An extractor is used for the deep
cleaning of carpets; it forces hot water and detergent deep into the fibres and
then draws it out with a powerful vacuum.
The advantage of foam over liquid is the minimum
amount of moisture, very important for cleaning absorbent and moisture
sensitive materials. Use foam cleaner, which should be given dwell time and then
gentle agitation with a medium stiff bristled brush to get the product into the
materials surface, the low moisture content of foam can then be easily rinsed
and the surface dried.
When using a vacuum or water extractor always allow the machine to do the
work, there is absolutely no need to scrub with the nozzle, or use
downward pressure as this will greatly restrict airflow / suction. Instead
place the nozzle on to the carpet or upholstery so that it makes contact
lightly, this will introduce vacuum deep into the fibres and bring the
particulates and soil to the surface for easy pickup by the vacuum.
Dust
-
can soil carpets in various ways, it will discolour
the fibres making them appear dull and grey, dust brought into the vehicle from
outside often contains grit, which will abrade the fibres and cause wear marks,
especially in the foot well close to the pedals. Using a vacuum with an
agitator attachment regularly will avoid these problems
Spills and stains - whenever a
spill occurs it is important to blot as much of the liquid us as possible using
a dry clean cloth or tissue. Never rub the pile as this will cause distortion
and possibly alter the appearance of the carpet. It is very important to do
this immediately after the spill occur, failure to remove the spill quickly
could lead to the stain becoming permanent and it may not be able to be removed
at a later date, even with professional assistance.
Carpet shampoo - if
incorrectly applied, can leave sticky soap residues in the fibres which can
result in the soiling reappearing quite rapidly. The advantage
of foam over liquid is the minimum amount of moisture so it will not over wet the fibres, very important for cleaning
absorbent and moisture sensitive natural wool carpets.
Autoglym Interior Shampoo/Cleaner easily cleans through dirt and oils on hard to clean
panels like door handles or seats and effectively removes stains from carpets
without any fear of bleaching, leaving soapy residue, or lingering scent
behind. The name suggests shampoo, but this product is an actual cleaner.
To refresh the colour - mix a 1:10 solution white vinegar and
distilled water, soak a towel in the solution and gently rub but do not scrub
the carpet surface
Normal
cleaning- brush loose dirt/dust with a medium stiff brush, lightly spray
surface with a carpet cleaner (Scotchgard™ Fabric & Upholstery
Cleaner) and let the foam remain in place for 5-10 minutes and then
remove residue.
Heavily soiled- brush loose dirt/dust with a medium stiff brush, use a
citrus-based pre-cleaner P21S®
Total Auto Wash 10:1 distilled
hot water, or Woolite® Heavy
Traffic Carpet Foam, allow the
solution remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react, and then
use a carpet extractor or high suction vacuum
After surfaces are clean and
dried, use a rubber bristle brush to go over the carpet material to raise the fibres
and apply a stain guard (303 High Tech Fabric Guard or Scotchgard™
Protector) improves the fibres resistance to oil and water-based stains,
as well as soiling from everyday use.
Carpet
Extractor - using an extractor that has powerful suction effortlessly
removes dirt and odours, lifts stains and puts the colour back into a carpet’s
pile, making it look clean and smell fresh
Washing your carpets
regularly is just as important as vacuuming. That’s because it removes oily and
embedded dirt that gets trapped in your carpet and is left behind by your
vacuum cleaner--even if you vacuum daily. Carpets that aren’t washed become
dull, flat and worn over time because this trapped dirt damages the fibres and
flattens the pile. Washing helps prolong the life of carpets and keeps them
looking at their best at all times.
Steam - this method is most effective but use caution
by not using too much detergent or water, do not over-wet natural wool as
always test the product on a small area to check for residue or a sticky feel.
Do not use if a residue exists, or if in doubt about a product. Finally, do not
use laundry detergents to clean as they often contain chemical brighteners.
Some stains can be removed,
some cannot. Those that resist all efforts of removal are usually not stains at
all. They are actually areas that have been dyed. Fruit drinks contain chemical
dye. Coffee was once used to colour fabric and requires a professional,
concentrated stain remover. Grease, tar and oil stains require strong
degreasers to be completely removed from thick carpet and velour upholstery.
