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Car Detailing

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  1. blufhard blufhard is offline

    Temple, GA
    United States

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    Aug 26th, 2011 (8/26/2011 7:36pm)

    I just bought a used car with the exterior in excellent condition. Only problem is that the interior is in pretty bad shape. Pretty sure the people who owned it before me fed their kids every single meal in the vehicle and never cleaned up spill one. Have thought seriously about just saying screw it and taking it to a professional, but really don't want to pony up a few hundred to do it. I think I'm gonna give it a try myself and see how dissatisfied the wife is afterwards. Very well may end up taking to professional after anyway if I fail too hard.

    Main question is if any of you have any tips/tricks for cleaning really funky upholestry in a vehicle. Any products you would recommend over others? I have not even seen the vehicle yet, so I can't tell you exactly what kind of stains it may or may not have. May do some before and after pics so I can share my epic fail with yall. Thanks in advance.









    Edited By: blufhard Aug 27th, 2011 at 02:56 AM
    Reason: pics
  2. Mad_Nervous Mad_Nervous is offline

    Delray Beach, FL
    United States

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    Aug 26th, 2011 (8/26/2011 7:45pm) in reply to blufhard

    For the plastic and other dash/door components you're gona want to go get a "Magic Eraser" made by mister clean. Get it damp with water and it will get anything out. It really is amazing.

    For the carpet your going to want to do a 3 stage spray. First spray all purpose cleaner then carpet cleaner then on top of that spray a carpet stain remover (last step only if it's super bad). After you spray the 3 layers let it sit for a minute or so then scrub it back and forth with a brush then scrub it with small towels. Turning the towel each time one side gets dirty enough.

    If the seats are fabric give them a light spray with all purpose cleaner then scrub/wipe with a dry towel. Repeat process til it's clean. If you have bad spots use the carpet spot cleaner but not very much. Do the same thing with the headliner if needed.

    Get a couple detailing brushes for vents and what not. If you use something to shine the dorr and dash make sure to wipe it off after it sits for a little while.
    Edited By: Mad_Nervous Aug 26th, 2011 at 07:47 PM
  3. (oIo) (oIo) is offline

    Troy, MI
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    Aug 26th, 2011 (8/26/2011 8:03pm) in reply to Mad_Nervous

    the very best way to clean it is using carpet shampoo and scrubbing the carpet with a carpet brush. Then rinse with hot water spray using an extractor. Maybe you can rent an extractor from home depot for cheap.

    or you can remove the seats and pull the carpet out. scrub it clean with carpet shampoo and rinse it with the hose. when it dries just put it back in.
  4. SirLiesAlot SirLiesAlot is offline

    MI
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    Aug 26th, 2011 (8/26/2011 8:14pm) in reply to (oIo)

    Call a local carpet cleaning company and ask about pricing for car upholstery and the floors/mats. Make sure they use a steam/extraction method and they'll do it a million times better than anything you or a detailer will do. All those soaps and sprays and foams for carpet and upholstery will hurt you more than help in the long run. You won't vacuum out all that soap no matter how strong your vac is and then when it dries it gets sticky and draws more dirt back even faster. They'll clean it but it will get dirtier a lot faster when you use soaps and shampoos. For the vinyl and plastics just get some sort of armor-all type stuff. Remove any and all molding you can and clean it, that way you get a much more thorough job.
  5. rivverkiller rivverkiller is online now

    White Rock
    Canada

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    Aug 26th, 2011 (8/26/2011 8:18pm) in reply to SirLiesAlot

    I would definately get a professional to steam clean the interior because as sirlies said you won't be able to get all the soap out and it'll cause your carpets to get dirty faster. Find a small place and just offer the guy cash and see what he says.
     
  6. blufhard blufhard is offline

    Temple, GA
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    Aug 26th, 2011 (8/26/2011 8:42pm) in reply to SirLiesAlot

    Thanks for the input guys! Will be calling some place local for sure. My first instinct was to go the professional route but was thinking I would be looking at >$300 for an above average cleaning. Is this about right? I really have no idea. Any clue as to what a fair price would be before I make the call? Work has been a lil slow and if I can't get something <$200 (around $100 would make me feel a lot better. Doubt that is possible tho), I will probably be going the Mad Nervous route.
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  7. STANGAA STANGAA is offline

    Coral Springs, FL
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    Aug 26th, 2011 (8/26/2011 8:51pm) in reply to blufhard

    no pics? wtf
  8. Hecklerz Hecklerz is offline

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    Aug 26th, 2011 (8/26/2011 9:02pm) in reply to STANGAA

    I definitely would of liked to see pics of the car/stain to see what I'm dealing with but:
    I think I'd agree with the Mr. Clean 'Magic Eraser' on all plastics (read label first to ensure you can use it on that surface)
    Upholestries would be left for the professionals that work for carpet cleaning businesses

    If for whatever reason you try the carpets/upholestry yourself, watch the nap of the material and don't breakdown the fibres. You can't repair that and it will definitely look like shit.
  9. blufhard blufhard is offline

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    Aug 26th, 2011 (8/26/2011 10:18pm) in reply to Hecklerz

