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You guys are so smart and helpful, thought I’d run this past.
I have a ’32 Packard 902 which has recently acquired a dirty-greasy stain on the light tan wool broadcloth upholstery. I attached a photograph.
Any suggestion on how to remove it? Any particular chemical like carbon tetra-chloride or some shampoo or spray on cleaner? I hesitate because I don’t want to spread it out and make it worse.
I feel awful because I probably did it, as careful as I am. Like they say, “it”” happens. And this time it sure did.”
As a multiple car owner and the owner of a chain of furniture
stores, I use a product called “Incredible”” that is just that…
an excellent upholstery cleaner. Sometimes I will soften grease
with isopropyl alcohol.”
The “Incredible” cleaner sounds great, but I just did an Internet search and it seems to be out of stock everywhere.
Do you have a supplier that you can recommend? thanks dc
Incredible is available on Amazon and that’s where I bought a bottle.
I tried it and although it did remove the grease stain somewhat, it left an ugly water mark. I ended up trying to clean most of the rest of the seat to even out the stain and all told it looks OK so long as the seat isn’t in direct sun light, which is usually the case in an enclosed car.
Concerning “Incredible” I followed directions and used white terrycloth toweling to dab the stain. That wasn’t so good as you get a lot on fabric that doesn’t need it, hence the water stain effect. Rather I’d recommend using a Q-tip to dab only the stain and nothing else. Then more Q-tips to dab it up. Perhaps then you could avoid the water-stain.
To “clean” the rest of it, I tried the dry soap suds trick. You make a pile of suds (from what I’m not sure as nothing really worked) and brush the “dry” suds into the fabric, vacuuming when dry. Well, that was pretty awful. Maybe my suds were too wet. Did a lot more harm than good.
The upshot is that eventually I got the fabric looking uniform and the grease stain gone except in bright light where some remnants can be seen.
It seems to me the only way to clean wool broadcloth upholstery well and right is to remove it, wash it in Woollite or something, using something like “Incredible” to remove any stains, then try to install the upholstery cover while still damp to prevent shrinkage. Easier said than done I’m sure.
Or just have new upholstery covers made.
Thanks for the update and it sounds like you went through quite an ordeal with your stain.
For general cleaning of wool interiors, I’ve had good luck using Woolite upholstery cleaner, packaged in a aerosol can with a built on brush. It comes out in a thick foam much like shaving cream, so you are never in danger of getting too much moisture on the surface. I then rub it dry with a terry cloth towel. Won’t do much for a grease stain though.
Tom Barrett
Before you try anything try this…this is what professional restoration shops use to treat metal and wood prior to finishing…
I have used it for removing ink from my wife’s hospital smock, and to remove grease stains from clothing, it works great.
Simply apply to a clean cloth and rub out the stain…it dries very fast, is odorless and you can even use it to clean up your hands. If it is a particular nasty stain, try a soft toothbrush instead of a cloth.
You should be able to get this at any good auto parts store or hardware store.
Thanks for the recommendation to Curtiss on the stain remover. I will try it . . . . if there is a “next time””!
And thanks to Tom for the suggestion on Woollite aerosol foam. Never heard of it but that sounds like just what I want for general cleaning of the rest of the seat.
The interior was reupholstered quite nicely in the late 1970’s and the car has been used and driven much since. In bright light you can see a lot of dirt and dust accumulation. I’ll report back on the Woollite method.
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