Over the counter products do not have the chemical concentration necessary for
this job.
The three steps to interior detailing are cleaning, vacuuming and protecting
1.Cleaning: Completely wipe away dirt/grime with damp cloth until clean, rinsing out clothe as required, allow to completely dry before use. Use a rubber bristled brush in a circular motion to raise the nap of the fabric once it is thoroughly dry; this will loosen the debris and bring it to the top of the carpets pile, enabling a vacuum to remove it
2. Vacuuming: Vacuum thoroughly, getting loose dirt is critical (Metropolitan Vac 'N Blo™) always begin your interior cleaning with a thorough vacuuming; it is much easier to vacuum loose dirt from doorjambs when the dirt is dry instead of muddy after washing the exterior.
Use the crevice tool for hard-to-reach areas (don't forget the instrument panel and stereo controls), the upholstery attachment (usually a soft round brush) for the seats, and the stiff-bristled brush on the carpet, to loosen deeply embedded dirt and lift matted carpet-pile
3. Protecting: Don't miss this very important step. Once your interior is clean, you should use a conditioning/protection product (303™ High Tech Fabric Guard, which includes UVR protection or Scotchgard™ Carpet Protector) to ensure protected surface will repel dirt and moisture, and again, keep your vehicle in its like-new condition.
Using the right detailing tools to apply and remove the cleaning and conditioning products will make the job easier and will give you professional results
1.Cleaning: Completely wipe away dirt/grime with damp cloth until clean, rinsing out clothe as required, allow to completely dry before use. Use a rubber bristled brush in a circular motion to raise the nap of the fabric once it is thoroughly dry; this will loosen the debris and bring it to the top of the carpets pile, enabling a vacuum to remove it
2. Vacuuming: Vacuum thoroughly, getting loose dirt is critical (Metropolitan Vac 'N Blo™) always begin your interior cleaning with a thorough vacuuming; it is much easier to vacuum loose dirt from doorjambs when the dirt is dry instead of muddy after washing the exterior.
Use the crevice tool for hard-to-reach areas (don't forget the instrument panel and stereo controls), the upholstery attachment (usually a soft round brush) for the seats, and the stiff-bristled brush on the carpet, to loosen deeply embedded dirt and lift matted carpet-pile
3. Protecting: Don't miss this very important step. Once your interior is clean, you should use a conditioning/protection product (303™ High Tech Fabric Guard, which includes UVR protection or Scotchgard™ Carpet Protector) to ensure protected surface will repel dirt and moisture, and again, keep your vehicle in its like-new condition.
Using the right detailing tools to apply and remove the cleaning and conditioning products will make the job easier and will give you professional results
Seat Removal
For a thorough interior
cleaning, removal of the seats will allow access to hard to reach areas. It's
relatively easy if you take your time and are careful. Front bucket seats are
typically held down by four bolts on the ends of the runners at the base of the
seat, two in the front and two in the back, these bolts are usually torque down
hard (when replacing start, the bolt by hand, being very careful not to
cross-thread them)
These are removed using a
socket wrench. Sometimes the bolts are covered by a decorative plastic
moulding, which is held in place by a screw or just pops off using a prying
action with a slotted screwdriver. First, slide the seats to its rear-most
position, exposing the front bolts, remove, then, sliding the seat to its
forward position, exposing the rear bolts, remove.
When all four bolts have
been removed, gently tilt the seat either forward or back to reveal any wires
that are connected to the underside of the seat (for seat position controls,
heaters, seat belt sensors, etc.). Carefully unplug these wires, and remove the
seat from the vehicle, taking care not to scratch seat or paint surfaces as you
lift out the seat. Cover the remaining wire harness with a plastic bag and
aluminium foil; this will prevent water and cleaning solution from getting into
the wiring harness.
Pre-test Spot Procedures
Diagnosis is the key, not guess work. Before
using a cleaning product, a detailer needs to know the material they are
working on, what they are trying to remove and wither the product chosen is
compatible with the material and will not damage it. With all cleaning
products, always test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it won't
discolour or stain the surface, and ensure that the pH of the product is
suitable for the material. As can be seen stain removal requires some knowledge
of basic chemistry.
