Carpet color rejuvenation options?

[fahrvergnugen at cox.net (David Utley)]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Toomasson" <area53@validpath.com>
To: <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 9:54 AM
Subject: Carpet color rejuvenation options?


> I went ahead and bought the TMI carpet kit for my resto mk1 and, to be
honest,
> wasn't that pleased with it - too many pieces, most of which don't have a
form
> fit. But what pissed me off most about it was that they neglected to cut
holes
> for the e-brake and gearshift. At the time, it appeared they actually had
the
> sense to mark the holes to be cut from the underside by the customer.
> Unfortunately, the marking for the gearshift was off a few inches to the
left
> leaving a nice whole on the driver's side floorpan!  >:(  When I called
TMI to
> get another piece, I got some dumptruck who gave me attitude "we don't
mark
> them blah, blah"...Maybe one of Santa's elves creeped into the box and put
that
> blue chalk mark there...yeah...I also came to find out from him that the
cost
> of replacing the piece is nearly as much as a whole kit. F*cking
crooks.....
>
> Now my original carpet was not in that bad a shape, just a bit faded. I
was
> wondering what everyone's thoughts were on rejuventaing the color. I
thought
> about just buying a big-ass garbage can and filling it with black dye. I'd
bet
> there's also some black fabric spray paint out there. Any other ideas?
>
> Even if I get another TMI kit, I'll still have to do this for the rear
wheel
> arch carpet for the S - as you may have guessed; TMI doesn't provide those
> pieces either...
>
> Thanks and Happy Holidays everyone!
>
> Jeff

Jeff,
  Sorry to hear of your troubles...  Having a problem with the quality of a
product is one thing, and to get a troll who could care less about it...
Enough said...

On carpet cleaning, I discovered an EXCELLENT way to clean carpet.  It is a
bit unorthodoxed, but it really seemed to work on the badly stained blue GTI
carpet.  After removal, set it on a srface where you could scrub it.  Next,
get some Permatex Creme hand cleaner, you know, the stuff you wash up with
after working on your car.  Be sure to get the kind that does not have an
abrasive in it.  Scrub said goop into the stains, and let it set for a day.
Next, get a med. stiff brush and a bowl of water.  Now scrub those trouble
areas lightly.  Keep in mind that since this is old carpet, you could be
scrubbing what few years are left in it.  Let it set for another day.  Now,
if you think you are done, take it to the car wash and rinse.  My carpet was
BADLY stained, the adhesive they put on the American cars is really strong.
They got so carried away with this car that the carpet had matted-flat on
the horizontal parts of the carpet.  In other words, the adhesive/tarboard
goop was so thick it went through the carpet itself.  Well, the cleaner got
rid of all of it.  After twenty years, no less...

I hope that helps get it clean.  Perhaps someone else can offer an idea of
improving the color.  I had it in mind that perhaps the color was there,
just dirty...  *shrug*

David