I need a little help, Oppo

"Denver Is Stuck In The 90s" (denver80222)
08/28/2014 at 15:22 • Filed to: None

A few weeks ago my brother accidentally spilled a decent amount of mineral spirits in the back seat of my mom's 2010 CR-V. The car still wreaks, especially on a hot day. Yesterday I had to have the sunroof open just to be able to breath. The car has been detailed and it didnt help. Its sat on the driveway with all windows open for god knows how long. How do I get rid of this noxious odor? Is it dangerous to my health to be in an enclosed space with this? Is it flammable even now?

DISCUSSION (32)

ly2v8-Brian > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:26

can you remove the seats?

CalzoneGolem > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:26

Fill the gas tank

turn heat to full

leave rear windows cracked

wait for gas to run out

mcseanerson > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:26

The same answer to all car related problems.

Kinja'd!!!

macanamera > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:28

Just air it out like crazy. Pour baking soda all over the spill air if possible.

Vimto > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:28

Tuff Stuff. Big yellow can.

Party-vi > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:29

It should have evaporated by now. Take the rear seat out and let it air out for a week. See if that helps. Alternatively, clean the seat with a steam cleaner to see if that lifts the smell.

CalzoneGolem > mcseanerson
08/28/2014 at 15:29

Drink 1:1 mixed with Coke?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > ly2v8-Brian
08/28/2014 at 15:29

They fold up but I dont think they come out entirely

mcseanerson > mcseanerson
08/28/2014 at 15:29

Before you go and spray seafoam all over your interior this is a joke.

mcseanerson > CalzoneGolem
08/28/2014 at 15:30

There you go. You won't smell anything anymore then.

ly2v8-Brian > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:31

leave the doors open in the garage and maybe a Febreeze grenade

jariten1781 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:32

If you can access everywhere it hit then you can attack it with vinegar or dry cleaning solution. If it's gotten into inaccessible nooks or well into the foam there's pretty much nothing you can do but wait for it to go away on it's own. Buying a really strong air freshener may mask it, or the combo of smells may make it worse...but it might be worth a shot.

AM3R > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:34

How thorough was the detail?

Shampoo, steam, etc?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > AM3R
08/28/2014 at 15:34

Just steam and vacuuming

As Du Volant > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:34

Take the seat out. Probably will have to unbolt it. Get some dish soap, preferably something gentle. Test the dish soap on a not-so-visible part of the fabric first and make sure it won't discolor the cloth.

Then take the seat to a do it yourself car wash, soap it up, and spray the hell of it with their spray gun. Then leave it out in the hot sun all day long to dry out.

This is how I used to clean junkyard seats. Very rarely was I not able to get them good as new.

AM3R > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:36

Try shampooing it.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > As Du Volant
08/28/2014 at 15:37

Thats a good idea

deekster_caddy > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:39

Take the seat cushions out. Hose them down and soap them up. Hose some more. The mineral spirits had time to penetrate the fabric deeply, anything you are cleaning with also needs to penetrate over time. A quick shampoo isn't going to cut it. Dish soap may do the job.

Good luck!

crowmolly > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:41

Pretty simple actually:

Step 1: Go to the bank

Step 2: Exchange some bills for a roll of nickels

Step 3: Wrap said roll of nickels in electrical tape

Step 4: Grip roll tightly in your dominant hand

Step 5: Punch your brother square in the face

Step 6: Get a steam cleaner

Step 7: Steam clean the seat, then shampoo it with carpet cleaner and vacuum. Spray it with deodorizer

Step 8: Get some of the odor-absorbing cans from home depot

Step 9: Throw the cans in the car and wait

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:42

Steam clean the hell out of it. Leave a few bowls of vinegar in the car, it absorbs a lot of smell. Just remember to take them out before you start driving.

Other than that I dont know what else other than taking teh seat out and hosing it down.

SnoopDouggyDougg > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:49

Meguiars Mirror Glaze #23 Odor Eliminator. If that doesn't work try Dakota Odor Bomb Car Odor eliminator. Those are available at autogeek.net have had excellent results with both.

KMarino > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:52

http://www.ehow.com/how_8634939_re…

desertdog5051 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 15:58

I found this works well. Remove seat from car. Take a mixture of 1 part tolulene, 1 part diesel and 1 part gasoline. Spread on surface. put in the sun in an open area. Strike match and apply to seat.

XJDano > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 16:01

I had a bottle of rain-x in the back of my wife's car and left it in there then summer came and swelled up the bottle and it leaked out in hatch area. It was as bad as you describe.

I had to let it air out continuously and put a fan an hatch with Windows open for overnight I think. I guess eventually it all evaporated.

Good luck.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > crowmolly
08/28/2014 at 16:06

I especially like the part about hitting my brother

crowmolly > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 16:07

Why were they in the car in the first place? I hope he knows better than to transport stuff like that on the actual seat.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > crowmolly
08/28/2014 at 16:08

He had it in a orange juice container like this:

Kinja'd!!!

He's an idiot

crowmolly > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 16:11

In all honesty you are probably going to end up pulling the seat and cleaning it outside the car. It is not as difficult as it may seem.

thebigbossyboss > As Du Volant
08/28/2014 at 16:21

Wow. You is smart steve, this is good advice.

NaturallyAspirated > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 16:41

I bought a Bissell Little Green when my heater core blew and flooded my floorboards with propylene glycol. I parked the car with the windows down for like a week, but that stuff just would not evaporate. The Little Green cleaned it right up and I have used it quite a bit since then. It works quite well for removing smells from cars.

If you don't want to buy something, you can try a rental Rug Doctor or equivalent. Should work just as well.

Also, Deadspin's favorite "clean person," Jolie Kerr, recommends Pine Sol for oil-based stains:
http://deadspin.com/help-my-sweaty…
http://jezebel.com/what-to-do-abo…

I own dead car brands only > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/28/2014 at 16:44

I have heard of sprinkling a large amount of baking soda on the area and let it sit. It supposedly removes odors. Let sit for a good while then vaccum

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > I own dead car brands only
08/28/2014 at 16:46

That would work if I knew where it spilled. I think its everywhere