Read the product labels and
manufacturers safety data sheets (MSDS) to obtain a basic idea of contents, pH
levels etc. Depending on the pH of the product you use you should return the
surface to neutral (pH 7.0) before you apply any dressing or protective
products. Always select a chemical / cleaner that are biodegradable,
environmentally friendly and safe to use by observing any precautions
recommended so that they won’t harm you, your vehicle or the environment.
Read
the product labels and manufacturers safety data sheets (MSDS) to obtain a
basic idea of contents, pH levels etc.
When
spraying any surface with a liquid, it is always advisable to spray a small
area first (test area) then allow to dry to make sure the solution does not
react with the surface.
Providing the cleaning
product selected is suitable, apply several drops of the selected cleaning
solution in an inconspicuous area and rub gently with a clean, white micro
fibre towel. Do not over wet. Use small amounts of the product and blot
frequently, do not rub or use too much pressure.
Do
not use the product if it adversely changes
your fabric's colour or texture.
a) Carpet and upholstery cleaning:
P21S Total Auto Wash is
a Limonene (citrus) based cleaner and a good stain remover and is gentle on your
carpet. Gently blot into the stain using a sponge; don’t frantically rub at the
stain as this will only cause the stain to spread and may weaken the fibres.
Rinse the sponge and blot with cool clean water, dry material thoroughly
A good place to start is to
clean the carpet, floor mats and upholstery. This method of cleaning the
carpets and upholstery first, will allow the most drying time between cleaning
and the finishing of an interior detail.
Use a stiff brush to loosen
any debris as a regular vacuum can leave contaminants behind attached to the
fibres, when hot water and detergent is used with an extractor; this debris is
loosened and removed with the water.
Most vehicle fabrics are
comprised of nylon or olefin. Leather and wool (natural fibres) require more
delicate care, and will be discussed later. Carpet and upholstery can be
cleaned using three methods; hand cleaning, an orbital buffer with brush
attachment or machine extraction. The hand cleaning method remains most popular
due its low cost.
Realizing that carpet is a
vehicle second largest surface area, your shoes may have dirt / grit on them,
twisting and turning in one spot your embedding minute particles into the
fibre, which in turn abrades the surface and wears it away. If this is the case,
there is no easy-fix other than replacement. Heated water breaks down
water-soluble soiling faster, as it reduces overall chemical usage because it
reduces the surface tension of the fibre. Heat acts as a catalyst promoting
quicker reactions between chemicals and the soil.
Note- Use the hottest water available,
it also helps to pre-spray the carpet with hot water
It is very important to
ensure that the carpet / upholstery is very thoroughly rinsed, as the cleaners
will pull (wick) the dirt to the surface. The soap and oils will attract dirt
and oily grime like a magnet (re-soiling) if they are not thoroughly rinsed
away giving the appearance that they have not been cleaned. Once the carpet is
cleaned and dried a final vacuuming will remove any light moisture and give the
carpet a finished / detailed look
Turn your orbital polisher into an interior shampooer, for its
ease of use and high quality results it produces when shampooing carpeting and
upholstery. Scrubbing by hand with a brush takes time and effort, the Ultimate DA Polisher Shampoo Brush is designed to fit all most orbital polishers,
the 5/16 shaft easily screws directly into your polisher. Heavy duty built
construction for long lasting performance
1. To hand clean carpet and upholstery
A heated carpet extractor is going to work
much better than a shop wet-vac. You should be able to find a place in your
area that rents these machines by the day. Cleaning interiors by hand is a
labour intensive and time-consuming process.
