest for my passengers) also had the feature of an over excessive
application of Indian Joss stick fragrance, as if that was done either
to clam nervous L-drivers or to mask events following their emergency stops!

I eventfully got rid of the wreak, the gearbox selector and clutch were
shot, rust was fast claiming the rest of the mashed chassis, and fuel
hoses sadly leaking petrol in too many flammable places.

Car from hell....

--
Adrian C

On 11/11/2016 7:01 PM, Harold Davis wrote:
Hello,

Apologies for multi-posting, but I realised after posting this to
uk.rec.cars.misc that I'd be likely also to get some knowledgeable answers
in uk.d-i-y.

***

Recently my car was stuck in a ditch over a weekend and mud got into the
front passenger footwell. Since then, I have cleaned the fitted carpet
using spray-on "Carplan" car upholstery cleaner and also "Rug Doctor"
carpet odour remover, both times scrubbing it into the carpet with a brush.
I have unclipped the casing at the side, bent the carpet up, and cleaned
and dried under it with rag and tissue paper, and I have left a fan heater
on in the car for hours to ensure the footwell is completely dry, including
both the carpet itself and under it. But there's still a pong.

Advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance!

***

Harry


If you spill milk in a footwell, you have to replace all the carpets.
DAMHIK.

newshound wrote:

[...]

If you spill milk in a footwell, you have to replace all the carpets.
DAMHIK.

Did it in a hire car once. :-(

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

On 12/11/16 21:18, Chris Whelan wrote:
newshound wrote:

[...]

If you spill milk in a footwell, you have to replace all the carpets.
DAMHIK.

Did it in a hire car once. :-(

Chris


How much did that cost you?

And please stop with the clever "Reply-To:" header - it's irritating!
Choose an appropriate group to post to!

DerbyBorn wrote in
2.236:

Is it the sound deadening under the carpet that is also damp?

Thank you to everyone who has replied.

Yes, DerbyBorn. Sopping wet, I'd call it. After picking up the carpet, I
first thought what a nice rubbery layer underneath, that water wouldn't
penetrate. Today I pressed on it and water came out of a hole in it. I have
undone a securing bolt but it is very tight and I have only been able to
make a gap a few inches wide towards the door. Its foam layer is soaking
wet - yuck! I have jammed a hairdryer in the gap, and also a metal bottle
to hold it open other than with the hairdryer itself and so that there is
somewhere for the hot air from the hairdryer to come out. I'm checking
every so often that nothing is getting too hot.

I am fairly sure (well, I hope) that the only moisture is in the footwell
itself. The lowest of the four walls to the footwell is under the seat and
it is at least 4 inches high. (The seats swivel.) There must be some way to
fix the problem if I don't manage to dry all the foam with the hairdryer.
If necessary, couldn't a garage cut a square of the sound deadening out,
dry it, and stick it back in with duct tape? Even if I were to try to sell
the car - which I won't - the first thing that anyone is going to want to
do is sort out the foul smell. It's worth a few hundred pounds to me to
fix.

Harry

On 14/11/16 17:53, Harold Davis wrote:
DerbyBorn wrote in
2.236:

Is it the sound deadening under the carpet that is also damp?

Thank you to everyone who has replied.

Yes, DerbyBorn. Sopping wet, I'd call it. After picking up the carpet, I
first thought what a nice rubbery layer underneath, that water wouldn't
penetrate. Today I pressed on it and water came out of a hole in it. I have
undone a securing bolt but it is very tight and I have only been able to
make a gap a few inches wide towards the door. Its foam layer is soaking
wet - yuck! I have jammed a hairdryer in the gap, and also a metal bottle
to hold it open other than with the hairdryer itself and so that there is
somewhere for the hot air from the hairdryer to come out. I'm checking
every so often that nothing is getting too hot.

I am fairly sure (well, I hope) that the only moisture is in the footwell
itself. The lowest of the four walls to the footwell is under the seat and
it is at least 4 inches high. (The seats swivel.) There must be some way to
fix the problem if I don't manage to dry all the foam with the hairdryer.
If necessary, couldn't a garage cut a square of the sound deadening out,
dry it, and stick it back in with duct tape? Even if I were to try to sell
the car - which I won't - the first thing that anyone is going to want to
do is sort out the foul smell. It's worth a few hundred pounds to me to
fix.

