[gmccleaning]

any help ,got contract to clean carpets on local ferry have been asked to try and get salt water marks out of carpet (ferry has got leek at one of the windows      ) thanks very much

[Doug Holloway]

Hi GM,

Salt water marks will be NaCl , which is sodium chloride , common salt,  which will cause bleaching particularly if mixed with other chemials.

I would start by extracting with plain water which may remove loads of salt , also worth trying an acid rinse.

Bear in mind salt is water soluble so will be relatively easy to remove but will be prone to releasing chlorine whcih will act as a bleach.

Cheers

Doug

[BRSL]

Ive worked on a lot of ships and it's a comon problem, most carpet is bonded and can take a good beeting, the best way to remove salt is with realy realy hot water, never had to many probs, but it does seem to smell when drying so a bit of deoderiser might need applying.

James

[gmccleaning]

The carpet has got so much salt in it that it is hard in areas(its got like a coating over it) any hints for getting that away thanks

[squarefrog]

Hello
In Canada we have lots of salt stains.  A mild acid solution pH 2.4 usually desolves the hard stuff. Citric acid, vinegar or sulfamic acid. Although, here in Canada it is mostly calcium chloride the solution should work just as well with the sodium chloride.

[PaulKing]

Usually it's stuck down man made fibres, give it lots of hot water and suck like mad, works for me and thats with a blow out windows on the front of a ship, everything else in the cabin was toast but the carpet survived, so did'nt  think i had to be too carefull with it!