·
Before vacuuming use a stiff brush to loosen any debris as a
regular vacuum can leave contaminants behind attached to the fibres
·
Use a rubber bristle brush to go over the carpet material to
raise the fibres
·
Vacuum area very thoroughly (Metro Vac N' Blo®) to
lift all the loose dirt from the carpet
·
Remove any stains with a ‘spot’ remover (303™
Spot Remover & Cleaner)
·
Spot treat really bad stains (303™ Cleaner &
Spot Remover or Woolite® Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam)
·
Use a pre-cleaner solution, 10:1 distilled hot water/ P21S®
Total Auto Wash, let solution remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable
cleaners to react
·
After sufficient remain in place time agitate pre cleaner
solution with an upholstery brush to ‘friction scrub’ surfaces
·
Mist spray surfaces with hot water
·
Brush the carpet to raise the nap and loosen ground in dirt
·
Remove the excess moisture, using cotton terry towels to blot
the moisture, repeat until towels are ‘clean’ or use a Wet/Dry vacuum
(preferably a carpet extractor system) and allow carpets / mats to thoroughly
dry before use
·
Once fabric is dry apply a fabric protection (303™
High Tech Fabric Guard)
Note: Use the hottest water available it also
helps to pre-spray the carpet with hot water when hand cleaning carpets / mats
2. Using an orbital buffer (with a brush
attachment)
·
Before vacuuming use a stiff brush to loosen any debris as a
regular vacuum can leave contaminants behind attached to the fibres
·
Use a rubber bristle brush to go over the carpet material to
raise the fibres
·
Remove any stains with 303™ Spot Remover &
Cleaner
·
Spot treat really bad stains (303™ Cleaner &
Spot Remover)
·
Use a pre-cleaner solution, 10:1 distilled hot water/ Hoover
Deep Cleansing Carpet/Upholstery Detergent or Woolite®
Heavy Traffic Carpet) let solution remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable
cleaners to react
·
Agitate surfaces with a random orbital buffer (speed #4) and
brush attachment, scrub carpet / fabric upholstery
·
Mist spray surfaces with hot water
·
Attach a terry-cloth bonnet and go over areas, changing the
bonnets frequently
·
Use a rubber bristle brush to go over the material to raise the
fibres
·
Remove the excess moisture, using a Wet/Dry vacuum or a carpet
extractor in one direction only, do not scrub, allow carpets / mats to
thoroughly dry before use
·
Once fabric is dry apply a fabric protection (303™
High Tech Fabric Guard)
Note: Use the hottest water available it
also helps to pre-spray the carpet with hot water when hand cleaning carpets /
mats
3. Using a Carpet Extractor
A carpet extractor is a
machine that uses a wand to inject water/cleaning solution deep into carpet
fibres and then, as the wand is pulled back, removes the moisture from the
carpet along with soils and contaminants. Using an extractor that has powerful
suction effortlessly removes dirt and odours, lifts stains and puts the colour
back into a carpet’s pile, making it look clean and smell fresh
Washing your carpets
regularly is just as important as vacuuming. That’s because it removes oily and
embedded dirt that gets trapped in your carpet and is left behind by your
vacuum cleaner--even if you vacuum daily.
Carpets that aren’t washed
become dull, flat and worn over time because this trapped dirt damages the
fibres and flattens the pile. Washing helps prolong the life of carpets and
keeps them looking at their best at all times.
Residual
Moisture
Early carpet extractors put
down considerable amounts of water/solution into the carpets, often as much as
two gallons per minute. Unfortunately, the carpets could take a long time to
dry, in some instances more than 48 hours. Because the drying time was so long,
the development of mould, mildew, fungi, and other contaminants became a
serious problem.
Low-Moisture
Carpet Extractor
As defined by the Low
Moisture Carpet Cleaning Association (LMCCA), this refers to any cleaning
system that ensures carpets will dry within two hours or less at 65 percent
relative humidity at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Note that this
refers to any type of carpet cleaning system (shampoo, dry, bonnet, etc.).
However, the most common carpet cleaning system used in cars, most and experts
agree the most effective system overall in any type of setting is extraction.
A low-moisture carpet
extractor will use a gallon of water or less per minute. This reduction in
water use can be important to operators in drought-plagued areas of the country
or where water conservation is a key consideration.
Pressure
Pressure levels can have a
significant impact on cleaning performance and the most effective ways to clean
different types of carpet, fabrics, and soiling situations.
Heat
Some carpet extractors use
only cold water to clean carpets. Although this may work to an extent, it is
not viewed as the most effective, expedient, and efficient way to clean
carpets, upholstery, or other surfaces.
Heat is one of the four
fundamental factors, along with agitation, time, and chemical required in
cleaning, according to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration
Certification (IICRC). When carpets are cleaned, heat improves the
effectiveness of the cleaning chemicals in loosening and dissolving soils,
making them more extractable.
