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How to Clean Car Mats

How to Clean Car Mats Categories:Car & Maintenance Tips, Car Enthusiast Talk
How to Clean Car Mats

The floor of your car can be a magnet for dirt, dust, mud and just about anything else you may be tracking around on the bottom of your shoes. You also have to worry about stains, food and beverages if you like to eat and drink behind the wheel. You don’t want to scare away passengers with excess dirt and bacteria. 

That’s why you should take the time to thoroughly clean your car mats as time goes on, especially if you love driving off-road and exploring the great outdoors. Regularly cleaning your carpet floor mats will help you and your guests feel more comfortable on and off the road. It’s best to give the interior of your car a deep clean once every month. That may be a little too often for some drivers, but regular cleaning will extend the life of your vehicle. 

There’s nothing like stepping into a beautiful, spotless interior every time you get behind the wheel. Show your car the love it deserves and clean your car mats the right way with this in-depth guide. 

CLEANING YOUR MATS STEP BY STEP

dirty rubber car mat

We’ll go over the best ways to clean all types of car mats, including traditional carpet, rubber and all-weather floor mats. Dirt and debris can easily hide throughout your vehicle, gathering in all kinds of nooks and crannies. If you want your car to stay clean, it’s best to be as thorough as possible. Follow these steps for that lasting clean feeling.

Step One: Remove the Carpet Mats

To get started, take your carpet mats out of your car so you can see what you’re doing. This gives you a chance to see what’s going on underneath your mats. Water and dirt can easily start to gather under carpet mats if they are without protection. 

Try to place your mats in a dry, clean setting so they don’t get even dirtier while you’re cleaning your car. It’s best to get them up off the ground so they have a chance to air out. You can hang them up on a clothesline, lay them out across a series of panels or boxes or put them in the grass. 

cleaning car mats graphic

Step Two: Vacuum 

Now it’s time to get rid of any debris that might be lying around. For the carpet and fabric mats, use a shop vac or car vacuum to pick up loose dirt and crumbs. Throw away any trash that’s in your car. 

For rubber floor mats, you can use a high-pressure hose to blast away stuck-on dirt and debris, but most of the crumbs and dirt should slide right off.

Slow down and take your time with this step. If it’s been a while since you cleaned your car mats, dirt may be stuck to the surface. Crumbs may be lodged within the fibers of your carpet mats. You don’t want to start scrubbing your mats too soon or you’ll just push the dirt further into your mats. Make sure the surface of the interior is as clean as possible before moving on.

Step Three: Scrubbing Your Mats

To complete this step, you’ll need a special car interior cleaning spray and a sturdy brush. It’s best to find a brush with a strong handle. That way, you don’t have to worry about losing control when the bubbles start flying. Floor brushes tend to be a great choice. They are mostly flat with a handle on the backside, making it easy to press down and give the underlying surface a good scrub. 

For carpet mats, you can either use a car carpet cleaning solution or just some white vinegar. Professionally made cleaning solutions will go the extra mile, but if you’re short on time, vinegar can get the job done. Use a spray bottle to gently mist the surface of the mat and the carpet inside your car. Avoid soaking the mat in liquid. Bend down and run the brush through the carpet. Don’t push too hard or you might ruin the fabric. Follow the direction of the fabric for a professional, all-over look. Don’t forget to brush the backside of the mat as well. When you’re done, rinse off the mat with a high-pressure hose to get rid of excess vinegar.

pressure washing husky floor mat

For rubber car floor mats, you can use a rubber car cleaning solution or regular dishwashing liquid with equal parts water. You can think of fitted rubber mats as giant Tupperware containers. You don’t have to be as gentle with rubber mats as you would with those made from carpet, so don’t be shy. Pay special attention to the edges and ridges of the mats. Many all-weather car mats come with deep grooves to give you extra traction so make sure you dip between the cracks. When the mat is clean, rinse it off again with the same high-pressure hose. 

Step Four: Let It Dry

Now you need to give your mats some time to dry before putting them back in your vehicle. Leave the doors open for several hours to let the inside of your car dry out as well. Give the inside some fresh air and the smell of vinegar will soon dissipate. 

Leave your carpet mats out in the sun for a few hours to let them dry naturally. Again, try to keep them in a clean, dry location so you don’t accidentally load them up with more dirt and debris.

For rubber mats, most of the water should run right off, but you can use a microfiber towel to soak up excess fluid. You can also lay them out in the sun to let them dry on their own.

car mats hanging to dry

Once everything is clean and dry, put your mats back in the car and enjoy the feeling of being dirt-free. 