    Will take pics whenever I finally get home. Been out of town this week and have not even seen the car yet. Its nothing special. 2002 Ford Escape v6 3.0 4x4. I had sent my wife with a friend of the family to check it out. Got them to knock 1k off the asking price because the interior was in such bad condition and it needed a dpfe sensor ($50) to get the check engine light to go off so it will pass emissions. Like I said, nothing special, but it will get better fuel mileage than my 99 Explorer, I was able to pay for it outright, and it was my wifes favorite color, charcoal gray, for a vehicle. So I'm pleased. Just need to get the damn thing cleaned inside! Hopefully will have pics by late this evening.
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  10. Mad_Nervous Mad_Nervous is offline

    Delray Beach, FL
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    Aug 26th, 2011 (8/26/2011 10:41pm) in reply to blufhard

    If you have any more questions just ask. I have a lot of experience detailing. Really just need to see what it looks like first. You don't need a steam cleaner unless there is shit like gum, candy, oil or waxy type stuff on things. If you're really looking so save loot, you can do it all, with a lil effort.
  11. blufhard blufhard is offline

    Temple, GA
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    Aug 26th, 2011 (8/26/2011 10:59pm) in reply to Mad_Nervous

    I appreciate it. From everything my wife and friend have told me, gum and candy are distinct possibilities. Pretty anxious to get home so I can see for myself.
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  12. BadAllergies BadAllergies is offline

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    Aug 26th, 2011 (8/26/2011 11:18pm) in reply to blufhard

    what do you recommend for getting smoke smell out of a car?
  13. blufhard blufhard is offline

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    Aug 27th, 2011 (8/27/2011 3:03am) in reply to BadAllergies

    Op edited w/ pics. They most certainly were not lying. Interior is in rough shape. With what you can see, what are my best case scenario expectations for this project? Obviously I will not be able to get it like new, but how close to newish would be reasonable to expect?

    And other than that, I have one more issue. The fabric on three of the doors has been removed. Little strip around where the handle is. I should be able to get an upholsterer to just replace all 4 w/o a problem right?

    One that is still attached. (barely)


    What the other three look like.


    Could not get any good pics of the exterior right at dusk with shitty camera, but believe it or not it is in near mint condition. Especially for a 9 year old vehicle. That and the fact that it still runs well make the interior a little easier to swallow. It is still a major problem none the less. Looks like they went muddin with the windows down more than once. Not to mention the two or three kids. Sigh...
    Edited By: blufhard Aug 27th, 2011 at 03:04 AM
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  14. norcaljeff norcaljeff is offline 2010 OT Thread Kill Leader

    San Francisco, CA
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    Aug 27th, 2011 (8/27/2011 4:17am) in reply to blufhard

    Pics of wife?

    Ps sick brag re owning a car in which multiple murders occured lol

    Pps pretty sure~$150 or so should do it
  15. SirLiesAlot SirLiesAlot is offline

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    Aug 27th, 2011 (8/27/2011 4:40am) in reply to norcaljeff

    Good news, bad news time.

    Good news is, those stains aren't coming out.

    Bad news, that ain't food and drink. Well, at one time it was. But that was long before it reached those seats.
  16. (oIo) (oIo) is offline

    Troy, MI
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    Aug 27th, 2011 (8/27/2011 5:00am) in reply to SirLiesAlot

    congrats on buying a vehicle from the BangBus guys.
  17. STANGAA STANGAA is offline

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    Aug 27th, 2011 (8/27/2011 5:05am) in reply to (oIo)

     
    Originally Posted by (oIo) View Post

    congrats on buying a vehicle from the BangBus guys.

    beat me to it... but ya, there was definitely a gangbang in that vehicle...Put a blacklight to that bitch
  18. rivverkiller rivverkiller is online now

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    Aug 27th, 2011 (8/27/2011 5:08am) in reply to STANGAA

    IF you own a pressure washer just take the seats out completely and degrease/scrub the shit out've them, then take the pressure washer to them and just let them dry . The side door thing is kind've gay because I doubt any wrecker will just sell you the cloth part, they'l want you to buy the whole panel. You could probably ask a detailer or some sort've interior guy to just glue on a simliar cloth insert for next to nothing though. IF you can't get the stains out in the carpet you can always buy bigger carmats or you can spray paint the carpets. They sell carpet spray or you can just use actual spray paint. Just spray a mist on the carpet and kind've scrub it into the carpet so it doesn't clump up.
     
  19. Mr. Blonde Mr. Blonde is offline Supreme Moderator

    Georgetown, DE
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    Aug 27th, 2011 (8/27/2011 5:15am) in reply to rivverkiller

    $120 depending on where you go. And at $150 it better look brand new
     
  20. SmokeyCasinos SmokeyCasinos is offline

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    Aug 27th, 2011 (8/27/2011 6:46am) in reply to Mr. Blonde

  21. perma_tilt perma_tilt is offline

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    Aug 27th, 2011 (8/27/2011 1:03pm) in reply to SmokeyCasinos

     
    Originally Posted by SmokeyCasinos View Post

    And Smokey owns again!
  22. blufhard blufhard is offline

    Temple, GA
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    Aug 27th, 2011 (8/27/2011 7:15pm) in reply to perma_tilt

    LOL Smokey. Going to try the local carpet cleaning place approach first. Guy quoted me $75 over the phone. So we shall see. Also thinking that if the wife isnt completely satisfied I may just give it a couple months and try to get the whole damn thing re-done in leather. What should I expect to pay for that? Possible to get it done for less than 1k?
    Edited By: blufhard Aug 27th, 2011 at 07:17 PM
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