Let’s be real. When it comes to cleaning your car’s floor mats, the free vacuums at the car wash down the street just aren’t cutting it anymore. It’s time to upgrade your cleaning method if you want better, longer-lasting results. Take a look below at our tips for cleaning your car floor mats like a pro.
2 Types of Car Mats
Not all car mats are created equal. Some are made of heavy-duty rubber while others are soft cloth material. Each type requires different products and methods to get them looking good as new again.
Whether you’re tired of staring at the grass and leaf collection or that year-old coffee stain every day, we have the tools you need to keep your floor mats fresh and clean all year long. Check out our handy guide for learning how to keep car floor mats clean in the right way.
How to Clean Rubber Car Mats
The main benefit of using rubber mats is that they’re typically easier to clean than cloth mats. Start by shaking out any loose materials, then lay them out on a hard surface—such as concrete. After giving them a good rinse to remove any other debris, scrub them with soapy water and a washing mitt on both sides.
Once they look clean, give them one more rinse to remove any soap residue. After that, all you need to do is let them dry fully on both sides before returning them to your car.
Supplies Needed To Clean Rubber Car Floor Mats
- Water hose
- Soap
- Bucket
- Premium Wash Mitt
How To Clean Cloth Car Mats
Cloth mats are harder to clean than rubber mats because debris and stains soak into the material rather than just sticking to the surface. But don’t fret. You can still give them that new car feel with the right cleaning strategy.
First, you’ll need to take the mats from your car and shake out any loose dirt and other debris that’s collected on them. Your next step is to vacuum the mats thoroughly to get any debris that’s still stuck on them. Also, be sure to run the vacuum over the floor of your car.
If shaking them out and running a vacuum over them gets your mats clean enough for your liking, you can stop there. But if they’re still a little dirty—with caked-on mud or stains, for example—you can wash your car mats with soap and water. Just mix your favorite heavy-duty soap in hot water, and scrub the mats with a cleaning brush. When you’ve finished scrubbing, rinse the mats thoroughly to get all the soap out, and lay them out to dry.
Supplies You’ll Need To Clean Cloth Car Mats
- Suction vacuum
- Water
- Soap
- Bucket or large bowl
- Brush
If you want to speed up the drying process, grab The Absorber®, the #1 branded drying product in the U.S.
Keep Your Floor Mat Mess Free with CleanTools - Auto
CleanTools has been creating innovative products for serious car care since 1980. If you care about keeping your car looking fresh for years down the road, make sure you have the right supplies on hand to clean your car’s floor mats whenever they get dirty. Whether they’re made of rubber or cloth, we have the products you need. Check out our online store.