REMOVING STAINS

The problem with carpet is that it tends to stain. Mud and beverages can easily linger in the fibers of your carpet, filling up your vehicle with strong odors and even mold. Regardless of what may have spilled, there’s a solution out there for you.

For most household stains, you can try using a mix of vinegar, baking soda and laundry detergent. Mix once cup of vinegar, one cup of baking soda and half a cup of soap in a spray bottle. Gently mist the surface of the stain and try scrubbing it away. This recipe works for coffee stains as well if you like sipping a thermos on your way to work.

You can also try using carpet spot stain cleaner. Check the instructions to see what kinds of stains the product is designed to remove. Make sure you use the right type of cleaner based on what kind of fabric you’re working with. 

You may have to resort to nontraditional products when it comes to removing nontraditional stains. For example, paint thinner can be used to remove grease stains. If you’re dealing with a particularly tough stain, research how to remove it and use the recommended product. Don’t forget to let your car mats air out after cleaning off the stain.

rubber fitted floor mats graphic

If you don’t like stains, choose rubber fitted floor mats for a more lasting clean. You won’t have to worry about fluids and mud settling into the fabric of the mat. Rubber mats also happen to be much easier to clean than those made of carpet. 

TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR CAR MATS CLEAN 

Congratulations, you have a beautiful car interior. Now that your mats are clean, it’s time to look towards the future. If you want to keep your mats as clean as possible, adjust your daily routine to keep dirt out of your vehicle.

Clean Off Your Boots

One of the best things you can do for the floor of your vehicle is to get rid of as much dirt and debris as possible before sliding behind the wheel. Spend a few seconds knocking off all the mud from your shoes. You can bang them against the side of your vehicle or a nearby tree if you’ve been hiking around in the woods for hours on end. 

If you really like to get dirty, keep a microfiber cloth in the side compartment of your vehicle. You can quickly brush off excess dirt and mud before you head home. Throw the towel in the wash at the end of your trip.

If you plan on taking off on the camping trip of a lifetime or you know you’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors, bring along extra towels and cleaning supplies so you can clean yourself off regularly throughout the trip. 

Take Out Your Mats

Your carpet mats need room to breathe. Pull them out of your vehicle between each long trip. This gives you a chance to see what’s going on underneath so you can pick up any dirt before it settles into a stain. If excess moisture starts to gather under the mat, make sure you let it dry out or soak it up with a towel so it doesn’t turn into mold.  

Regularly shaking out your mats is an easy way to stay on top of your cleaning duties. You can get rid of excess dirt and mud in just a few seconds. Make this a part of your new daily routine to improve the overall cleanliness of your vehicle. 

regularly shake out your mats graphic

Organize the Inside of Your Vehicle 

Nothing will dirty up your vehicle like a sea of clutter. If you tend to spend a lot of time in your car, it can easily turn into your second home as you eat, drink and make a living behind the wheel. Learn to respect the interior of your car by organizing the space. Wipe down cup holders and storage spaces to get rid of stains and residue that might end up on your floor. 

Come up with a storage strategy for your vehicle. Keep commonly used items in central, easily accessible areas so you don’t have to go digging for the things you use every day, such as charging cables, maps, your EZ pass and other driving essentials. Put these items back in their original location. 

Make a pact with yourself to clean up and remove garbage as you go. Take your thermos into the house when you get home from work. Toss out fast food containers and soda bottles at the end of your drive. 

Limit What You Eat and Drink Behind the Wheel

We know you’re bound to to eat behind the wheel. Eighty-three percent of drivers drink (non-alcoholic) beverages in the car and 70 percent eat some type of food while driving. If you have to eat in the car, choose foods and beverages that can be easily contained. Try to stick to water instead of overly sugary beverages that will leave your car smelling like the aftermath of a child’s birthday party. Eat foods with minimal crumbs, such as string cheese, beef jerky and granola bars, instead of trying to down a bag of chips.

Go with Rubber

placing rubber husky floor mats

If you don’t like the idea of scrubbing your floor mats, it’s best to buy rubber car mats instead of those made of carpet. Rubber surfaces tend to be much easier to clean than fabric. You can design a custom-fit rubber mat for the interior of your car so you don’t have to worry about dirt and fluid slipping between the cracks. Cover as much of the floor with rubber as possible to protect the floor of your vehicle. 

As you can see, cleaning off your car mats isn’t too difficult. In just a few minutes, you will have a beautiful, dirt-free interior that will make you feel all the more comfortable behind the wheel. Your guests will feel more at ease in the car as well. 

Don’t fall behind on your responsibilities as a car owner. Cars are made to get dirty from time to time, but with a little maintenance and upkeep, you can prevent dirt from ruining your vehicle. 

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