Oh, brother! how do you get oil out of carpet?

[minkydog]

My DH left an open bottle of petroleum-based fuel enhancer in the back of my Jeep. I didn't know it was there or that it didn't have a top on it. Today I went to put groceries in the Jeep, opened the back and YUCK! Oily muck all over the carpet. I tried to sop up as much as I can with paper towels, but it's a hopeless cause. Oil has soaked through the backing. Argh!

Does anyone have a great idea for cleaning this? Or should I just cut the piece of carpet out and replace it with another carpet remnant? I'm more than a little nervous about riding around in the car with carpet that's been soaked with flammable liquid ('course, I do ride around with 18 gallons of GASOLINE underneath!)

 

[2Kds2K9]

I would try something that will breakdown the oil. Dawn liquid would be my first guess. Then I'd try Hot Shot/Spot. I used that when my DS put Desitin all over his body and then it got into the carpet. (That was a fun night! NOT!)

Good luck

 

[ahutton]

I would look for something to soak it up first - maybe cat litter or something that will absorb that you can then brush away.


My Hero, The Queen of Clean says:
To remove a grease spot from clothes you know that “grease removes grease” so you keep a spotter of 8 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon glycerin and 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap on hand to work in and then launder as usual.

While you can't do that with your carpet, you could use that and then soak it back out.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Rent a carpet shampoo-er and ask for the soap that will cut grease. you might have to get the special shampoo at a home depot type store.

But that is your best bet to get it clean down deepest.

Mikeeee

 

[HannaBelle]

What a mess!

My brother swears by brake cleaner for cleaning carpets.

Mine have never been THAT dirty, but they allow their kiddos to run amuck.

I would try to clean it before cutting out a peice.

 

[3boymthr]

Well, I second a pp for Dawn getting grease out. Works great on all things oily including oil paint.

We use pinesol to get the oil out of DH's clothes (he's an oil burner service tech.

But... DH says that kitty litter is best for absorbing and cleaning up oil spills. It's what they use at work for when oil tanks leak and to clean up the oil residue in their trucks and cans, etc. Rub it in to the oil then vacuum it up. You may have to put it on and rub it in several times. ETA - DH says the generic cheapy old fashioned kind is best. No clumping or crystals.

If after you clean up the oil you still have an oil smell in your car there is a odor neutralizer that they sell at the plumbing and heating supply stores that will cut the smell. DH uses it in his truck, he says its only works for a little while, but then, the oil is constantly reintroduced into his truck.

Good Luck!

 

[AKL_Megs]

Dawn will get it out... we learned the hard way with motor oil!

Be prepared to rinse FOREVER. You'll change water in a bucket about 10 times, no joke. It takes some time to get all of the soap out. But it is worth it, because it brings it back to the way it was!