Diesel exhaust 'soot' on van carpets.

[Chuck]

Yeah, I know, strange topic & it's not even mine.

Problem belongs to youngest daughter & her tribes' converted van they use when their kids are attending motor x meetings.

They've just returned from a recent event & had some exhaust problems with the van in the way to the event then again on the return trip accompanied by another problem - which I forget.

Anyway... when they were emptying the van of the bikes & associated stuff they noticed that the carpet fitted to the sides of the van were covered in diesel black soot type stuff & as they will be using the van - problem now fixed - next weekend for another event they want to clean the crap off.

Never having come across this before I could only suggest a liquid type carpet cleaner... so now looking to the wisdom of the forum for any suggestions.

[Dot]

Sounds like they take after their grand father with exhaust problems in the van . Maybe a hoover would help.

[T1 Terry]

The exhaust carbon problem is a mix of carbon black and diesel and will require something that can break down the diesel to release the carbon black from the fibres and all this will have to be extracted from the carpet pile. A lot of products that will breakdown the diesel part will also attack nylon type products and also remove colour. I'd suggest an upholstery toll on a carpet shampoo unit and a heavy duty carpet cleaner along with a pre-treat with a good spray of spot remover. It will probably need a number of rinses to get all the detergent and carbon black out of the carpet pile or it will just return to the surface after a week or so.
Good Luck

[dapope]

WD40...shifts a lot of things...

[Shirley]

Degreaser spray, try a spot first.

[Newcastle George]

Spray with diluted degreaser (1 in 5 with water), vacuum with a wet & dry vac, spray again and wipe over with a clean cloth and vac again.

George

[jon_d]

spray on sugar soap. ????

[Chuck]

Thanks for your thoughts & comments... all passed on.

[Barboots]

spray on sugar soap. ????

I used sugar soap to remove grease that the "marine technician" transferred to our boat carpet. I have no doubt it will dislodge diesel soot.

Caravan/RV carpet will be quite hardy and chemical resistant... but make sure all the product you use has been removed. Repeated "flooding" with water then blotting with a towel will do the job.

Cheers, Steve

[T1 Terry]

spray on sugar soap. ????

I used sugar soap to remove grease that the "marine technician" transferred to our boat carpet. I have no doubt it will dislodge diesel soot.

Caravan/RV carpet will be quite hardy and chemical resistant... but make sure all the product you use has been removed. Repeated "flooding" with water then blotting with a towel will do the job.

Cheers, Steve

Tanks has a tip on doing that on another thread