Having your car is a great pleasure that comes with added responsibilities. It will help if you learn to maintain your car well on both interior and exterior. The floor mats are also crucial parts of your interior that quickly gets dirty after stepping on them. It will be best if you clean car floor mats regularly to avoid the accumulation of dirt. Washing car floor mats at home is the best solution.

Cleaning Your Car Floor Mats

• Remove your car mats outside the car for easier cleaning; cleaning them while inside can mess with sensitive parts like brakes.
• Find a mat cleaner depending on the kind of material your mat has. Use a laundry soap and baking soda for rubber and plastic and carpet form use a car carpet cleaner.
• Pick an ease use brush; use a brush with a sturdy handle to easily control it and clean the crevices.

Steps in Cleaning Car’s Floor Mats

There are several ways of cleaning your mats, depending on their material and what you have. They include deep cleaning, pressure method, steam cleaning, car cleaners, laundry soap, and more.

Carpet Mats

• Take out all your mats and lay them on a flat surface.
• Use a car vacuum to remove all the dirt and dust from your mats. Please don’t rush the process to ensure your carpet is free from dust before cleaning it with water. Use a hoover on both sides of the mat.
• Use a carpet cleaning solution or plain old vinegar and spray it on the mat. The vinegar’s smell will go away when the rug dries under the sun.
• Use a brush to remove the dirt and stains on the mat. Do it gently to avoid damaging the carpet.
• Rinse off the mat using a high-pressure nozzle to ensure you get rid of all the foam.
• Allow your carpets to dry under the sun.

Rubber/ Plastic Mats

Unlike carpet mats, you need to use laundry powder or dishwashing liquid.

• Please take out your mats and lay them on a concrete floor.
• Use a high-pressure nozzle to rinse the mat off the dirt and dust.
• Dip your brush in the soap solution and scrub the mat to get rid of both sides’ stains.
• Spray vinegar onto the damp plastic or rubber floor mats to clean it further.
• Lay your mats under the sun to dry or use a microfiber towel to dry them.

Deep Cleaning Floor Mats

• You can use laundry soap instead of store-bought cleaning products.
• Make a soapy water solution using 1 gallon of warm water and ¼ cup dish soap.
• Soak your mats in the soap.
• Using a brush, gently scrub away the dirt and grime on both sides of the mat.
• Repeat the procedure with each floor mat
• Use a hosepipe to rinse off your mats and dry them.

Steam Cleaning Floor Mats

It’s a great way to pressure wash car mats, especially the carpet material, to eliminate dirt and foul odors.

• Start by vacuuming the floor mats to remove dirt and debris.
• Fill your steam cleaner with upholstery cleaner per manufacture’s instructions.
• Use brush attachment of steam cleaner to clean each mat. Start scrubbing from the top as you work your way to the down.
• Repeat the process, ensuring each mat is thoroughly clean, later dry them.

How to clean Car Mats with Bad Stains

Stains can be various types depending on the dirt involved, like salts, gum, mud oil, or grease.  You can use vinegar, baking soda to get rid of them.

Removing General Stains

What Required

• Paint scraper
• Liquid hand washing detergent
• White vinegar
• Bucket
• Cloth
• Fabric cleaner

Process

• Remove your mats from the car.
• Remove any excess mess using a paint scraper. If any dirt remains, blot it out with a corner of the cloth.
• Make a cleaning solution, add one tablespoon of liquid hand washing detergent, one teaspoon of white vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water.
• Soak the other corner of the cloth and use it to blot all the stains.
• Spray a light mist of fabric cleaner to remove any remaining vinegar smell.
• Blot excess moisture and dry your mat.

Removing Oil or Grease

What Required

• Paint scraper
• Baking soda
• Liquid hand washing detergent
• White vinegar
• Cloth
• Fabric cleaner
• Cloth
• Sponge

Process

• Use a paint scraper to remove excess oil pooled on the carpet, ensure you don’t damage your fibers.
• Apply baking soda on the spot and allow it to break and soak up the oil in 10-15 minutes.
• Vacuum up the baking soda
• Add one teaspoon of liquid detergent and one teaspoon of white vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water.
• Using this solution, sponge the grease stain until you remove it.
• Rinse your sponge in warm running water.
• Empty bucket and add cold water. Sponge the carpet to remove the detergent and vinegar solution.
• Spray a light mist of fabric cleaner to remove the remaining vinegar smell and dry it.

Keeping Your Car’s Floormats Clean

• Avoid eating in the car.
• Use cup holders to avoid spilling drinks.
• Kick as much dirt from your shoes before you get in the car like snow, mud.
• Have a trash bag in the car.
• Have a microfiber cleaning cloth to soak up spills before they stain.

Can I Wash Car Floormats in a Washing Machine?

You can wash your mats in a washing machine or use a car mat cleaner machine but only for the fabric ones. Plastic or rubber mats can melt and deform in a washing machine, particularly at hot temperatures.

Check this too: How to Remove Scratches From Windshield

Can You Put Car Mats in a Dryer?

Dry your mats using the lowest heat setting but only for the carpet like material. Plastic or rubber mats can crack and melt while drying them.

What is the Best Car Mat Cleaner?

Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze Vinyl

It’s a complex formula that cleans, penetrates, and rejuvenates vinyl and rubber surfaces. It leaves behind a rich, natural sheen, unlike the shiny synthetic coating of simple protectants.

Features

• U.v protection
• Rich natural sheen
• Brightens and refreshes color
• Convenient spray bottle

Pros

• Provides convenience with its ease of use container
• Provides the ability to clean interior and exterior surface
• Leaves a natural sheen cook
• Revives old and faded surfaces

Cons

• Comes with a strong smell and fragrance

Check Price

 Meguiar’s G191419 Car Cleaner

The product quickly penetrates and dissolves stains from the bottom up for deep down cleansing. It removes even the toughest stains and restores the appearance of the mat.

Features

• Deep clean
• Removes odors
• Quick and easy cleaning
• Residue-free
• New scar scent

Pros

• Multipurpose
• Stain and odor remover
• Mild and pleasant scent
• Fast and easy cleaning

Cons

• Hard to apply evenly
• The spray nozzle is sometimes defective

Check Price

Carfidant Ultimate Car Interior Cleaner

It’s an excellent all-purpose cleaner that works on all car surfaces inside and outside. The product is virtually odorless, with no nasty chemicals.

Features

• No smell, scents, or harmful chemicals
• Ultimate exterior cleaner
• Best interior cleaner
• Cleaning towel included

Pros

• Cleans everything well
• Works on exterior paint
• Free microfiber towel

Cons

• A bit expensive

Check Price

Conclusion

You can clean your mats using the DIY formula, use car cleaners, deep cleaning, or do pressure wash car mats. The critical thing is getting rid of the dirt and stains. Make sure you practice hygiene measures in your car for easy cleaning. Also, ensure you dry your mats well to get rid of foul odors and humid air in your vehicle.