water on floor of car..After storm

[chicagochuck]

It rained quite a bit last night, the storm drained backed up. So there is a nice size puddle on my front passenger and driver side floors. The back carpet is wet as well. I had to come to work so it has to sit for a few hours. Anyone know anything good for these situations? I know I have to wet vac the carpet. I have used baking soda in the past and it kinda stained the carpet, the carpet is a dark grey.... Any suggestions?

[02NavyBlue]

Baking soda will work, if its real bad the carpet may have to come out and be cleaned and dried. Fix the leak if it was from the rain:
http://www.grandprixforums.net/threa...ter+floorboard

Or did water go up past the doors? Not the cowl then.

[Sven the Sexman]

Remove seats and carpet. Let the carpet sit and dry for a few days. Do NOT put baking soda on a wet carpet as it will try to "clean" your carpet. Once the carpet is dry, then scrub in some baking soda and vacuum out after a day or two to get the smell out.

[chicagochuck]

Yeah it came up from the bottom through the doors, a few other cars on the street as well. Ill vacuum it dry and use the baking soda after that. Thanks

[LeadfootCJ7]

As posted above. Pull the carpet. I recommend scrubbing it with some carpet cleaner or even tide. This is what we used to do with flood cars at the dealer. It really helps get stains out and takes all the bad smells out. If you can use a pressure washer as well, this helps too. Pull the insulation off and try to get some new from an interior shop. What you need is called "jute". You can buy it by the roll or by the yard. This is what usually retains the moldy smell after it has been wet.

[Scottydoggs]

yup best to gut the seats, the console and remove the rug. shop cav it, then hang it up so it can drip dry, in the sun is always good too.

rent a carpet shampooer and and clean it up ones its dry, you'll never be able to work on the whole carpet like this again.

my car got a bit flooded too, it was winter time it took two weeks for it dry hanging off the garage door track. no sun to be found.

[chicagochuck]

Looks like I ll have an eventful weekend lol. Thanks for thr tips, I'll surely put them to great use.

[Scottydoggs]

hurry up, your wasting time, the longer it stays in the car the more it will stink like pond scum.

when you find your car flooded you waste zero time getting the wet crap out.


the foam under the rug holds more water then you care to know about.

[chicagochuck]

OHH I found that out today. its like a sponge, Gross!!!

[Scottydoggs]

i flipped mine over in the driveway walked on it with towels on it, shop vac, baking soda, then had to hang it for two weeks to fully dry, it was late Nov iirc when it happened so it was cold out.

[Scottydoggs]

and if your airbag light is now on, change that metal box bolted to the floor under the pass side seat. thats the airbag module.

[chicagochuck]

The light isn't on but if it does come on I'll keep that in mind . Thanks for all the good advice. I also found the drain plugs in the rear floor. Of course they didn't help much because there under the carpet and the insulation absorbs so much lol

[kmohr3]

In situations like this I would lift the carpet up, pull out the padding underneath,, hang it on something and let all the padding drain and dry. Meanwhile I would have the carpeting propped up from the floor and mop up and other water and let the carpeting dry for as long as it takes. If you have the time and if it's not too much of a hassle you could get the carpeting all the way out.