Even though floor mats are designed to protect your car floor, you still want to protect your floor mats so they last a long time. Custom auto carpet floor mats can make the car feel more comfortable but it can be harder to clean and maintain.

Cleaning Carpet Floor Mats

With carpet floor mats, there are different methods you can use to clean them depending on how stained and dirty they are.

Use Baking Soda: Rub baking soda into the mats to remove stains and neutralize odors from the mats. You can also use baking soda and water with a scrub brush to give the mats a thorough cleaning.

Use Detergent Powder and Shampoo: You can also use a stiff brush and a blend of shampoo and detergent powder to clean the mats. Be sure to wash any leftover soap off with clean water.

Use Carpet Cleaners: There are a number of different carpet cleaners on the market that you can use to clean the floor mats. Many different carpet or upholstery cleaners should be sprayed on and then left to be absorbed. Then use a hand brush to help spread the cleaner and scrub it in the mat. You can also make your own cleaner by mixing white vinegar and hot water. This mixture is good at getting rid of salt stains if you live in inclement weather. If you have gotten chewing gum stuck on the carpet floor mat, use peanut butter and salt on it before scrubbing.

Use a Steam-Cleaning Vacuum: Just like with home carpet, you can use a steam-cleaning vacuum to clean the mats. If you don’t have one at home, you can use one at a car wash.

Use the Washing Machine: This may not work for all car mats but if the mats can be washed this way, you can put them in the machine with some standard detergent. Always use a stain remover first if there are any stains that need to be addressed.

Vacuum Dry: Once you have cleaned your mats then you can make sure you vacuum them again to dry up any remaining dirt and water particles. If you are using a car vacuum, make sure it’s designed as a wet/dry vacuum, so the vacuum isn’t damaged in the process.

Make sure your mats are dry before you put them back in the car. Any wet floor mat will leave a damp, musky smell.

Further Protecting Carpet Floor Mats

Before you add any protective sealant to your custom auto carpet floor mats, you need to make sure they are thoroughly cleaned using one of the steps above. Once the mats have been cleaned, you can then apply carpet protection and let them dry overnight before putting them back in the car.