How do I get rid of odor from spilled paint thinner on the carpet inside a car? About ½ gal.?

Question

I left the windows cracked open overnight, but no difference in the morning, still very strong smell when you get inside the car. It is behind driver’s seat spilled into the carpet for about 18 hours now.

Answer 1

Paint thinner is a highly volitile chemical, much like gasoline and fumes in an enclosed space is dangerous. A half of a gallon is a lot of liquid. You will most likely need to remove the carpet and let it air dry away from the vehicle, which lets the fumes in the vehicle dissipate. Depends on if it is possible to remove the carpet. If you can not, then you have to open the windows and doors and let the interior air out. You also will need to clean the carpet with various cleaners either way.

Answer 2

This an easy one to answer:
Paint thinners evaporate by it self as it dries.
# 1 pull the carpet and padding out and let it dry by itself, no more smell from the carpet when it is dry.
# 2 If there is a coating of rubberized protection (tar) on the floor to protect the metal from rusting due to salt or other, it will have to be scrapped clean. If the padding is stainned with the sealer replace the padding only. Wash the flooring "with thinners" (YES THINNER) do not drown it. it is messy but you have no choice as this is where the odour comes from, and not the carpet.
When embedded with tar, rubber, undercoating a smell will stay if it not cleaned!!!!!!!!!! Re-apply an undercoat on the floor panel let it dry, it will not be pleasant for a few days but that"s the price for an error.

# 3 This done, pressure wash or clean wash the rug by soaking it first, and use ((Baby"s Own soap)) that has no bleach so not to discolour the carpet will return to its normal shape and colour. FLUSH IT WELL with COLD WATER (DRY BY ITSELF)for a day or 2 that it .

Answer 3

Take the carpet out of the car and leave it over a full day in sunlight with a breeze blowing over it. Take out the underlay too. Leave the windows down as much as possible, or better, leave the doors open.
I would not use any kind of chemical on it, specially not bleach.
If you have a garage with power on leave doors open and get a desk or standard fan to blow air through the car. Put the fan outside the car to prevent it igniting any fumes when switched on.

Answer 4

NO SMOKING KABOOM! do not toss in a lit match. The carpet padding is saturated with flammable stuff you are going to have to remove the seats body trims consol and get thet carpet out and replace the carpet padding where the thinner soaked in. Thinners will also soak into the tar like body sealer That sealer may soften and leach black stains onto the carpet. Even after you dry out and replace padding some smell will remain.

Answer 5

Go to a trim or detail shop.
Let them pull the seat, clean the carpet.
Pay the price.

DON'T SMOKE IN CAR.

Answer 6

Just take out the carpet for laundering??

Doesn't the soap/shampoo/bleach take it out?

Answer 7

try cilit bang! or white spirit. or a jet spray inside the car if you really want it gone that bad. Get bleech. or febreeze, jet spary is the best option

Answer 8

just shampoo the carpet