urea

[TheBALDpuma]

I wasn't really sure where to put this but figured I might get a sensible answer here. I've had a couple of the chemical ice packs burst in the back of my car. These contain urea and I now have a wet carpet and sticky crystals in my boot. Can I just wipe and hoover this up and let it dry or so I need to do something more?

Cheers.

[voyds9]

Are you taking the pss

[TheBALDpuma]

The issue was that it was after the two cold pack chemicals had mixed so the crystals were a gooey mush. At first I just tried to wipe them up but they just mushed into the carpet. Luckily it turns out it's very water soluble so some warm water and a cloth food the trick.

[Simpo Two]

In suitable dilution it will make very good lawn feed! (but test a bit first just in case there is something nastier in it)

[cossey]

Urea dissolves very easily in water but has a nasty habit of being very difficult to completely wash away without the white crystals coming back. It is usually easier to let it dry to crystals then use a brush to break them up and hoover. You can then use a damp cloth but it may take a few attempts.

[TheBALDpuma]

cossey said:

Urea dissolves very easily in water but has a nasty habit of being very difficult to completely wash away without the white crystals coming back. It is usually easier to let it dry to crystals then use a brush to break them up and hoover. You can then use a damp cloth but it may take a few attempts.

Ha I was just coming back to day this has happened! Think I'll get it valeted.

[bob 180]

Simpo Two said:

In suitable dilution it will make very good lawn feed! (but test a bit first just in case there is something nastier in it)

ah was going to say that, I formulate plant foods

[Simpo Two]

bob 180 said:

ah was going to say that, I formulate plant foods

Great minds... in a previous life I tested 'flowable liquid urea formaldehyde' aka FLUF - IIRC a by-product of something but by jingo it greened up grass. The marketing department loved it, gave it a stupid name and promptly priced themselves out of the market.

[Willy Nilly]

It's corrosive as fk.

[Mojocvh]

No it isn't. It's used both in granular and liquid form for all over airfields in winter to both "de" and "anti" ice.

Edited by Mojocvh on Wednesday 3rd July 21:25

[Willy Nilly]

Mojocvh said:

No it isn't. It's used both in granular and liquid form for all over airfields in winter to both "de" and "anti" ice.

Edited by Mojocvh on Wednesday 3rd July 21:25

Never, ever buy a second hand fertiliser spreader. Ever.

[tapkaJohnD]

A biological, enzyme-containing washing powder would break it down.
JOhn

[TheBALDpuma]

tapkaJohnD said:

A biological, enzyme-containing washing powder would break it down.
JOhn

In the end this is what I did.

I took all the lining out the boot and put it in the bath with a load of washing powder and hot water and left it for about 3 hours. Sorted it right out. The amount of muck that comes off the floor carpet of a 15 yo car was disgusting!

[tapkaJohnD]

Even without rolling your trousers up, getting in and 'treading' it?
Think what a good vintage you could have made with the pressings!
John