Valetted bongo/still stained seats and smoky smell/what next

xpanse0 · Post by **xpanse0** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 9:13 am

Hello.

Just wondering if anyone can recommend a very good valetter that may be able to get the stains from the seats/ carpet that the previous valeter couldn't . How much should this cost? Also any good tips on removing the stench of nicotine throughout. Even though I have just got the bongo i already feel like I am being violated by the previous owner.

Thank you all in advance.

Aside from the problems I am having, this web site has made me buying a bongo feel its the best decision I could have made. What other car has the same support from its owners??? TOP TOP TOP What a fantastic following!!

tigger · Post by **tigger** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:43 am

Ask your valeter if he uses a superheated steam cleaner (AKA 'dry steam'). These work at between 130 and 170 deg. C and are very effective at removing stains and odours - much better than the cooler 'wet' steam used by most car valeters.

More details here:

http://www.morclean.com/vapour-steam/us ... automotive

If he didn't use this, try finding one who does (may be tricky though). Alternatively, I believe there's a fairly reasonably priced household version of the commercial dry steam machine available - might be worth investing?

Failing this, I got reasonable results using a Bissell carpet cleaner and a lot of elbow grease. Try hiring a commercial carpet cleaner - they work by forcing hot water and cleaning fluid into the fabric and then sucking as much as possible back out - just look at the colour of the water that comes back out!

Good luck

tigger

Mikey B · Post by **Mikey B** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:36 pm

Our too has the tabacco smell, this is because the Japanese are very heavy smokers. Being non-smokers we tend to pick up the smell straight away.
What we are using at the moment is a neutiair spray from dettol. We spray it every time we get into the Bongo, am tempted to try fabreeze.

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:50 pm

Yes we had the same even after the importer supposedly valeted the upholstery. We went through the van with Autoglym and Febreeze and after about a month the cigarette smoke smell was gone and has since been replaced with essence of wet dog

wrster · Post by **wrster** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:42 pm

If it's anything like mine was, I'd do it yourself.

I bought a vax upright with a small attachment so I could get in everywhere and used a strong solution of fabric cleaner that I bought from a hire shop. I then rinsed it too by carefully spraying water avoiding switches etc. I then left the van for a few days with a dehumidifier in the back which removed another three litres of water (I soaked the bugger!)

Also removed the blinds and cleaned them in the bath.

Another top tip off the forum was cleaning the rubber backed carpets (if it came with them) with a pressure washer - it doesn't harm them but it seriously deep cleans them. I hung these up and they took ages to dry as well.

End result though was that it didn't smell at all afterwards and really felt like 'my' vehicle. Took the whole weekend though and was hard work but the only way I reckon to permanently shift the smell.

Indigo · Post by **Indigo** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:11 pm

for odours, try a dish of bicarbonate of soda or charcoal, both are supposed to absorb nasty niffs

maybe leave some of that shake and vac carpet powder stuff on the mats overnight before hoovering it off? they do a neutradol one in that too now, which worked well to get rid of a wet doggy smell we had on one of our carpets

lol

thankfully our bongo doesn't look like it was ever smoked in! there was a non smoking sticker on the dash!!

good luck

deeps · Post by **deeps** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:20 pm

There is a 'bomb' you can set off in the car to neutralise smoking smells. You set it off and leave the car doors shut until the smoke settles.

I wish I knew the name or where to get it, I know garages use it whrn they get a smoker px. You might try your local car dealer to see if they can tell you.

Balloonatic · Post by **Balloonatic** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:32 pm

You could try your local Chem-Dry cleaner (see YP). It does not leave upholstry soaked and does remove odours.
The only problem is the price and a lot of franchises dont do cars.
It is far and away the best carpet/upholstry cleaning you can get and it is rapid drying.

Balloonatic

antique · Post by **antique** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 7:08 pm

hi very easy to remove front seats 4 bolts take them out for cleaning then you can get to carpets you will find a lot off dirt etc ?

TrickeyDicky · Post by **TrickeyDicky** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 7:19 pm

Rug Dr from Morrissons with upholstery attachement and cleaner does the job, you can do the roof too

xpanse0 · Post by **xpanse0** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 7:48 am

This is a fantastic amount of information. Thank you all very much. I am going to try them all, should keep me busy until spring.

Thanks again.

Valetted bongo/still stained seats and smoky smell/what next

Valetted bongo/still stained seats and smoky smell/what next

Smells

smells

Rug Doctor