help cleaning spilled epoxy

[Dantodd]

I need a bit of help.

I had a can of West Systems 105 in the back seat of the truck and it tipped over and the pump leaked about a pint. I've so far soaked up as much as possible in paper towels and took the carpeted floor mats out and sprayed them with water though that seems largely ineffective. As for the interior carpet I've only blotted that with paper towels. The plastic storage bucket will probably need to be replaced as it feels a bit tacky on the bottom.

thankfully no hardener spilled, just the West Systems 105.

So, does anyone know how to get epoxy resin out of carpeting?

Is there anyway to reverse the slight softening of the plastic bin (I think it's PVC.)

 

[Larry Wilson]

soak everything in distilled white vinegar. the resin turns a milky white, and then can be rinsed with warm soapy water. repeat as needed until it's all gone, or mostly gone. If there is residue, use a stiff brush with a handle, and tamp the area, do not scrub. vinegar, tamp, warm soapy water, rinse.....repeat.

 

[RichH]

Vinegar, Vinegar, then more white Vinegar !!!!!!

 

[finding41]

Auto recyclers. Used carpet.
Ebay. New carpet.
You might get lucky (take that how you may) and be able to use asatone to thin it and suck it out with someone else's shop vac. Or blot it with paper towels. You might have a new color of carpet if it doesn't melt itself.
It shouldn't take you more that a morning to rip out the old interior and reinstal with the new carpet. (go to a scrap yard and take a look at the same vehicle and see how it comes apart. I did this when I needed to replace the whole dash of my Caravan. When I went to get one at the same scrap yard they didn't have one out($350) and I named my price ($100) and even bet the guy I could be done in an hour. I was back in 55 min with the dash and a arm full of other stuff I took off. (He gave me the other stuff.) R&R in my van was about 40 min.) Just be prepared.
Good luck.

 

[centerline]

Auto recyclers. Used carpet.
Ebay. New carpet.
You might get lucky (take that how you may) and be able to use asatone to thin it and suck it out with someone else's shop vac. Or blot it with paper towels. You might have a new color of carpet if it doesn't melt itself.
It shouldn't take you more that a morning to rip out the old interior and reinstal with the new carpet. (go to a scrap yard and take a look at the same vehicle and see how it comes apart. I did this when I needed to replace the whole dash of my Caravan. When I went to get one at the same scrap yard they didn't have one out($350) and I named my price ($100) and even bet the guy I could be done in an hour. I was back in 55 min with the dash and a arm full of other stuff I took off. (He gave me the other stuff.) R&R in my van was about 40 min.) Just be prepared.
Good luck.

Call me a pessimist here, but using a vacuum cleaner to suck up acetone might be a bigger explosion than a person would expect.
it will suck it up for a few minutes until there are enough fumes in the air to make the air/fuel mixture about right...... then, if and when it gets to the brushes on the motor...... well, it kinda all happens in a flash after that. best of luck....

 

[Dantodd]

I'll give the vinegar a try.

 

[Tim R.]

Stay away from Acetone. That will like eat away at the carpeting.

If the vinegar does not work, try Brakeclean found at Napa auto parts. Basically the same as dry cleaning fluid.

 

[Kevin3447]

Why not call the company? 866-937-8797 - 9-5 eastern time, weekdays. I bet they've run into this problem before.

 

[finding41]

Never thought about the possibility of Ka-Boom. To me vacuums are a consumable. They don't get treated very well on a job site of mine. I didn't know about the vinegar trick. Good to know.

 

[Dantodd]

The vinegar did make the epoxy a bit more runny but it still hasn't come out all the way. on the floor mat there was a little hardener so one corner has stiffened. I guess I'll have to replace that. As for the interior, I am still blotting up some with just paper towel. I'll keep blotting until it is "dry" and then I'll just call West Systems as Kevin suggested.