Driving through high flood waters or leaving a car door open can cause the interior of your car to get wet, especially the carpet and floors.Lift the carpet, use towels and a shop vac to remove excess water, and run fans in your car to help evaporate all the water from it.You may need to use some products to get the water out of the car.
Step 1: Put your car in a covered area to keep it dry.
In an enclosed space, leave your car windows and doors open.You can dry your car out in the sun if the weather clears up.If you are drying your car in a secure location, no one will be able to steal it while you leave it open to dry.If you can't dry your car in a safe place, keep the windows and doors closed and run the AC.
Step 2: Put a microfiber towel over the pooling water.
Microfiber is a synthetic material that absorbs more water than natural fiber towels.Press down on your hand to soak up the water, using one of these.To use the other side of the towel, unfold it and ring it out when it is completely soaked.Put towels on your seat to prevent it from getting wet when you sit down.
Step 3: You can vacuum in your car with a wet shop vac.
A shop vac is a special type of vacuum.Before you start suck anything up, turn the dial to wet.The vacuum hose should be Rake over the seat, carpet, and any other surfaces that have gotten wet.The window control buttons and the car door speaker are some of the buttons that need to be dry out.If you don't have a shop vac, check with an appliance or hardware store to see if they rent them out.
Step 4: Put a fan in your car.
You can either put a window unit in the open car door or beside it.Allow it to run for at least 2 days, or until the water in your carpet has evaporated.If you want the fan to hit other damp spots after one area has dried considerably, check it frequently to see the progress of it.If a fan is used in conjunction with a dehumidifier, it will speed up the process.
Step 5: The foam underneath the carpet needs to be dry.
The foam backing of the car carpet can be damaged if it gets wet.To prop it up, use a tool such as a screwdriver.An air pocket can be created by using a brick or wooden plank to hold it open.If you have excess water underneath the carpet, towel it up and then run a fan or dehumidifier next to it.It can take several days for the fan to dry out the foam.You have to pry off the bottom edge of the car door to get to the carpet.To dry the foam, you may need to remove the seats.
Step 6: You can hang the bags inside your car.
The bags suck up the water in the places they are placed, so hang some from the handles above the car doors, your rearview mirror, or the headrest of the seats.Baking soda can be placed around your car if you can't find Damp Rid bags.The baking soda should be put in a separate container.You can put socks filled with cat litter on top of the carpet in order to suck up some water.
Step 7: You can use water and water solution to clean your carpet.
Allow the solution to sit for 20 minutes.Once it is done soaking, wash it with a brush and then put it in a towel or shop vac.The smell in your car will get worse when you repeat the process.Regular dishwashing soap can be used instead of the tea tree oil and water mixture.Tea tree oil can be used in a spray bottle with water.Before cleaning your carpet, do a patch test to make sure it won't stain.
Step 8: If there are any remaining spots in the carpet, sprinkle borax.
Allow the borax to sit on the stain for 10 minutes.If the stain still remains, vacuum up the borax and lay it down more.Any surface of your car is safe to use with borax.Make sure you vacuum up any that you sprinkle around.
Step 9: Before putting the seats back, make sure everything is dry.
Before you reassemble your car, make sure the surface is adequately dry.The foam backing under the carpet needs to be completely dry.Check to see if there is a damp spot you missed.