Dying a car carpet

ottostreet

Hey guys, I want to dye my car carpet. Not the mats. The actual carpet that underlays everything. I have a spare one from a breaker car so I'm going to use that.

The carpet is a dark navy colour, but I'd ideally like red (Think Civic Type R carpet red). Just buying the dye that you put in the washing machine with the carpet won't do the job. Is there a way of bleaching the colour from the carpet and then dying it?

This is the colour I'm aiming for.

kdevitt

I'm looking at doing this at the weekend coincidentally - although I'm going from grey to black.

I'm using a fabric dye designed for furniture and the likes, says its fine for cars. Have seen people using Dylon hot dye - needs to be the version which bonds to vinyl if you're using it for automotive carpet apparently.

What might be an option if the carpet is a man-made material is to use a VHT vinyl dye - its more like a paint. Might be possible to do it white first, and then do the red on top.

Celly Smunt

That looks hideous man,it's like somebodies living room in the 80's with a steering wheel.

ottostreet

pmcmahon wrote: »

That looks hideous man,it's like somebodies living room in the 80's with a steering wheel.

Ah well, if it doesn't work out I can swap back to originals.

I'd imagine the carpet is man made, its a Jap car full of plastics so I'd imagine it is!

ottostreet

This is exactly what I have.

Stheno

pmcmahon wrote: »

That looks hideous man,it's like somebodies living room in the 80's with a steering wheel.

The inside of my car is red carpet, red leather door inserts, and red leather seats, I actually think it looks nice.

I suspect the photo is making it brighter than it is.

colm_mcm

I'd say some sort of spray, you'd never dye black to red with regular dye

Senna

Easier to go darker than it is to go from navy to red, you would need to dye it a lighter colour and then dye it red. If you go from navy to red it will be a dark red. I don't think it would ever look like the red in that honda.

ottostreet

If I can't go red, I'll just wash it and dye it jet black. Just to freshen up the interior. But I'd rather go red, I think it looks great on some Alfas.

TestTransmission

Stheno wrote: »

The inside of my car is red carpet, red leather door inserts, and red leather seats, I actually think it looks nice.

I suspect the photo is making it brighter than it is.

Mine too, looks alright aswell imo

colm_mcm

Just do it black.

Stheno

What's your car Otto?

Senna

If its a spare one you can always experiment, be sure to let us know how it goes.

ottostreet

TT, that's pretty much the exact look I'd like.

Car is an FTO Version R, has the red seats already.

colm_mcm

Are you gonna dye the back seat too? I know mine faded awfully from the sun at the top.

Mightn't be a great idea though as the version r seats are rare, even the black rears are rare as they're unique to it.

Stheno

ottostreet wrote: »

TT, that's pretty much the exact look I'd like.

Car is an FTO Version R, has the red seats already.

If you've the red seats already then it should compliment them

Mine is pretty much identical to TT's just a different car.

Some people do find it a bit offputting when they first get in, but I like it

ottostreet

The rear windows are tinted so there's no sun damage to the rear seats, must be done a long time! The front seats are a little faded and getting them redone is on my list. Easier job than doing the carpet though! I might just play it safe.

kdevitt

Heres the VHT stuff -

http://www.vhtpaint.com/products/vinyldye/

Available in white, and red. I reckon you'll need to go with white first, and then apply red. But no harm in trying the red first to see how it covers?

kdevitt

Started this today to see how it works out - 3 coats of dye (black on grey) and its still not really dark enough, probably needs another 1 -2 coats to finish it off.

Reckon dark to bright red won't be an easy task!

Edit - managed to get some of the VHT Vinyl Dye today - much better!!! Coverage is much more even, two coats is nice and dark, three is perfect. I reckon its your best option. Carpet remained nice and soft afterwards too.

OldmanMondeo

Once you put the carpet in the washing machine, it probably come back in the wrong shape. You might have to put it back into the car damp, that way you might be able to keep the shape.

kdevitt

Thought I'd update this - finished the job off on my own car this weekend. Pretty happy with the results. Invest in a good face mask if you're doing it on your own car!

Results are here

shanec1928

Looks the part!

ottostreet

Mine came out a slightly different colour, and a bit messy shape-wise. Not worth doing it myself to be honest on the real mat.

Fair play k, yours turned out well!