Can you get cosmoline out of carpet?

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Balog

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Ok, so I went to J&G Sales a coupla days ago. We got a pistol for my wife, a rifle for me, and lots and lots of ammo (close to 5K rounds). Some of this was the old corrosive (Polish IIRC) 7.62x54R.

If you've never bought a full 780 round case of this before, lemme describe the packaging. It's a wooden crate with a sealed tin box inside. The top is soldered on, with strips underneath the soft solder that have rings on the end to enable you to pull the top off.

Well, I pulled the tin box out without noticing the layer of sticky cosmo on the bottom.:uhoh: Put it on the carpet and commenced to trying to pry the top off. Needless to say my sister was unhappy when she went to move all the ammo I'd piled on her floor. She's letting myself and my wife stay here for free while I'm on leave, and I feel horrible for repaying her kindness by jacking up her stuff. Sooooo, anyone got any idea how to remove a cosmoline stain from light colored carpet?
 
This is what a former carpet cleaner would do...

Try this in a hidden spot first to see if the dye will be OK...moisten the stain with a solvent (I like laquer thinner), then cover with a cheap, clean towel, or maybe the thick disposable shop towels like Sam's sells, and hit it with an iron. The iron's heat will draw the liquified cosmoline into the towel. You may need to repete a few times. always use a fresh towel for each try, and ventilate the room well!
 
I have used "Goop" and "GoJo" type hand cleaner to remove cosmoline from weapons with great success, but I don't know what it might do to carpet. If you try it, use the plain version only, do not use any with an abrasive or "orange oil" or any of that.

To clean a cosmolined gun with it, you glob it on, then wipe it off with a damp cloth. It is goopy stuff. I'm not at all sure how it would be to work with on carpet.

The safest bet is to call in the professionals and get the entire carpet cleaned. Especially sine it isn't your carpet.

--Herself
 
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I would try regular paint thinner ( or mineral spirits ) on a clean white rag in a small area to see if it does the trick. Laquer thinner may be to strong, although it would dry faster.
 
I'd be verrrry cautious using lacquer. It might melt some carpet and is exteremly flammable. Not to mention bad for you to breathe. I'd try Resolve spot carpet cleaner. Then you'll probably have to do the whole carpet with a rental machine, that one clean spot will stick out like a sore thumb. But hey, it's spring cleaning time anyhow.
 
WAIT!!!

Before you try harsh chemicals, go to the auto parts store and pick up a tub of JoGo handcleaner. Get the plain stuff, not the orange scented kind. Rub that into the carpet and wipe it out again with a dry towel. Repeat as necessary.
 
We always see heat recommended as a way to get cosmo out of rifle stocks, so why not that? Get one of those vaccuum/steam cleaner things you can usually rent at the grocery store and give it a whirl. I would say the heat part is essential though, you don't want to just grind it further into the carpet...

-Teuf
 
Try heating it with a hairdryer or heat-gun (be careful you dont burn the carpet with that one) and then blotting with a paper towel.

Kharn
 
Second the steam-cleaning. Should be all it takes.
You can rent one cheap, or call in a pro for not much more.

/chuckling at the 'go immediately to solvents, do not pass Go' responses.
 
Hire it cleaned. You already know you acted like a big kig with a back of paint by messn' up her carpet so get the professionals to clean it. Call several of them and ask if they can do it first. One of them may take pitty on you and tell you how to do it without making it worse by following our silly suggestions.
 
Lots of folks recommend getting one of those little steam cleaners for cleaning Cosmoline off parts, so I'd imagine a carpet steam cleaner would work well ... I have to agree that it would be best to have a pro come in and clean it because they have much better equipment than you'll rent at the grocery store.


In the future you'll remember the newspapers won't you :neener:
 
I'm going to second Clipper's method on this one. Mineral spirits shouldn't be too harsh for the carpet and I think it may just do the trick. I've used it to clean up some pretty nasty stuff at my old job...I like the iron and towel usage as well. If the mineral spirits doesn't work...then go for the lacquer thinner. It may do the job better than the mineral spirits, but I'd personally try the mineral spirits first.

Like Clipper said...try on a "hidden spot" first. I think this would be your most inexpensive method of fixing your goof up. Besides, if it works...then you know how to fix it if you do something that like in the future.

Regards,
 
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