Washing upholstry
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Topic author - Posts: 70
- Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2019 6:37 pm
- First Name: Milford
- Last Name: Sprecher
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Coupe
- Location: Takoma Park, MD
- MTFCA Number: 50046
- MTFCI Number: 24309
Washing upholstry
The original upholstry on my garage find Model T has been covered, but is not too bad. This specific question is about the kick panel upholstry. It is very dirty. Has anyone tried to wash or launder old upholstry of this type before? I guess nothing ventured, nothing gained, so hand washing with Woolite or something like that might work. What has others' experience been?
Thanks,
Thanks,
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Re: Washing upholstry
The best thing for clean upholstery is warm water and dish soap. It may take a few cycles of cleaning and drying but usually works well. Hash cleaners can make the material delaminate.
Hope this Helps,
Hank
Hope this Helps,
Hank
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Re: Washing upholstry
What year and body style is the car? Some kick panels may be leather, fabric, imitation leather, or cardboard.
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Topic author - Posts: 70
- Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2019 6:37 pm
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- MTFCA Number: 50046
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Re: Washing upholstry
A 24 coupe. It looks like wool. It is a pin striped fabric.
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Re: Washing upholstry
Older post on cleaning original material:
By Erik Johnson on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 12:08 pm:
Before using use a water extraction method to clean your interior, you should do as much cleaning of the upholstery as possible dry. The very first thing you should do is use a hand brush or whisk broom and gently brush off and loosen the dust and dirt. Then using a household vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment or shop vac and gently brush and vacuum it to get more loose dirt and dust out of it. You can also take the seat cushions out and gently brush and beat the dust out of them, etc.
If you have a shop vac, you don't have to rent a water extraction machine. You can wet the material yourself with a Woolite mixture with a spray pump bottle (such as an old Windex or 409 bottle) or garden sprayer and suck it up with a shop vac. Try an inconspicuous area first.
Another hint was ways to lessen shop vac suction (retards pulling away the fabric) is to drill extra holes up the wand tube, if too many holes, cover over with duct tape, or some have suction control sleeves.
By Erik Johnson on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 12:08 pm:
Before using use a water extraction method to clean your interior, you should do as much cleaning of the upholstery as possible dry. The very first thing you should do is use a hand brush or whisk broom and gently brush off and loosen the dust and dirt. Then using a household vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment or shop vac and gently brush and vacuum it to get more loose dirt and dust out of it. You can also take the seat cushions out and gently brush and beat the dust out of them, etc.
If you have a shop vac, you don't have to rent a water extraction machine. You can wet the material yourself with a Woolite mixture with a spray pump bottle (such as an old Windex or 409 bottle) or garden sprayer and suck it up with a shop vac. Try an inconspicuous area first.
Another hint was ways to lessen shop vac suction (retards pulling away the fabric) is to drill extra holes up the wand tube, if too many holes, cover over with duct tape, or some have suction control sleeves.
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
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Re: Washing upholstry
To add what I posted way back when: be extremely careful when using a vacuum on old wool upholstery, especially a shop vac.
You don't want to scar or tear the upholstery. You may be dealing with some rotten material or rotten thread.
As Dan posted above, use a minimal amount of suction and "vent" the nozzle if necessary.
If you decide to add moisture and then extract it, test an inconspicuous area first.
You don't want to scar or tear the upholstery. You may be dealing with some rotten material or rotten thread.
As Dan posted above, use a minimal amount of suction and "vent" the nozzle if necessary.
If you decide to add moisture and then extract it, test an inconspicuous area first.
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Re: Washing upholstry
You can also cut a piece of window screen mesh and sandwich it between the upholstery panel and the hose to keep the material from tearing if it’s getting delicate.
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Topic author - Posts: 70
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Re: Washing upholstry
Thanks for all the tips. I have seat cushions to clean, too, but I thought that I would start with the kick panels. I need to replace the fiber board it is mounted on, so I thought that I would take them off and hand wash them.
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Re: Washing upholstry
Whatever you do be mindful your dealing with almost 100 year old material. I have a 24 Coupe and when removing the backrest which my Grandfather recovered with a blanket I removed it and the original wool material looked pretty good. But upon closer inspection the wool was shedding. Every car is different of course. Mine would not of stood much rubbing or cleaning so I replaced it.