This may also mean less
chemical is necessary, making the cleaning process environmentally preferable.
The correct amount of heat along with the other fundamentals of cleaning will
do more of the work, making the cleaning task easier for the operator.
An extraction system process
is the choice of professional detailers due to its cost effectiveness,
performance efficiency and time saving over conventional methods. Extractors
work by using a cleaning solution dispensed from a tank that heats the solution
to 200 oF+ and is sprayed at medium pressure (50 PSI +) and a high volume from
the machine via a cleaning wand; it is then filtered and re-circulated.
The
water is heated and pressurized, which produces a dry vapour. When the vapour
leaves the nozzle it is then subjected to atmospheric pressure and expands (a
phase change), vapour micro-molecules are able to penetrate the pores on any
permeable surface. When the molecules come in contact with a surface they expand
forcing any dirt, debris, and bacteria to the surface (steam vapour also kills
bacteria) Dry vapour has a water content of about 5%, so the surface dries
extremely quickly
Extraction also allows the
ability to remove cleaning residues due to its high suction power (100-inch
water gauge +). Rinsed fabrics look and smell cleaner and resist soiling
better. I know ‘lesser’ machines may give the appearance of a clean interior,
but in reality, the soil is being migrated the bottom of the carpet, this dampened
soil will cause mould / mildew formation as the suction lift on lesser machines
is pretty much non-existent. Mould uses enzymes to digest nutrients from
organic materials, the mould forms on top of the material and also down into
its fibres leaving circular or black spots in an irregular pattern Dirt and
moisture are essential to mildew propagation.
Pre-cleaner
a) Organic stain removal- quarter (1/4) cup Protein
Stain Remover (topoftheline.com) / 1-cup 303™ Cleaner & Spot Remover / one-gallon
hot water let remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react
b) Other stain removal- 10:1 distilled hot water/
P21S® Total Auto Wash, let solution remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable
cleaners to react
Methodology
·
Use a rubber bristle brush to go over the material to raise the
fibres
·
Vacuum area very thoroughly (Metro Vac N' Blo®) to
lift all the loose dirt from the carpet Remove any stains with 303™ Spot
Remover & Cleaner
·
Spot treat really bad stains (303™ Cleaner &
Spot Remover or Woolite® Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam)
·
Use a pre-cleaner solution, 10:1 distilled hot water/ P21S®
Total Auto Wash, let solution remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable
cleaners to react
·
After sufficient remain in place time agitate pre cleaner
solution with an upholstery brush to ‘scrub’ surfaces
·
Use a carpet extractor to clean and remove liquid and dirt. (Vapour
Clean Products T5 Extractor / Spotter®)
·
Use a 16:1 solution clean distilled hot water / Hoover
Deep Cleansing Carpet/Upholstery Detergent or 303™
Cleaner & Spot Remover
·
Use a rubber bristle brush going over the material to raise the
fibres
·
The next step would be to use its high-volume vacuum, in one
direction only (do not scrub) to remove the excess moisture and grime,
immediately recovering it.
·
Allow carpets / mats to thoroughly dry before use
·
Once fabric is dry apply a fabric protection (303™
High Tech Fabric Guard)
Notes:
1.
Carpet cleaning is based upon methods recommended by the Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Institute (CUCI)
2.
Use
the hottest water available it also helps to pre-spray the carpet with hot
water when hand cleaning carpets / mats
3.
Run
a 2:1 solution distilled water / distilled white vinegar thru the extractor
either weekly, or after every ten fresh fills. Vinegar, contains Acetic acid,
an organic carboxylic that will help eliminate scale, mild mineral deposits
etc. from clogging your extractor.
4.
Rug
Renew from top of the line
can revive stained or dirty fabric’s, you can use its super-concentrated
formula diluted 5:1 with Distilled water as a spot remover, or dilute 20:1 in
your extractor. Top of the Line Auto Detailing Supplies
5.
Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover - removes spots and stains
6.
Odour
removal- adding 4 ounces Odor Terminator to each gallon of extractor solution
7.
Clean interior glass after use to prevent
spotting. (ValuGard Product Line)
8.
Carpeted
floor mats: Floor mats take a majority of the wear away from the interior
carpet. However, this leaves floor mats with soiling as well as oily stains.
