Comments on: My milkshake brings all the stains to my car

Question: My milkshake brings all the stains to my car

sprocket87 — Fri, 18 May 2007 08:56:29 -0800

Spilled chocolate milkshake + cloth car seat + several months time = Icky stain. Remedies? The seat material is a rough cloth, dense, coarse and sort of woven like burlap. It's not very absorbent like a plush fabric, but the stain has set for some time. The seat material is black in color.

What's the best technique(s) and product(s) to remove this stain? Thanks :)

By: steef

steef — Fri, 18 May 2007 09:17:35 -0800

I've used a little plain old laundry detergent on a wet cloth or sponge with great success on milkshake spillage. Left a big clean spot on my cloth car seats.

By: mdonley

mdonley — Fri, 18 May 2007 09:20:15 -0800

Shopvac?

By: anaelith

anaelith — Fri, 18 May 2007 09:21:35 -0800

I used carpet cleaner with decent success on my car when this happened, but I did it when it was still wet, ymmv. (Who knew this was so common? Did you also buy a milkshake at the drive-through and then key to the fact that your car has no cup holders? Yes, I know I'm an idiot, no need to point it out.)

By: LobsterMitten

LobsterMitten — Fri, 18 May 2007 09:26:06 -0800

My grandfather swore by vinegar for stains on car upholstery.

By: ijoyner

ijoyner — Fri, 18 May 2007 09:35:22 -0800

Club soda and salt?

By: sprocket87

sprocket87 — Fri, 18 May 2007 09:35:30 -0800

anaelith: "I used carpet cleaner with decent success on my car when this happened, but I did it when it was still wet, ymmv. (Who knew this was so common? Did you also buy a milkshake at the drive-through and then key to the fact that your car has no cup holders? Yes, I know I'm an idiot, no need to point it out.)"

Actually, after finishing the milkshake I put it in the empty food bag that came along with it and left it in the backseat, intending to toss it later. It ended up coming out of the bag and leaking all over the seat.

I'm ashamed to admit that the stain has been there for months, but it's really hard for me to motivate myself to clean out the back of my car :)

By: oneirodynia

oneirodynia — Fri, 18 May 2007 09:50:47 -0800

I use an enzyme cleaner for pet stains (like Nature's Miracle) for just about everything- carpet stains, stinky refrigerator, &c.

By: tastybrains

tastybrains — Fri, 18 May 2007 10:54:02 -0800

I had a coffee stain from when my dad spilled an entire XL Coffee on the passenger seat of my car (when it was his car four years ago). It was awful.

On a whim, I tried spraying Fantastic with OxyClean on it. I was totally amazed that the stain completely disappeared within 10 minutes, without any scrubbing or anything. It's worth a shot! That stuff is magic.

By: tastybrains

tastybrains — Fri, 18 May 2007 10:55:32 -0800

I forgot to emphasize that I did this recently, so the stain was 4 years old. Also "Fantastic with OxyClean" is a single product, found in the general household cleaners section of a supermarket. It's blue.

By: desjardins

desjardins — Fri, 18 May 2007 13:29:17 -0800

nothing to add here except that your title made me LOL.

By: sprocket87

sprocket87 — Fri, 18 May 2007 15:20:16 -0800

desjardins: "nothing to add here except that your title made me LOL."

Thanks :)

Thanks for the tips all. I noticed at the supermarket last night that they make specific vehicle cloth stain removers (found this in the car-care section, near the Armor-All, etc). I wonder if these work any better than the general household cleaners recommended so far?

By: tastybrains

tastybrains — Fri, 18 May 2007 18:58:18 -0800

Sprocket, it might be worth a shot, but I can tell you they didn't work on my car's stain. I think the Oxyclean is what worked...also Fantastic with Oxyclean is labeled for use on carpet & upholstery stains.

By: flabdablet

flabdablet — Fri, 18 May 2007 20:46:55 -0800

anaelith's... was wetter than yours

I could bleach you, but I'd have to charge.

By: sprocket87

sprocket87 — Fri, 18 May 2007 20:58:56 -0800

flabdablet: "anaelith's... was wetter than yours

I could bleach you, but I'd have to charge."

I owe you a beer. Sheer brilliance!