4 Proven Best Practices For Auto Carpet Detailers

By U.S. Products

Carpets in automobiles are different to carpets in any other location because they can be awkward to clean in cramp spaces. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Products)

To increase customer satisfaction and cleaning team efficiency when cleaning carpets in automobiles:

• Start with a thorough vacuuming.
• Use a fabric or bristle brush.
• Ensure quick and complete drying.
• Take advantage of new high-lift Heated Extractors / Spotters for faster, more complete cleaning.

Carpets in automobiles are different to carpets in any other location because they can be awkward to clean in a cramped space. Luckily, as professionals, this is what we expect to encounter in our everyday work.

• Carpets are always an issue, especially when they have been neglected for a while and have built up many stains in the same area.
• Stubborn stains are the bread and butter for automobile cleaning professionals.
• It’s more than just making an automobile look good; it’s important to get the job done quickly and efficiently. And leave the carpet clean and dry.

1. Start with a thorough vacuuming: Remove all floor mats. Shake them well, then, use a vacuum with a brush attachment. Rinse-wash and wipe if needed.

• Always vacuum the carpets and upholstery well, especially before using a car upholstery cleaner. Good vacuuming picks up loose dirt, crumbs, and other small messes from the car seats, floor, and other areas.
• Vacuum the carpet and upholstery with a high-lift, powerful Carpet Spotter-Vacuum. The spotter’s brush attachment will lift the dirt off the surface. Avoid pushing the dirt deeper into the fabric during cleaning.

2. Clean where the “sun don’t shine”: Most dirt and grit are worked into the nap of the carpet and becomes trapped in the fibers.

• Using a stiff brush will help work the trapped grit from fibers. With vinyl, use a stiffer brush.
• Use a softer brush to whisk dust from panel seams, vents, and around tight areas where the vacuum cannot reach. Use a soft-bristled brush for cloth seats.
• Use a portable Extractor to easily remove dirt under the seats and tight spaces.
• Pay extra attention to spots where dirt tends to gather —– near doors, where people rest their feet, under the seats and close to the air vents.

3. Ensure Quick and Complete Drying: Drying the interior of the car well after cleaning is super important. Leaving it wet could damage the inside area, especially if the car has cloth seats or padding.

• When cleaning, try to use liquids sparingly. This means applying small amounts of car upholstery cleaner. It’s better to prevent the fabric from getting too wet in the first place (See: No. 4. Use a Heated Extraction / Spotter Tool).
• One of the biggest mistakes many detailers make is finishing the job, closing the doors, rolling up windows, and putting floor mats back inside before they are completely dry.
• Cleaning crews should be given plenty of time to complete the job. Keep the doors open and windows rolled down. For extra drying, consider adding a de-humidifier inside the vehicle before delivering to the customer.

4. Use a Heated Extraction / Spotter Tool: Hot water Extractors / Spotters deliver high pressure carpet shampoo that is mixed with warm water and pushed through the carpet fibers. This will soften the dirt and eliminate food spills and pet odors.

• An Extractor’s vacuum will then extract the water and the dirt together. Extractors super-clean the carpets and leave them almost dry.
• This is a significantly superior treatment for the carpet and one that clients will appreciate.
• Extractors work well on different kinds of carpet and upholstery, including cloth and vinyl. Extractors don’t rely on harsh chemicals, so they’re good for the environment.
• Clean the carpet by moving the Extractor head in both directions. Use the high-lift vacuum (in the Extractor) to fully remove liquid from the carpets.

Summary

Cleaning teams should be prepared in advance to identify, reach, clean and restore all surface types. These surface types, including varied carpet surfaces, require different cleaning approaches and extractor pressure to clean – but not damage them.

Adjustable psi extraction systems allow users to scale cleaning to the exact amount of pressure needed to deep clean all surface areas in carpet or upholstery. These extraction systems must be compact, portable and provide continuous operation so that cleaning crews can touch-free clean and restore surfaces, and have the surfaces clean, dry and ready for use in minutes.

Carpets can look fresh and have an extended lifespan when cleaners follow specific cleaning procedures.

• Follow general cleaning tips that apply to most stains regardless of the carpet type.
• Use an extractor for auto carpets and tough upholstery stains.

U.S. Products is the leader in the development of commercial auto detailing floor cleaning extractors. U.S. Products Dual-Vacuum Extractors and Wands improve carpet sanitation, prolong carpet life, and reduce job time. The U.S. Products Dual Vacuum Extractors and Wands increase cleaning ability and reduce drying time 20 percent greater than any products on the market. The reduced drying time allows cleaning teams to complete jobs faster, increasing productivity and revenue by cleaning and finishing more square footage in a day. U.S. Products extractors are designed and built in the USA. The company has built its reliable, powerful systems by using 30-plus years of technology development and customer service. U.S. Products backs its market-leading solutions with a 10-year limited housing warranty, the longest of any commercial extractors. For more information or to find a local U.S. Products Dealer, contact the company at: https://usproducts.com/, or Phone: +1-360-450-2694.