Is it possible to dye the carpets and parcel shelf?

[RevBillyG]

As per title. I've just aquired a cracking set of seats and door cards in grey to replace the knackered beige ones that were originally in there.
Ideally I'd like to dye the carpet and the parcel shelf black.
Does anyone know of a brush-on solution? I was wondering if a denim-type clothes dye would do it.

[cuk325]

my nephew used to valet for ford & then alfa they used to paint the mats etc with normal paint then leave them to dry. always worked a treat.

[Jhonno]

im pretty sure you can use a fabric paint to do the job..

[kevin316i]

There are carpet dyes available but they are designed to bring backup the original colour rather than change it. Fabric dyes can be used to change the colour, but you should check on a small area to see what effect it will have on the texture of the carpet pile. It may cause the carpet to feel all hard and not look original. Also some fabric dyes require heat to set the colour properly, so you should look for a fabric paint of some description that can be simply painted on. See if frost.co.uk have anything available.

[RevBillyG]

Thanks all.
I've just been talking to a chap I know that owns a carpet shop. It just so happens that he's owned 6 different E30s over the years (small world!). It appears that using fabric dyes will not work as the carpet are man-made and stain resistant. Therefore the dye will not soak into the fibres and will rub off very easily.

As I'm a shoe repairer by trade, I've brought some different sprays home to test. I'll report back with my findings.

[316eyes]

The problem with trying to dye carpet made from man made fibres is not that they are stain resistant. Man made fibres are in fact a sort of very fine solid strand and as such do not absorb liquid of any kind. Stains on carpets made from polypropolene etc. are tiny amounts of the staining liquid trapped between the fibres and compunded by the muck trapped at the base of the pile. Try vacuuming your carpet car mats if you have them and when you think they are clean hang them over the washing line and beat the crap out of them with a big stick and see how much more dust flies out! If you do get the carpet to take on any colour it probably won't be permanent and could go patchy where (wet) feet are regularly placed.

Not much help for your problem, but you may be opening a large can of worms with dyes etc.

[Jos]

If it's a polyester (i.e. man made fabric) you will need to pressure dye them, washing machine, dye and 10kg of salt don't work... I know I have tried (not with carpets, curtains lol)

Nylon apparently dyes ok, but I have no idea what car carpets are made of, but as said they resist staining, therefore probably very hard to dye a different colour.

[Geeman]

RevBillyG - Why don't you buy a replacement carpet... I know where there happens to be a pukka grey one...

It will be cheaper than buying all the dyes, etc...

Giles.

[dazleeds]

i think i have a full grey set somewhere???? Daz

[Geeman]

I bought this one to replace the one in my Sport. But now I'm selling it I no longer need it. It really is in top condition.

Ԛ£30 + P&P and it's yours...

Giles.

[RevBillyG]

Thanks for the offer m8, but I already got one in the post (I gave up with the dying idea).

[Cotty]

my nephew used to valet for ford & then alfa they used to paint the mats etc with normal paint then leave them to dry. always worked a treat.

Also I saw them doing this little trick on Wheeler Dealers on a Pub 205 rear shelf, seemed to come out ok