Harry

1/. Many insurance firms simply write off cars that have been flooded as
the chances of contamination that would kill a snowflake generati0n at
50 yards is very high.

2/. What you need to do is wash out all the crappy water and that means
getting everything even wetter. Toss a bucket if water with some carpet
shampoo in the footwell and scrub.

3/. Then using a wet and dry vacuum SHOULD essentially 'shampoo' the
carpet and underlay. These aren't too expensive to buy, and can be hired.

4/. If the car is in use daily, full air-con, and full heat should shove
de-humidified hot air in, and that will dry stuff out in a few trips.
Otherwise set up a fan heater in the car with the windows cracked and
let it do its stuff.

5/. Any lingering pongs use 'febreze' on. It really does work. Doggy
smells, tobacco - gets them in the end though several applications are
usually needed.




--
€œSome people like to travel by train because it combines the slowness of
a car with the cramped public exposure of €¨an airplane.€�

Dennis Miller

The Natural Philosopher wrote in
news
On 14/11/16 17:53, Harold Davis wrote:
DerbyBorn wrote in
2.236:

Is it the sound deadening under the carpet that is also damp?

Thank you to everyone who has replied.

Yes, DerbyBorn. Sopping wet, I'd call it. After picking up the
carpet, I first thought what a nice rubbery layer underneath, that
water wouldn't penetrate. Today I pressed on it and water came out of
a hole in it. I have undone a securing bolt but it is very tight and
I have only been able to make a gap a few inches wide towards the
door. Its foam layer is soaking wet - yuck! I have jammed a hairdryer
in the gap, and also a metal bottle to hold it open other than with
the hairdryer itself and so that there is somewhere for the hot air
from the hairdryer to come out. I'm checking every so often that
nothing is getting too hot.

I am fairly sure (well, I hope) that the only moisture is in the
footwell itself. The lowest of the four walls to the footwell is
under the seat and it is at least 4 inches high. (The seats swivel.)
There must be some way to fix the problem if I don't manage to dry
all the foam with the hairdryer. If necessary, couldn't a garage cut
a square of the sound deadening out, dry it, and stick it back in
with duct tape? Even if I were to try to sell the car - which I won't
- the first thing that anyone is going to want to do is sort out the
foul smell. It's worth a few hundred pounds to me to fix.

Harry

1/. Many insurance firms simply write off cars that have been flooded
as the chances of contamination that would kill a snowflake
generati0n at 50 yards is very high.

2/. What you need to do is wash out all the crappy water and that
means getting everything even wetter. Toss a bucket if water with some
carpet shampoo in the footwell and scrub.

3/. Then using a wet and dry vacuum SHOULD essentially 'shampoo' the
carpet and underlay. These aren't too expensive to buy, and can be
hired.

4/. If the car is in use daily, full air-con, and full heat should
shove de-humidified hot air in, and that will dry stuff out in a few
trips. Otherwise set up a fan heater in the car with the windows
cracked and let it do its stuff.

5/. Any lingering pongs use 'febreze' on. It really does work. Doggy
smells, tobacco - gets them in the end though several applications are
usually needed.

Thanks for this. As regards the carpet, I've already scrubbed with carpet
shampoo and also with a sodium bicarbonate and vinegar mix and more or
less dried out with a fan heater. It doesn't pong so bad now. I'm hoping
that when it's totally dry vacuuming and Febreze will be enough. It's the
foam underlayer of the deadening that is the bigger problem. I am not
sure how to get to all of it - the deadening is still very tight, and I
have little experience in undoing things on cars. Also it doesn't seem as
though it would stand up to scrubbing if I poured a load more water under
there. Is it much different from the kind of carpet underlay that's made
from bonded bits of foam rubber? Wasn't familiar with wet and dry
vacuums, but am checking them out. They're basically hoovers that can
suck up both ordinary solid dirt and liquid through hoses, right? Thanks
again!

Harry

On 11/14/2016 11:01 PM, Harold Davis wrote:
The Natural Philosopher wrote in
news
On 14/11/16 17:53, Harold Davis wrote:
DerbyBorn wrote in
2.236:

Is it the sound deadening under the carpet that is also damp?

Thank you to everyone who has replied.

