My filthy car

[New2me944]

I bought my car last fall. A guards red 1987 944 NA with the LQ interior, which is either light gray, gray/beige, or greige depending on who you ask.

I don't know how long the car had sat before it was rescued, but along with the mile long punch list of fairly minor mechanical issues, the interior was...grimy.

After getting it running well, I decided to focus on the grimy interior over the winter and I thought I'd share some photos. I've had the passengers seat out, got the sliders working again, cleaned the carpet on that side and reinstalled the seat. I currently have the driver's seat out for some leather repair and cleaned the carpet on that side.

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It's certainly not perfect, but much better and I think i can live with it. I used P&S Terminator (stain remover) P&S Carpet Bomber, a variety of drill brushes, and a Bissell little green pro carpet cleaner.

I have the original Lloyd's mats with the porsche script and I've cleaned them over and over until I'm getting clear water out of them though they are still a bit stained in places.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share some progress. My projects won't work if I don't.

[johnb]

I bought my car last fall. A guards red 1987 944 NA with the LQ interior, which is either light gray, gray/beige, or greige depending on who you ask.

I don't know how long the car had sat before it was rescued, but along with the mile long punch list of fairly minor mechanical issues, the interior was...grimy.

After getting it running well, I decided to focus on the grimy interior over the winter and I thought I'd share some photos. I've had the passengers seat out, got the sliders working again, cleaned the carpet on that side and reinstalled the seat. I currently have the driver's seat out for some leather repair and cleaned the carpet on that side.20260223_165426.jpg20260320_181750.jpg20260320_135011.jpg20260223_164446.jpg20260216_155143.jpg

It's certainly not perfect, but much better and I think i can live with it. I used P&S Terminator (stain remover) P&S Carpet Bomber, a variety of drill brushes, and a Bissell little green pro carpet cleaner.

I have the original Lloyd's mats with the porsche script and I've cleaned them over and over until I'm getting clear water out of them though they are still a bit stained in places.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share some progress. My projects won't work if I don't.

I need to give those products a try. I have the same color. I'd be really happy if I could get mine that clean, but it's doubtful.

[New2me944]

I bought my car last fall. A guards red 1987 944 NA with the LQ interior, which is either light gray, gray/beige, or greige depending on who you ask.

I don't know how long the car had sat before it was rescued, but along with the mile long punch list of fairly minor mechanical issues, the interior was...grimy.

After getting it running well, I decided to focus on the grimy interior over the winter and I thought I'd share some photos. I've had the passengers seat out, got the sliders working again, cleaned the carpet on that side and reinstalled the seat. I currently have the driver's seat out for some leather repair and cleaned the carpet on that side.20260223_165426.jpg20260320_181750.jpg20260320_135011.jpg20260223_164446.jpg20260216_155143.jpg

It's certainly not perfect, but much better and I think i can live with it. I used P&S Terminator (stain remover) P&S Carpet Bomber, a variety of drill brushes, and a Bissell little green pro carpet cleaner.

I have the original Lloyd's mats with the porsche script and I've cleaned them over and over until I'm getting clear water out of them though they are still a bit stained in places.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share some progress. My projects won't work if I don't.

I need to give those products a try. I have the same color. I'd be really happy if I could get mine that clean, but it's doubtful.

I don't generally talk up a product unless it works particularly well for me.

I've tried oxyclean based cleaners meant for general carpet cleaners, homebrew recipes with oxyclean, windex, dishsoap, vinegar, and other ingredients but nothing has worked as well as this stuff. Again, the results aren't perfect, but for 39 year old carpet I cant say that I'm displeased with the results.

[New2me944]

OK, I patched a hole in the driver's seat with a permatex leather repair kit, got the passengers seat moving forward and back, dyed the seats because the bolsters and seat bottoms were worn from being slid across, and got the seats and floor mats back in today. I'm tired, boss.

Now I'm just impatiently waiting for good weather.

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[Gaspowered]

That's quite an improvement!
I like the color of your interior.

It probably wouldn't hurt for me to do a deep clean on my carpets. Being burgandy, it doesn't show as much dirt as lighter colors, but I bet it could benefit from a good scrubbing.

Keep up the good work!

Cheers

[PSU_Crash]

That before and after is impressive! I have no envy for the light color interior and keeping it clean. The products you used are getting put on my list.
I have a steam cleaner that has worked well on other cars. That's usually my first go to.

[dr bob]

That before and after is impressive! I have no envy for the light color interior and keeping it clean. The products you used are getting put on my list.
I have a steam cleaner that has worked well on other cars. That's usually my first go to.

I hesitated to pop the question/suggestion about using steam on carpet. It's my go-to for a lot of reasons. Use with care on "glued-on" carpet section on door cards. Or let it soften the glue for you so you can remove the carpet for "full" cleaning, then glue it back in place. I'll readily confess that I put removed carpet pieces in the garage Maytag with laundry detergent (!!!), with plastic mesh and magnets holding the pieces in place on the basket. Triple-rinse to get the detergent out, a bit of vinegar in the last rinse...

Most "cleaned" carpet still holds residual detergent, and gets dirty again really quickly as the detergent cleans your shoes. The fibers are synthetic so there's a bit of tolerance for chems and techniques like steam that really do get the carpet clean, good so long as the carpet can stay clean for a while after you put it back in. The detergent residue also clogs the fibers, causing them to bunch. Don't be afraid to remove glued carpet sections so you can get them cleaned, thoroughly rinsed, dried and brushed, before you put them back in. Do it like you mean it. New sound deadening and padding make an impressive difference too.