Blackswan
Banned
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 6,388
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Post by Blackswan on Nov 30, 2008 13:27:45 GMT -5
I have an out of town guest coming in next weekend. A MAN. He does not know me well enough to know about the squalor, and i do not want him to know me THAT well. I am going to be picking him up from the airport in my car. My car has the following problems:
Cheese bits stuck in between the front seat and the gear shift where no vacuum can reach.
Dirty carpets from spilled sodas, outside dirt, food, etc.
The back seat is disgusting. The kids have spilled all their crap back there, there is stains, sticky candy stuck to it, the top wrappers from McDonald's sweet and sour sauce stuck to the seat like glue (several of them). Crap going down into the seatbelt areas, just disgustingness everywhere. Throw up that was never deep cleaned.
Can you give me tips on cleaning this? Especially the upholstery? I am more inclined to clean it myself than take it somewhere, because I want to do this work, and reclaim my car, and remember to never do this to it again.
I have access to my vacuum with a hose, lost my crevice tool.
I have no special cleaners, am planning on using soapy water/sponges
My mom has a steam cleaner, but it has no handheld attachment, it is just like a vacuum
The local carwashes do have the handheld shampoo things, but I haven't had much luck with them before.
OK, so I am waiting for your wonderful tips!
Thanks!
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Post by insomnikitty on Nov 30, 2008 14:59:58 GMT -5
Hi blackswan-- Well, I thought I remembered seeing how to jerry-rig a crevice tool SOMEWHERE, but wasn't able to find it  On the other hand, I did find this tip www.paintpolisher.com/writeups/dixiecup.htmlI wasn't too thrilled about the size of the tool part, just seemed kind of tiny. The idea I had was to duct tape a paper towel or tp roll core to the end of your hose, then flatten the end of it to fit the seat cracks. Maybe a layer of duct tape around the length of your 'tool' to improve suction. I have not tested this so don't know how it will work. For dried/drying messes, I'd soak paper towels or a rag in warm soapy water and place over the area a while before using a sponge or brush on it. After you get the loose particles up, one thing I have found that works great for smells, body oil grime, etc. is Windex. A woman who worked for Enterprise car rental gave me that tip, and it does work. I've used it to de-cigarette used cars I have bought, on every part of the interior, seats and carpet included. Good luck! |
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Post by fluffernut - now Jannie on Nov 30, 2008 15:55:26 GMT -5
I took all the junk out of my car and drove it to a professional carwash. for thirty bucks US, they cleaned the outside, the inside, the glass, vacuumed the floors, even gave me a scented car hanger. It was the greatest! Then I sold the car, I used it as a trade-in when I bought a car for my younger daughter for school.
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Post by messyang on Nov 30, 2008 17:40:20 GMT -5
My car has been so messy, that things like trash and soda cans have fallen out of the car, as my kids get out of the car at school. Talk about embarrassing! Many of the car vacuums at car washes have small tools to use for cleaning. Also, baby wipes work wonders on plastic car doors. Also, once clean, laundry fabric softener dryer sheets placed in the car over night on the floor boards, seats, and back windows absorb odors for good! Good luck! A big hug from Florida...you are NOT alone! (My kids stick things between the seats too, like Tootsie Rolls)!
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Post by lilith on Nov 30, 2008 21:43:48 GMT -5
Take a water hose to it. You have to avoid electrical wires. They could be under the seats, behind the back seats (speakers) or in the doors. I have done this to my 1991 Sundace and to my delight found there is a small drain hole in the floor of the back seat. Most of the water drained out and I soaked the rest up with old towels.
If you're afraid of the wet method, you could scrub everything with soapy water and then rent one of those in house carpet cleaners for about 20 dollars. They come with upholstery attachments.
If anything wet scares you I would use Resolve carpet cleaner which is a powder that you vacuum up. You can get it for around $8 to 12. It would take forever but I think it would work. Vinegar or activated charcoal for the smell. You can get activated charcoal in the aquarium department at Walmart for about $6.
I worked at a car dealership and you wouldn't believe the stuff people had in cars when they got them detailed. Kid and fast food grime is the NORM. Candy stuck to surfaces, stickers everywhere, paper glued down with soda. Ketchup packets anywhere and everywhere. The detail guy used the roller kind of lint brushes to get pet hair off. He said it was the only that really worked and he had super vacuums. They charged $70 for inside and out. One or the other is even cheaper. If you have to spend I think it is worth it. Don't worry about shocking them.
You might also consider just a regular car wash place. My local one does the inside and out for $11. When I use it I have all of the loose stuff out and they tend to spend more time getting into the crevices and places I don't get. I try to afford this once a month as it really helps with maintenance. Good luck!
I forgot-seat covers!
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Blackswan
Banned
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 6,388
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Post by Blackswan on Dec 1, 2008 0:56:07 GMT -5
The rental vac is a great idea! I never would have thought of that. The lint brush will work great too ( I am thinking of the sticky roller type) for all of the fine dust junk that the vacuum won't pick up. That is a wonderful idea! I can't wait to get started!
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Post by Little_Ninja on Dec 1, 2008 1:14:15 GMT -5
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Post by moggyfan on Dec 1, 2008 1:23:04 GMT -5
Clean as best you can--and invest in some seat covers?
I bought some when I still had my old car; they looked great, wore well and as I recall weren't very expensive.
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Post by drivermom on Dec 1, 2008 13:25:48 GMT -5
I know now that we are seperated at birth, my car is a mess too. I have been trying to keep the trash picked up at least in the front seat area but my son in the backseat makes quite a mess. I also have stains and who knows what all stuck to the upholestry and floors. My friends son used some stuff called Tough Stuff or Tough Job to clean up an older pick up ( the inside of it) and was really pleased with the results. I have never tried this but you have to use elbow grease too I guess. I think you can buy it at auto supply stores. If you can afford it, clean out the trash and have it shampooed at a car wash place. I will have to do something with mine too so I am also awaiting to see all the replies you get.
Good Luck
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Post by gottaproblem on Dec 1, 2008 16:04:28 GMT -5
 My car has too much clutter in it. Thanks for the push you have inspired me to go and try to get the stuff out. I don't have kids putting sticky stuff around, but I can't drive anyone in my car the way it is. WTG You are an inspiration and what good ideas everyone is giving you. 
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Post by crazycatlady on Dec 2, 2008 20:58:32 GMT -5
I don't have much advice for cleaning all the crud left by messy kids. I was fortunate to get a new-ish car early in my desqualoring process, so got to start with a clean slate. I mostly keep it that way, by paying extra when I have the oil changed for them to wash the interior windows and vacuum out the car really well.
I also have a little trash bag that hangs over the back of the seat, and I try to keep all trash in the bag. And EVERYTIME I stop at the gas station, I empty the trash bag. I also sweep the car for other various trash, and dispose of it. The best part of this for me, is knowing that anyone watching me empty that trash bag likely thinks that I am a cleanie. If they only knew! 
It did not seem possible when I started trying to make these changes. And I still had hoardish piles in my car, like papers and stuff between the seats. But as time passes, it gets easier and easier to keep the car neat. It is definitely worth the effort!
Good luck with the scrubbing, BlackSwan.
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