How do you get red clay out of car carpet?

Let it dry completely, break it up and vacuum it out, then treat what’s left with a carpet cleaner and blot it, working from the outside in. Never scrub wet red clay into the carpet: that pushes it deeper into the fibers. On paint, rinse it off with plenty of water before anything touches the surface.

Why is Georgia clay so red, and why does it stain?

Much of the Piedmont, including Jackson County, sits on soils like the Cecil series. As the Cecil soil profile describes it, under a few inches of brown sandy topsoil is a thick layer of red clay. When that topsoil is scraped away by building or worn away by erosion, the red clay is what’s left on the surface.

That’s exactly what’s happening across this part of Georgia. Jefferson grew from 9,432 people in 2010 to 13,233 in 2020, and Braselton is the town in Georgia with the largest population growth. New subdivisions mean graded lots, muddy construction entrances and red clay on every street after a rain.

Clay particles are extremely fine, which is why the stain spreads when you rub it. Wet clay acts almost like paint on light carpet.

How do you get red clay out of car carpet?

Here’s the order that works best:

1. Let it dry. Wet clay smears. Dry clay crumbles. Give it a day, or until it’s hard and light colored.
2. Break it up. Use a stiff brush to break the dried clay into dust.
3. Vacuum thoroughly. Go slowly and in several directions so you pull the fine dust up from the base of the fibers.
4. Treat what’s left. Spray a carpet cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes.
5. Blot, don’t scrub. Press a clean white towel into the stain and lift. Work from the edge toward the middle so the stain doesn’t spread.
6. Rinse and extract. Blot with clean water or use an extractor to pull the cleaner and loosened clay out.
7. Dry it. Leave the doors or windows open, so the carpet doesn’t stay damp and start to smell.

Older stains may lighten rather than vanish. Clay that has been ground in for weeks has worked its way deep into the fibers.

Rubber floor liners are the easy part: take them out, rinse them with a hose, and let them dry before they go back in.

How do you get red clay off paint?

Red clay on paint is a scratch waiting to happen. The particles are hard and gritty, so wiping them off dry, or with a little water and a towel, drags them across the clear coat.

• Rinse the lower panels, wheel wells and running boards first, with plenty of water.
• Use a pressure washer or a strong hose stream on caked clay in the wheel wells.
• Wash with a clean mitt and two buckets, so you’re not rubbing grit back into the paint.
• Clean the fender wells last, with a separate brush.

If the paint still feels rough after a wash, a clay bar treatment pulls out the contamination washing leaves behind.

How do you keep red clay out in the first place?

You won’t stop it completely, but a few habits cut it down:

• Use deep rubber floor liners from fall through spring; they hold wet clay instead of letting it soak in.
• Knock shoes off on the door sill before getting in after yard work or a job site visit.
• Keep a stiff brush in the trunk for the liners.
• Rinse the wheel wells after driving through a construction entrance, before the clay dries hard.
• Park on pavement instead of a bare lot when you can.

If you’re building a house or living next to a new phase of a subdivision, expect clay for months. A sealant on the paint makes each rinse easier in the meantime.

When should you call a pro?

Call when the stain has set in, when the clay is on light-colored carpet or cloth seats, or when there’s a lot of it. An Interior Detail includes a full vacuum and a deep seat and carpet cleaning. The Exterior Detail covers the wheels, tires and fender wells with a clay bar and sealant. The Full Detail does both in one visit.

We bring our own water and power to your driveway, which is handy when there’s clay in the driveway too. Compare every package on our pricing page, or call or text 470-454-5941 for a free quote.