Whether it’s from your children’s muddy soccer practices or from eating on the go, car floor mats can quickly accumulate dirt, making a vehicle unpleasant to use. Many people forego cleaning this essential area as it doesn’t always stay looking fresh for long - but this is no reason to ignore it completely. Luckily, cleaning car floor mats is quick and easy, and will have a huge visual impact on a vehicle’s interior. Before you get started, it’s worth checking out the best vacuum cleaners (opens in new tab) and the best handheld vacuums (opens in new tab), as these are a useful tool in cleaning the interior of a car.
How often should you clean car floor mats?
Not only is a dirty car unpleasant to look at and to drive in, but it can also eventually lead to long-term damage. The build-up of food crumbs, mud, and water will cause mold to develop, which is bad for your health and difficult to remove. How often you clean car floor mats will depend entirely on how much you use your vehicle and your daily routine. If you regularly put your pets in the car after long walks or spend a lot of time doing outdoor pursuits, you’ll want to be incorporating weekly spot cleans into your routine.
How to clean rubber car floor mats
Rubber floor mats are incredibly durable, making them able to withstand daily footfall and heavy-duty scrubbing. The material also means that they dry off quickly, especially when left outside, so you don’t have to worry about this task taking up too much time. Step 1: Using a hose, pressure washer (opens in new tab), or a bucket of soapy water, wash away any dirt and debris. This should remove the majority of loose mud, leaving less to scrub. Step 2: With a hard bristled brush and soapy water, lightly target any outstanding patches of dirt. Step 3: Make sure to clean your car floor mats on a nice day, so you can hang them out to dry. Using a clothesline will ensure that they drip dry on both sides, so you can place them back into the vehicle without worrying about mold or mildrew.
How to clean carpet car floor mats
Carpet car mats can quickly become trodden down with dirt, making the interior of a car look untidy and smell unpleasant. It’s slightly trickier to clean carpet mats, as they required more scrubbing and time to dry, however, it’s still a simple task that will quickly transform your vehicle. As well as the following steps, Phil Hall recommends to “use rubber gloves to remove pet hair from any carpeted interior”, as simply running your hand along the carpet will pick up hard-to-remove hair. Step1: Shake out any loose mud and crumbs in an outdoor area. Step 2: Vacuum thoroughly, paying attention to any pet or human hair that is stuck in the fibers. Step 3: Spot clean any marks using a dedicated stain-removal product or a natural method, such as using baking soda to clean carpet (opens in new tab). Baking soda is a natural deodorizer so is great for combatting bad odors. Step 4: If the mats are still looking dirty after vacuuming and spot-treating stains, consider using a carpet cleaner and spraying liberally onto the mat. Step 5: Leave outside to dry before returning them to your vehicle - make sure to complete this task on a sunny day! Discover more guides for the home… Best steam mops (opens in new tab) Best robot vacuums (opens in new tab) Best carpet cleaners (opens in new tab) Best deep clean vacuums (opens in new tab)
