Is winter over? Salt stains on car mats!

cockroachfarm

cockroachfarm

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Jan 6, 2001
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I know it's July - but I just turned over the floor mats on my son's car to discover some serious road salt stains and accumulations on the carpet underneath ("Gee Dad, I cleaned the TOP of the mats, didn't I?)

I'm used to just washing them with a water and vinegar mixture, but I'm wondering if there's some kind of brand-name auto rug shampoo that has worked miracles for you? (or should I stick with the home remedy?)

TIA! :)
 
Your ahead of the curve already.

"Removing "salt stains" from carpets - "Salt" stains are usually caused by calcium chloride and magnesium chloride, not sodium chloride, caccording to the Carpet and Rug Institute. Rock salt has small amounts of both of these salts imbedded in it. The problem comes with solubility. Patience and lots of rinse cycles are the key and sometimes calcium carbonate forms and this is fairly insoluble. Try to vacuum most of the dry residue off before using cool to warm water and a very small amount of carpet shampoo. Once the cleaning solution has been applied, allow time for it to dissolve the deposit. Blot, do not scrub, the spot. Sodium chloride is more soluble at lower temps than at higher ones. Then rinse with clear lukewarm water, blotting up the excess moisture and follow with another water rinse and blot dry. This should work. If not, try a cleaning mixture of 1/2 white vinegar to 1/2 lukewarm water, allow to stand 15 minutes and rinse with clear water."*


* From the Salt Institute http://www.saltinstitute.org/
 
Thanks, DO. From your location, I'm assuming you also have some experience with road salt stains? ;)

(There's a SALT INSTITUTE? :eek: )
 
Not to hijack your thread, but I just bought a car that was from the Minnesota and it has salt residue under/along the body panels. Is there a trick to dissolving that? I saw the salt and vinegar suggestion and did not know if that worked on exterior salt residue??? :confused:
Thanks a million from a Georgia boy who does not see much ice on the roads! :D ;) :D
 
Take it to a car wash that has spray wands... Spray down the underside of the car...

Then let it dry out, check for any standing water in the crevices... if anyone in your area installs undercoating, they might be able to oil it down for you.

About the salt on the matts... If its on the rubber backing, I would take some shampoo and a scrub brush with very little water and rub it into a foam... then wipe off the foam with a wet towel. Contrary to popular belief, you dont need auto specific foam, get some bargain brand stuff at the dollar store, just pick one that you dont mind the sent. If you want to teach the said son a lesson, take some blueberry smelling stuff and one of those every green air freshners tangle the air freshner in the wire of the seat, and take the shampoo and "shampoo his carpets."

Talk about a strange smell after a few hours! :D
 
Hold on, I thought you were talking about the rubber FLOOR mats. Not the actual carpet of the car!

I would suggest not wetting it down to terribly bad... dont want to create a battery in the floor boards. :eek:
 
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