Interior Svending question

"HoustonRunner" (houstonrunner) 07/01/2019 at 12:12 • Filed to: None

1

14

With one project down on the E28, on to other items on the long list. Cleaning the throttle body yesterday and the smoother idle led me to take some longer trips. No additional issues (that I didn’t already know about), but longer time in the car made me take note of the interior - particularly the smell.

First time in the car my girls said “this smells” and my response was “it just smells like old car, which it is.” The front seats were reupholstered and look great, the rear seats are in good shape but need cleaning and dye, and the carpet is in good overall shape.

But it does smell. I assume it is mostly the carpet, and I can’t trace any distinct odor, though it may have been a smoker’s car at some point in the past. I don’t see any direct evidence of that, but I can’t rule it out either.

So my question - recommendations on really cleaning the carpet?

The other option is replacing the carpet, but lots of searching has left me with two answers:

(1) there isn’t a great replacement source (some decent ones, but none that fit perfect or match colors perfect)

(2) pulling the carpet and replacing isn’t hard, but to do it completely is a PITA, and you will probably break some number of interior plastic components since they are just old a brittle.

I’d like to at least try cleaning before I start down the replacing path.

CalzoneGolem > HoustonRunner 07/01/2019 at 12:18

0

Pull the carpet and pressure wash / steam clean or just let it sit in the sun for a day or so.

If you don’t want to pull the carpet out you could sprinkle baking soda all over the carpet and let that sit for awhile then vacuum it out.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > HoustonRunner 07/01/2019 at 12:19

0

I’d start with pulling seats and any easy interior bits that are blocking carpet (center console) then putting some odor absorbing powder (millions of options out there) letting it sit and sucking it up with a hand vaccuum. Next level  is a shampoo and steam.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > HoustonRunner 07/01/2019 at 12:32

1

Buy some of this:

Mix it up in a spray bottle, spray down the carpets. I used this inside my 66 Buick to get the musty smell out of it, sprayed it down once, never had the smell again.

If someone would have told me about this stuff, I’d have laughed and told them it’s fucking snake oil, but now that I’ve used it personally, I swear by it for cleaning the interior. Some stain remover and laundry soap to scrub the inside down and you’ll have it looking like new.

Svend > HoustonRunner 07/01/2019 at 12:50

1

You could try an odour bomb. Sit a tray in the passenger footwell, put the ai r con on circulation with the engine running and pull the trigger, set canister on tray and close the doors (follow specific instructions as some odour bombs work slightly differently). You will need to do a full thorough interior wipe down to remove any residue from plastic, glass and other interior surfaces.

Or if you want and can, take out the seats and my personal favourite is Valet P ro Enzyme Odour Eater. It’s a anti bacterial cleaner and   deodoriser.

Spray on liberally, agitate into the fibres or scrub where stains are present and then wet vacuum up using an extractor nozzle.

There is also Gtechniq I2ab Tri-clean which is a multi surface anti bacterial cleaner.

There is also CarPro So2Pure which is a photocatalyst odour destroyer. Spray onto fabric surfaces and wipe off any residue from hard surfaces and it uses UV light to destroy odours in the vehicle.

HoustonRunner > Svend 07/01/2019 at 13:07

1

Wow, didn’t think I get a reply this quick, thanks! I’ll start investigating what products are available here (Houston, TX, or just in US generally).

I’d ask what a house call would cost, but I’m pretty sure it would meet or exceed what I paid for the car...

HoustonRunner > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/01/2019 at 13:10

1

Thanks, but it is kind of hard to make out what it is.  I assume it is the Norwex Odor Eliminator at this link?

https://shopus.norwex.biz/en_US/customer/shop/product-detail/421844?categoryName=Odor_Control

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > HoustonRunner 07/01/2019 at 13:15

0

Yep, that’s it.

I use that for odors, I use a mix of their powdered laundry soap and their stain remover for cleaning carpets/upholstery.

HoustonRunner > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/01/2019 at 13:23

1

This may be a bit personal, so I get it if you don’t answer....

Fresh Rain, Misty Meadow, or Crisp Linen?

Svend > HoustonRunner 07/01/2019 at 13:35

1

iDetail are on 8305 Telephone Road, Houston, Texas, 77061.

https://www.idetailhtown.com/

They do Adam’s, CarPro, Gyeon, Sonax, 

So2Pure.

https://www.idetailhtown.com/search?page=3&q=carpro

HoustonRunner > Svend 07/01/2019 at 13:39

1

Thanks.  Now to see if I can find time to run over there on the way home...

Svend > HoustonRunner 07/01/2019 at 13:56

0

They are open daily from 10:30am until 9pm, except on the 4th of July where times may change. 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > HoustonRunner 07/01/2019 at 16:05

0

No preference honestly. We had the Crisp Linen for our last bottle, our current bottle is Fresh Rain. I find the scent dissipates quickly, so it doesn’t really matter to me. If I was buying it myself, I’d probably stay simple with the Crisp Linen though....  

Monkey B > HoustonRunner 07/01/2019 at 18:50

0

it’s just old BMW smell, horse hair (seat cushions) leather, plastic and vinyl VOC’s. I actually miss that smell.

CaptDale - is secretly British > HoustonRunner 07/01/2019 at 19:03

0

I use my ozone machine on my friends ’ cars and other things. Kills lots of smells.