My fire extinguisher went off today in my cargo/hatch area! Luckily, most went on my Husky liner but some made it's way onto my carpeting and wall too. Does anyone know if regular carpet shampoo brings it up?

I don't know what kind of chemical it was - it's yellow and toxic smelling. Has anyone had that unfortunate fiasco like me? Ideas?

Thanks for any help!

 

Makes me think of taking mine with me when I get out of the truck to prevent it from freezing...

 

You bring up a good point. I do the same thing with my marking paint cans (I'm an inspecting engineer) and I've heard of them freezing and popping open

Sorry, I have no clean up experience for you

Erich

 

Uhhh, that sucks, it's just a powdered potassium mostly. Use a shop vac and be done with it. Febreeze for the smell. If there is still some in the carpet use the shop vac with water and a stiff brush and scrub at it for a while.

There is no need to take ABC or BC dry powder or dry chemical extinguishers inside because they don't freeze. It's just a powder and a nitrogen charge. If you have a water or foam extinguisher it can freeze but they add an antifreeze so it would have to pretty darn cold.

Lamm

 

I had a fire in my truck a few months ago in the cargo area and all I used was a simple green concentrate formula and a wet cloth and just scrubbed. I'm sure there is an easier way, but simple green worked dandy for me.

 

 

That's just cruel! You revel in my misery?

 

yup! we wanna see the aftermath!

 

Oh funny - you guys want pics but offer no ideas for cleaning help! sheesh! Pinheads!
j/k pffft

Does it add to the humor that when the extinguisher went off I thought it was ice sliding off the roof of my truck?

 

I say a good carpet shampooer will work, now pics?

 

Count your blessings it was not mounted under your feet!

 

From my experince with carpet cleaning (I used to run a carpet cleaning business) anything that is a dry powder is best removed while it is still dry. So vac as much of it up as you can first before getting it wet with anything. If that doesn't remove it competely then start trying some carpet cleaning solutions or spot removers made for carpet or upholsery and wet vac the area good after each application of liquid cleaners. Don't scrub too hard or the carpet fibers will be damaged and look worn out.

 

one day i was driving along and i heard a loud PSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHT! sound that didnt last very long. i got back to my office, hopped out, and looked everywhere, including my cargo area and saw nothing. i was like uh... ooook.

then i opened the little box i kept my fire extinguisher in and the WHOLE THING WAS COVERED IN WHITE POWDER

i felt like such an idiot.

 

 

Another reason to get a tool box for my truck bed, I can keep it in there and it won't matter as much if it explodes

I agree, use a shop vac to get all the powder out, maybe one of those really strong ones at the gas stations?

 

Mine went off in the back of my work truck over the weekend. Not a fun thing to find 3am on a monday. I ddn't even know i had one til I didn't anymore.

 

Please tell us how you managed to do this...

 

still no pics?

 

Found out today it didn't just 'go off' It had help. I hate when the night shift uses my truck. but revenge is sweet - I hosed down the guys car before I left today, it'll hit -2 tonight, and he's off at about 330am.

 

Hmmm, so is this something I should be concerned about as well? Does the age of the extenguisher have anything to do with it exploding, or is it mainly due to temperature/pressure fluctuations? Anybody know?

Mine is about 4 years old...