Inspect for oily stains. Use a solvent-based spot remover to remove oily
stains. Spot treat really bad stains
303™ Cleaner & Spot
Remover or Woolite®
Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam
Pour a small amount of
cleaner onto a terry towel and wiping toward the centre of the stain to remove
the spot. Clean normal to heavy soiling as described above. Floor mats may get
as wet as necessary to properly clean them.
Normal cleaning-
brush loose dirt/dust with a stiff brush, lightly spray surface with a carpet
cleaner (Woolite® Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam) and let the foam
remain in place for 5-10 minutes and then remove residue.
Heavily soiled-
brush loose dirt/dust with a stiff brush, use a citrus-based pre-cleaner P21S®
Total Auto Wash 10:1 distilled hot water, let solution remain in place for 5-10
minutes to enable cleaners to react, and then use a carpet extractor
The rubber backing and the
ability to relocate them to a warm place (not direct sunlight) for quick drying
aids their cleaning. After mats are clean and dried, brush them to raise the
fibres and apply stain guard (303 High Tech Fabric Guard)
to repel grease, dirt and oil based stains and provide UV protection against
fabric fading.
Embedded Sand
Use
the back of a brush to 'beat' the carpet and bring the sand grains to the
surface and then vacuum, repeat as necessary. The problem with scrubbing a
carpet that has ingrained sand particles is that they are abrasive and may
damage the fibres
Use
caution- if using Oxy-Clean™ as it’s an oxygen bleach that is also a
strong alkaline (pH 10) as it may discolour or leave a ‘bleach’ type stain if
not thoroughly rinsed / removed as its active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide
which is considered a corrosive.
Disclaimer-the
guidelines for carpet care given in this section are of a general nature and
are made in good faith. However, due to the condition, materials, age and other
factors, undesired effects or damages might be caused when some of these recommended
procedures are used on some automotive carpets/mats, so any procedure or
technique you choose to apply is done at your own risk.
Removing Stains
Rust
Corrosion stains sometimes
emulate from the seat guide rails-
·
Remove as much of the rust stain as possible before applying a
treatment.
·
Apply a Limonene (citrus-based) cleaner P21S Total Auto Wash
onto the stain so that the spot is thoroughly saturated.
·
Sprinkle salt onto P21S Total Auto Wash
·
Allow the salt and Limonene to react with the stain for 24
hours.
·
Refresh the TAW to keep the spot damp.
·
Blot the stain (do not rub, as this may damage the fibres).
·
Thoroughly rinse the spot with clean water.
·
Repeat as necessary.
Floor pan
Remove any salt crystals / rust flakes
·
Apply POR-15® Marine Clean™
·
And then two coats of rust inhibitor paint (POR-15®) or
(Eastwoods Road Salt Neutralizer) a high performance rust-preventive coating
designed for application directly on rusted metal surfaces; apply thin coats
·
Allow each coat to thoroughly dry
Glycol Antifreeze
When antifreeze spills onto
carpet, it will leave behind a stain and an unpleasant smell. Antifreeze often
spills or leaks onto automotive carpet, but it can also find its way onto the
carpet inside homes and garages. Once you notice the antifreeze stain, it needs
to be removed as soon as possible, to prevent the stain from becoming
permanent. If the antifreeze stain sits on the carpet for too long, you may
need to replace it.
1.
Soak up the excess antifreeze from the carpet with a terry cloth
towel
2.
Dilute the stain by saturating with clean water
3.
Remove the excess water from the carpet with an extractor or use
a terry cloth towel
4.
Apply a surfactant detergent (P21S Total Auto Wash) cleaner to
the carpet.
5.
Use a 1:1 solution of distilled white vinegar and distilled
water to neutralize
6.
Sprinkle cornmeal or baking soda over the carpet and allow it to
sit overnight. It will help absorb the remaining moisture and also control
odour.
7.
Vacuum the carpet to remove baking soda
Latex Paint
•
Remove as much wet paint as you can by blotting with a clean
terry cloth towel, work from the outside in to avoid spreading the stain.
•
Sponge with cool water and blot again (still from the outside
in) until you've removed as much paint as you can.
