Success / Fails With Carpet Dye??

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Daves69

Daves69

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As opposed to remove and replace what are my prospects for dyeing auto carpet in place? Surely some have ventured this. I "think" I want to try the rear seat back and under glass deck of my Barracuda. It's all intact, no tears or pulls, but is faded (kinda' like my hair) to grey, however, I would like to get it back to basic black. Note this is not a show car and not intended to be.
In searching here I've seen some using Rit dye. How does it hold up? Does it transfer to things laid on it after it dries?
So please, share some good and or bad experiences with supply sources you used if available.
TIA

Part of what I'm wanting to dye.............
SeatBack.gif
 
I used carpet spray dye from Autozone....10 years later and still looks good!! Dried quickly and sprayed / colored evenly.
 
Sure, you can spray dye that. To R&R the parts, seat back and its trim, etc.. might be much easier than the tape masking req'd.
 
ZooKypr said:
I used carpet spray dye from Autozone....10 years later and still looks good!! Dried quickly and sprayed / colored evenly.
Click to expand...
Thanks Zoo. Similar to a spry paint? Were you able to determine if it made the carpet fabric any stiffer?

RedFish said:
Sure, you can spray dye that. To R&R the parts, seat back and its trim, etc.. might be much easier than the tape masking req'd.
Click to expand...
Thanks RF.
I saw this link today and seriously considering it....................
auto carpet dye
 
Daves69 said:
Thanks Zoo. Similar to a spry paint? Were you able to determine if it made the carpet fabric any stiffer?" = QUOTE]

The paint appears to be a little thicker and has a strong odor so be careful...I would keep the windows down before & afterwards.
As to your next question...I sprayed the rear cargo area under the rear window and it was already a bit stiff from being sun burned. I don't think it made it any worse. Good Luck!
Click to expand...
 
I can tell you spray dyed carpet under bare feet can feel more like steel wool. Elcheapo fabric softener helps. At used cars we used a pink stuff mixed half and half with water in a pump spray and brushed it in. Smells girlish though. I wouldn't worry about stiffness of carpet that is vertical and rarely touched.
 
A little update on my carpet dye escapade.
Went ahead with the DK stuff in the link I posted above, and bought 2 bottles. Easy mix although I mixed it on the strong side at 2:1. Not too messy. I was able to slide thin cardboard between the carpet and side panels to control my spray.
With one application it got to a charcoal-grey. As you can see the picture below it changed deck color quite a bit compared to what it was (similar to the seat back color in the top of the picture). I'm having my doubts that the second app. will get it near the new carpet color though. We'll see. Even this looks much better I believe.
Working on the rear drop panel while the carpet dries.
CarpetDye2.gif
CarpetDye1.gif
 
Well it has a second application on it. The second one made the deck slightly darker but not to the point of the floor carpet. A picture with an side cut of the floor carpet for comparison below. It did not stiffen the carpet any more than it already was. Rubbing a white cloth hard across the carpet back and forth did pick up a minute bit of black but I haven't vacuumed it yet either. It's not difficult to apply and there is no offensive odor.
CarpetDye3.gif
Over all, IMO, it's OK for a driver.
 
Auto Carpet is PLASTIC fiber, and never really soaks up anything, it lays upon the surface; it cannot absorb dye like a natural fiber,
but if you can accept the harshness upon your bare tootsies, it can give you an extension to the next checkpoint, maybe 5-10 years of not appearing shabby.
Rear deck, use any spray paint that brings back the black, softness be damned.
 
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