Yes, DerbyBorn. Sopping wet, I'd call it. After picking up the
carpet, I first thought what a nice rubbery layer underneath, that
water wouldn't penetrate. Today I pressed on it and water came out of
a hole in it. I have undone a securing bolt but it is very tight and
I have only been able to make a gap a few inches wide towards the
door. Its foam layer is soaking wet - yuck! I have jammed a hairdryer
in the gap, and also a metal bottle to hold it open other than with
the hairdryer itself and so that there is somewhere for the hot air
from the hairdryer to come out. I'm checking every so often that
nothing is getting too hot.

I am fairly sure (well, I hope) that the only moisture is in the
footwell itself. The lowest of the four walls to the footwell is
under the seat and it is at least 4 inches high. (The seats swivel.)
There must be some way to fix the problem if I don't manage to dry
all the foam with the hairdryer. If necessary, couldn't a garage cut
a square of the sound deadening out, dry it, and stick it back in
with duct tape? Even if I were to try to sell the car - which I won't
- the first thing that anyone is going to want to do is sort out the
foul smell. It's worth a few hundred pounds to me to fix.

Harry

1/. Many insurance firms simply write off cars that have been flooded
as the chances of contamination that would kill a snowflake
generati0n at 50 yards is very high.

2/. What you need to do is wash out all the crappy water and that
means getting everything even wetter. Toss a bucket if water with some
carpet shampoo in the footwell and scrub.

3/. Then using a wet and dry vacuum SHOULD essentially 'shampoo' the
carpet and underlay. These aren't too expensive to buy, and can be
hired.

4/. If the car is in use daily, full air-con, and full heat should
shove de-humidified hot air in, and that will dry stuff out in a few
trips. Otherwise set up a fan heater in the car with the windows
cracked and let it do its stuff.

5/. Any lingering pongs use 'febreze' on. It really does work. Doggy
smells, tobacco - gets them in the end though several applications are
usually needed.

Thanks for this. As regards the carpet, I've already scrubbed with carpet
shampoo and also with a sodium bicarbonate and vinegar mix and more or
less dried out with a fan heater. It doesn't pong so bad now. I'm hoping
that when it's totally dry vacuuming and Febreze will be enough. It's the
foam underlayer of the deadening that is the bigger problem. I am not
sure how to get to all of it - the deadening is still very tight, and I
have little experience in undoing things on cars. Also it doesn't seem as
though it would stand up to scrubbing if I poured a load more water under
there. Is it much different from the kind of carpet underlay that's made
from bonded bits of foam rubber? Wasn't familiar with wet and dry
vacuums, but am checking them out. They're basically hoovers that can
suck up both ordinary solid dirt and liquid through hoses, right? Thanks
again!

Harry

If you have the really thick moulded-t0-fit foam underlay you have to
take the seats, carpets, and underlay out completely to get everything
dried out. This is based on experience with Citroen CXs which have a
very thick moulded underlay that can get completely saturated. Mind you,
that was often necessary on the CX because the water would get in from a
rusty floor (or wheel arch), and the only hope of fixing that was either
to have a replacement welded in place or, if it was not too bad, to
"tank" the whole of the interior of the footwell with fibreglass. This
could buy you two or three years, by which time something else would
probably write the car off.

On 14/11/2016 23:01, Harold Davis wrote:


Thanks for this. As regards the carpet, I've already scrubbed with carpet
shampoo and also with a sodium bicarbonate and vinegar mix and more or
less dried out with a fan heater. It doesn't pong so bad now. I'm hoping
that when it's totally dry vacuuming and Febreze will be enough. It's the
foam underlayer of the deadening that is the bigger problem. I am not
sure how to get to all of it - the deadening is still very tight, and I
have little experience in undoing things on cars. Also it doesn't seem as
though it would stand up to scrubbing if I poured a load more water under
there. Is it much different from the kind of carpet underlay that's made
from bonded bits of foam rubber? Wasn't familiar with wet and dry
vacuums, but am checking them out. They're basically hoovers that can
suck up both ordinary solid dirt and liquid through hoses, right? Thanks
again!

Harry

If you have a dry garage that is fairly well sealed then put a fan
heater blowing hot air under the car angled up at the wet footwell.

Open car windows and leave to dry out.

Old fashioned tubular greenhouse heaters might do the trick, but
it all depends on having a dry, well sealed garage with power.

A dehumidifier might assist too.