•
Use a 1:1 solution of P21S Total Auto Wash and medium hot water
•
Blot with solution, using a clean towel, again working from the
outside in.
•
You may have to repeat this process
•
Allow to completely dry and then vacuum
Water Marks (Browning)
Is caused by wet cleaning
fabric or carpets, heat causes a capillary action that brings soil (in the form
of a brown stain, hence browning) Clean and extract as normal. Follow with a
sprayed mist of a 'souring agent' to prevent browning, colour bleed and those
awful 'water marks'. Extract with plain water (no detergent). Pro's Choice
"Browning Treatment" (formerly known as
Brown Out) is an excellent treatment for water stains on upholstered furniture,
caused by wet cleaning, and treatment of brown out on upholstery or carpet due
to over-wetting. Simply apply full strength to the problem area. Wait to dry
and then evaluate.
Drying
Always thoroughly dry carpets to avoid mildew and/or mould
formation. To speed the drying process, leave the doors or the sunroof open,
but make sure you shut off the interior lights by placing something in the door
jamb that keeps the buttons retracted, or disconnecting the battery. Use
of a carpet extractor is better than heat as this may cause the mats or carpet
to become stiff. If an extractor is not available, use cotton terry towels to
pat dry
Protection
Scotchgard™ Protector
-fluorocarbon chemicals (polymer latex) developed by 3M are
mostly inert so by applying it to fabric they provide an effective protective
treatment by surrounding each individual fibre with an invisible shield.
It can be safely used for
the finest wool or nylon fabrics; Scotchgard™ Protector
improves the fibres resistance to oil and water-based stains, as well as
soiling from everyday use
Current Information
To be of real practical use,
a subject like automotive detailing requires a great deal of research, and
updating as new products become available. The advent of materials like
detailing clay, micro fibre technologies and finely milled micro diminishing
abrasives, suitable for ceramic nanotechnology paints are examples of why it’s
so important to monitor the industries new products, chemical technologies and
ideas that are constantly being introduced, as are the techniques for applying
them, hence all of the in-depth articles will be up-dated and revised on a
regular basis
Always be willing to learn; because the
more you learn, the more you’ll realize what you don’t know. You should never stop
learning, and your quest for information should be part of your everyday
process. It is
said that knowledge is power, with the caveat that it includes access to a
reliable information sources. I would like to think
that these articles become an asset to anyone who is new to detailing and to
professional’s alike, as well as industry experts who seek to advance their
knowledge.
I detailed my first vehicle at the age
of fourteen forty plus years later I started to write detailing articles to
share my experiences. For about fifteen years or so I started to contribute to
various detailing forums answering questions posted by neophyte’s, enthusiasts
and professionals alike. My mantra has always been Experience Unshared Knowledge Wasted.
About the author - http://togwt1980.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/about-author.html
This is not a product vendor’s
catalogue, nor am I a vendor pretending to be an educator, as there are a lot
of companies that are now sponsoring detailing forums, giving advice and
preaching that only the product they sell or manufacture are suitable. In reality
they are just advertisements, with the appearance of educators, mere salesman.
Those who have something to sell can be very persuasive, often using marketing
pseudo-science (i.e. blurring the
distinction between science and fiction) to make a great case while completely
ignoring meaningful facts, like their product adds nothing of real value.
I purchase all the products I use, so
the endorsement is entirely personal and commercially unbiased, the product
recommendation is based on "Does exactly what it says on the box" and
it suits my detailing goals. The products mentioned have been personally
subjected to extensive laboratory (using state of the art instruments and
methodologies in some of the world's most prestigious labs) as well as field testing,
and I have found that they will perform the task more than adequately, hence
the personal recommendation, using the methodology and tools cited, which may
or may not be the same as those recommended by the manufacturer.
I
hope these articles are informative. They are based on the current status of
technical development as well as my experience with the products.
By having
some understanding of the ‘What’ and ‘Why’ as well as the ‘How’ along with a
little science to help you understand how the chemicals we use react, you can
achieve the results you desire.
I would appreciate it if you would share
these articles as it helps other detailers further their knowledge.
As always if you have questions, I’ll do
my best to answer; bear in mind the only stupid questions is the one that was
unasked. Questions and/ or constructive comments are always appreciated
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