How to Get Laundry Detergent Out of Car Carpet | Solutions

Laundry detergent is something that we have to deal with most probably every day of our life. It may happen that you accidentally spill some of it on your car carpet while carrying a pack of detergent in your car for whatever reason there is. Accidents happen.

If the same incident happens to you, what will you do? Will you replace the carpet that you really adore? Or will you try to clean it off? If you are thinking of trying to clean up that spilled detergent, how will you do it?

Well, do not worry at all. Here we are to help you. Just be with us for a while more.

How to Get Laundry Detergent Out of Car Carpet

• The very first thing you should go with is using hot water on that spot. Make sure that the water is at its highest temperature. The hotter it is, the better. Because it really helps to remove the detergent effectively. It separates the detergent from the carpet fibers. So, fill a spray bottle with hot water and soak the spill entirely with it.

One thing you must avoid is using vinegar. It may be an all-purpose cleaner for anything else, but not in this case. It will make things worse.

• Now the entire area affected with embedded laundry detergent needs to be flooded with hot water in such a way so that it feels like a sudsy sponge. Now you have to use a vacuum cleaner to remove the excess water along with the surface level of the detergent. After you have finished up the vacuuming, the carpet fibers should still be wet. Now when you have done it correctly, comes the part of wiping off the detergent.

• Now let the carpet sit for a while. It will allow the hot water to separate the detergent from the carpet fiber. Now repeat the vacuuming until you have cleaned off most of the laundry detergent from the carpet. Dab the carpet with a towel until you clean the rest of the detergent. Here you will have to put in some real effort and elbow grease to ensure the highest result.

Now it may seem like the work is done. Well, it is not. Do not get relieved now. To clean off the slightest leftovers, you will have to use a steam cleaner.

• Once extracting most of the laundry detergent is done, fill up the steam cleaner tank with the clean water. Do not over-fill as it may harm the unit. The fill line should be just up or down to the water tank.

Now run the cleaner over the spot repeatedly until the carpet fibers are back to their normal texture.

If you do not want to hire a steam cleaner, you have to do the job with your hand by repeatedly applying water and scrubbing until the soap is completely gone. You can use a fan to have faster drying.

Hiring professional service

This is always a reliable option. If you don’t have time or simply do not want to go through all this, just pick up the phone and contact the nearest service provider. They may even have specialized tools for a better result.

Read next: How to get purple shampoo out of carpet

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use Laundry detergent on my carpet?

To keep your carpet clean, it may require something more than just a vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner alone may not always achieve the goal for you. So, upgrading the cleaning with a bit of detergent is a good idea.

Will baking soda ruin my carpet? 

No, it will not ruin your carpet. It is a safe and perfectly natural item to be used for your carpet. In fact, baking soda works very well in case of a bad smell. It is a good deodorizer for your smelly carpets.

What happens if you leave the soap on the carpet?

If laundry detergent spills on your carpet and you leave it, it may permanently damage your carpet because it gets very deep into the carpet fibers, which literally takes hours to clean off.

Do you keep cleaning the carpet until the water is clear?

Yes, you should keep cleaning your carpet until the water is clean. It is the indicator that your carpet cleaning is going on right. To avoid these cleaning frequently, never walk on carpets with shoes that you wear outside. It will save you from a lot of sweat. 

Can I clean my carpet with just water?

Yes, you can. In fact, it is the safest and most effective, risk-free way to clean your carpet. Be sure to use hot water. Cleaning your carpet with hot water will keep it clean and fresh for a more extended time.

Conclusion

Accidents happen! So don’t get broken hearted so fast. Be patient and give it a try. There are chances that you alone will be able to restore that previous look of your car carpet and save yourself from some extra expenses. Also, you can be a bit more cautious about the way you handle things. This may even keep you from falling into this in the first place.

So, best of luck and happy cleaning.