Cleaning Perlon carpet

[Slanski62]

I'm about to take my carpets out of my car. While they're out, can I use a rug doctor type machine to clean them? My biggest concern is whether they'll shrink. Thanks.

[hqj]

I used hot water, splash of dawn dish soap and oxyclean in a tub soak for a good hour, worked really well with no noticeable shrinkage. I would be careful if the machine has any kind of rotating brushes, it will lift the pile and distort the tight nap. Although my carpet is from 67' there's not much nap left.

[fizeus]

I wash carpets of my 73 every 12 months.
I usually use common washing machine liquid soap and warm water.
I wash them by hand with help of a soft nylon brush.
Never had problem or noticed shrinkage.
Avoid using hot water it can discolor, if you have dirty spots (like oil) use a little drops of dish soap

[Slanski62]

Thanks for the help guys. It sounds like light scrubbing by hand with a somewhat gentle detergent is the best way to go.

[Justin@Athens]

A soft bristle brush works really well, but then you need to towel it to actually pull the dirt off. A lot of people just spread the dirt on their carpets around and even it out. That is not what you want to do. A rug doctor machine will aid you in extraction after you have loosened the dirt from the fibers.

[AHudson]

A Rug Doctor machine (extractor) is a great tool for sure. Big warning is for any loose threads or potential 'runs' from heel wear or edges. Just be careful.

I used Woolite on Fcars all wool carpet, did a great job but pretty gentle to fibers, hands. Used Blue Coral cleaner on Porsche, worked great. Used a mild Simple Green solution where the dirt was heavy. "HQJ" mentioned Oxy-Clean which is similar to Blue Coral and also excellent.

Dry outdoors if you can. Ozone helps pull any residual smell out. (My car had been in a barn, a real barn, and reeked of,well, barn stink.) Afterward, the car literally smelled and looked new.

Might want to take the time - if you're removing the carpet - to paint your seat rails as they'll be pretty gunky. I also did a full sound deadening while there, new seat belts (those things just get old and moody), new sun visors, and some other tweaks.

If your seat belts are going to stay, remember that they've been rubbed on by a million oily hands and are way dirtier than you'd imagine. Just bc they're black, they hide it well. Here's the fix:

Get some '30 Second Solution'(at Lowes, HD) and mix it per instructions in a clean bucket. Undo the seat belt anchor and unroll as much of the belt as you can to submerge in the Solution. Before your eyes you'll see that water turn grayish brown. Eck. Then with a towel in one hand, attempt to 'squeegee' it out and lay it to dry. You will be amazed and/or grossed out at what's on the towel. I know I was!

Overall, it's great to get that stuff out that you can, and carpet will make a bigger difference than you're thinking.

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

We have a great, updated Car Care section where you'll likely find some great solutions to clean the carpet and other areas as well.

Car Care