My milkshake brings all the stains to my car

May 18, 2007 8:56 AM

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 :)

posted by sprocket87 to Grab Bag (14 answers total)

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.
posted by steef at 9:17 AM on May 18, 2007

Shopvac?
posted by mdonley at 9:20 AM on May 18, 2007

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.)
posted by anaelith at 9:21 AM on May 18, 2007

My grandfather swore by vinegar for stains on car upholstery.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:26 AM on May 18, 2007

Club soda and salt?
posted by ijoyner at 9:35 AM on May 18, 2007

Response by poster: 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 :)
posted by sprocket87 at 9:35 AM on May 18, 2007

I use an enzyme cleaner for pet stains (like Nature's Miracle) for just about everything- carpet stains, stinky refrigerator, &c.
posted by oneirodynia at 9:50 AM on May 18, 2007

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.
posted by tastybrains at 10:54 AM on May 18, 2007

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.
posted by tastybrains at 10:55 AM on May 18, 2007

nothing to add here except that your title made me LOL.
posted by desjardins at 1:29 PM on May 18, 2007

Response by poster: 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?
posted by sprocket87 at 3:20 PM on May 18, 2007

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.
posted by tastybrains at 6:58 PM on May 18, 2007

anaelith's... was wetter than yours

I could bleach you, but I'd have to charge.
posted by flabdablet at 8:46 PM on May 18, 2007

Response by poster: flabdablet: "anaelith's... was wetter than yours

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

I owe you a beer. Sheer brilliance!
posted by sprocket87 at 8:58 PM on May 18, 2007