Road Salt Removal Five Easy DIY Steps

Well the winter months are beginning to end. Now you see build up white salt marks on your vehicles floor mats and carpets. That salt will rot your floor mats if not removed properly. As your floor mats gets wet from draging wet shoes/boots into your vehicle it allows that salt to work deeper to your floor panels and starts to rust.

Here is a tip to remove that salt and make your car last for years to come.

First you will need a (1:1 ratio) blend of white distilled vinegar and distilled water in a spray bottle, if you don't have a spray bottle then use a bowl or small bucket.

STEP ONE:

To start out you will need to shop vacuum the lose road salt out of the carpet, get as much of it as you can by scraping the crevice tool back and forth, bang out with your hand, and use a brush to knock out lose salt.

STEP TWO:

Use your (1:1 ratio) blend of the vinegar and lightly spray it on your mats/carpets to break down the salt stain. The vinegar neutralizes the salts.

STEP THREE:

Next use a Terry towel and dab/blot the moist salt stained mat/carpet to allow the towel to soak up more remaining salt.

STEP FOUR:

Inspect the mat/carpet for anymore salt and stains. If there is a visual stains and salt repeat Step three but this time moisten the work area with the (1:1 ratio) vinegar and use a light to medium bristle brush to work the left over salt stains out of the mat/carpet.

STEP FIVE:

Once the salt and stains are visibly removed shop vacuum again to suck out all the remaining water out of the mat/carpet with the crevice tool.

TIPS:

Once you complete all the steps to the salt removel process you will need to hang them to dry. To make sure they are completely dry before putting them into you vehicle. As vinegar does'nt smell very pleasant. If doing your inside floor carpets be sure to leave your windows down to allow air dry and to let the vinegar smell to escape.

Be sure to remove mats and work on them outside of the vehicle as you don't want to spread the salt into the carpets if it hadn't spread already.

Do not be discouraged by a deep-rooted stain; it will come out eventually. Just keep repeating the steps to lift stains out.

TOOL:

* Spray bottle (ideal, but can be replaced with a bowl or bucket) Vinegar and water solution (1:1 ratio) for more superior results warm the solution.

* Towel

* Wet/dry vacuum

* Scrubbing brush

DONT HAVE TIME:

If you like convenience and or don't have the time, contact Virtuous Detailing, Chautauqua County for professional auto detailing. We'll assess your area of concern and specific budget, and deliver service accordingly.