I screwed up (wet floors)...

[DaveMorris]

All right guys, I had a cooler turn over in the truck and spilt about 2 gallons of water on the carpet in the back. I towel dried it as much as possible, but now (a day later) it is starting to smell like mildew. So what is the best way to clean this and what product to use to get the smell out.



I am guessing that I will have to pull out the carpet and padding this weekend to clean it with something, unless someone else has some marical cure product that will help me out.



Any suggestions on the best way to tackle this mess?



Thanks in advance,



Dave

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I'd check with a decent carpet store - various spills are pretty common, and they surely have a product to deal with it...

 

[VStahl]

my dad owned a carpet cleaning company and they would park the vehicle somewhere hot and dry with all the windows open to let it air dry as much as possible. If the vehicle dries without alot of air circualtion it will smell bad even with cleaning chemicals

 

[GWoody]

I believe I'd park her in the sun with the doors open and sit a small fan on a stool outside the door blowing through the cab and that should dyr it out. Maybe try a shop vac before you do the fan thing.

 

[DaveMorris]

Well right now the windows are down and it's 80+ degrees out, but I am having trouble letting it vent out with the daily rain we have been getting and no cover for it... I hope I can reverse some of this, I figure that something out there should kill any mildew that may have started...



Thanks guys, anyone else???



Dave

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Well, other than what's already been offered, only a light percentage of Lysol or similar disinfectant mixed with water, applied carefully and then sponged out with a dry towel to kill mildew and odor - followed by as much ventilation as weather allows...

 

[scootergmc]

If it was me I would pull up the carpet because 2 gallons is alot. It will take quite a bit of time for that to dry by conventional methods. The worst thing is having a dry surface and the moisture is locked between the cab floor and carpet padding.



I know it sounds like a lot of work, but pull it up, towel dry, under the carpet and stick a fan in there and leave it running all day/s long w/ the windows down. Move the fan around occasionally. Then try a scotchguard cleaner when it's done. That's my 2 cents. Good luck.

 

[RonsRig]

Get a Bissell carpet cleaner with the upolstery attachment. It has more suction than a shop vac. Go over it until it stops pulling up water. The more water you pull up the faster it dries. Open windows, protect it from the rain, the dryer the air the sooner it will dry. Good luck.

 

[NSperduto]

I'll second the bissell. I use one all the time. Also, putting a dehumidifier in there for awhile will suck the water out.



Nick

 

[AKAMAC]

Drive it to Arizona... ... . Your truck needs a vacation and I understand there is alot of DRY heat there.

 

[R.M.THOMPSON]

Check the phone book under "enviromental sevices" for a company that does restoration work (fire & flood) , and get a quote. Then call youur insurance company ! At least they will give you a good "method" with the equipment that is required..... Your choice if yoou would like to D. I. Y.

 

[CumminsBu]

Pull the Carpet and have it LINE-X

You won't have to worry about spills again

 

[jersey diesel]

Shop-vac as much h20 as you can from the carpet, dry with hair dryer, spry with natures miracle, from pet store, let dry and repeat, after a week apply fabreeze.

 

[KBennett]

What about running the A/C on recirculate set on high?

 

[EEngel]

Carpet

DaveMorris,



I had the same thing happen in a blazer, however the cooler was filled with water and salmon. I was in Green Bay and didn't have anyway / place to work on it. So I figured I would let it air dry with the windows open (I did go to a car wash and use the huge vacuum to suck the water out).



Needless to say, the fish oder really stunk after a few days. And there was a definite smell of mold.



When I got home I pulled the carpet and cleaned the pad and the carpet with a rented carpet cleaner. Hung both out to dry and re-installed them.



It was a PITA but well worth getting rid of those smells.



I think the only way to really get the mold/mildew out is to pull the carpet.