How to Machine Scrub Carpets Guide

How to Machine Scrub Carpets Guide

The carpets in this 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 were in good condition except for some normal wear-n-tear to the driver's front and for some reason, both the rear carpets.

If you've been trying to find a great reason to purchase a cordless FLEX PE14 Rotary Polisher besides using it the conventional way for paint correction, here's your reason. There's no replacement for machine scrubbing carpet.

Here's driver's side carpet. To be honest, I didn't think the dirt and stains would come out as well as they did. The end results look like the carpets were never dirty. And this light, almond color shows everything. It's not like I'm cleaning black or dark colored carpet where if you don't get everything out the color of the fabric will hide a lot.

Carpets before cleaning with 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner.

Carpets before cleaning with 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner.

Carpets before cleaning with 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner.

Here I'm using the Cordless FLEX PE14 with a Heavy-Duty DA Carpet Brush – Long Bristles and 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner.

Using the FLEX PE14 and 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner to clean carpets.

Using the FLEX PE14 and 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner to clean carpets.

Using the FLEX PE14 and 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner to clean carpets.

Not pictured is the passenger side carpet. It was still clean and vibrant, so I only vacuumed it and also blew it out with the Tornador Blow Out Gun. The other three carpets were machine scrubbed.

Group of products used and remaining mats.

After machine scrubbing I used a strong spray of water to flush the carpets out until the water ran clear.

Rinse carpets out with water until full cleaned.

Rinse until carpets are full cleaned.

Then while the carpets were on a flat surface, I used my hand like a squeegee to press most of the excess water out.

Use your hand as a squeegee to remove excess water.

It was hot and sunny outside so I trapped the smaller carpets under the wiper blades of my Honda after first wiping the wiper blades clean - of course.

Allow carpets to fully dry.

The driver's side carpet was hung to the side of a Grit Guard Cart and then air-blasted the rest of the day and overnight using a Shop-Vac Air Mover.

A Shop Vac Air Mover can also be used to dry the carpets.

A Shop Vac Air Mover can also be used to dry the carpets.

The next day I sprayed all the carpets down with 303 Fabric Guard.

Instead of letting the Fabric Guard just sit on the fibers I donned some nitrile gloves and massaged the product into the fibers and then let the carpets dry.

Work 303 Fabric Guard into the carpet fibers with gloved hands.

Check this out. Spraying an average paper towel with the Fabric Guard and then letting it dry.

As a fun test, spray a paper towel with 303 Fabric Guard.

Here's all carpets and paper towel drying.

Once treated with Fabric Guard, allow to fully dry.

Here's some normal H2O

Water in a cup.

The 303 Fabric Guard waterproofs the surface...

303 Fabric Guard creates a water-repellent surface.

The carpets remained out of the car until a few hours before the owner picked up the car. Sorry no pictures.

Here's all the stuff I used:

  • FLEX PE-150 Cordless Rotary Polisher
  • There's a short 1" bristle version but you don't want that one, you want this longer 1.5" bristle brush.
  • Heavy-Duty DA Carpet Brush – Long Bristles
  • 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner 16 oz.
  • 303 Fabric Guard 16 oz.
  • Tornador Blow Out Gun
  • Tornador Air Blow Out Gun
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