A pleasant and comfortable ride can be had in a clean car interior. Rubber mats will actually wear out more quickly than your own feet if you clean them too frequently or with harsh soaps, but a simple cleaning once a year will help the mats safeguard the carpeting below. Please carefully read this article if you want to learn how to clean rubber car mats.
Why Must I Maintain My Car Mats Clean?
Often, the dirtiest parts of your car are the footwells and car mats. Mold and rot will eventually develop inside your car as a result of the accumulation of water, dirt, twigs, and leaves. The purpose of the car and van mats is to shield your interior.
Giving your floor mats a thorough cleaning on a regular basis will keep the interior of your car looking and smelling good.
What Do You Need?
- Vacuum Cleaner – When removing the rubber car mats, vacuum the interior of the vehicle to properly clean the mats. Additionally, the vacuum would assist in removing loose dirt from the car mats.
- Scraper – The rubber car mats can be cleaned off of mud and dirt using a scraper to remove tough, hardened dirt.
- Rubber Floor Mat Cleaner – The best tool for the task would be a commercial rubber car mat cleaner. If you don’t have one, however, you can still use liquid dishwashing soap. However, you would need to combine the liquid dish soap with water.
- Stiff-Bristled Brush – When cleaning rubber car mats, use a brush with stiff bristles because they make it easier and more effective to remove dirt and stains that have become embedded in the mats. Additionally, make sure the brush’s bristles are long enough to reach the car mats’ grooves.
- Pressure Hose – The dirt, debris, and grime on the rubber car mats could be removed by spraying them with water at high pressure through a pressure hose.
- Microfiber Towels – To dry the rubber car mats, a few microfiber towels are required. If you choose to apply the treatment product, they are also for rubbing it into the car mats.
- Rubber Car Mat Treatment Product (Optional) – The color of rubber car mats can fade with use. Rubber car mats, however, can be given a brand-new, fresh appearance with the help of a treatment product. Products for treating rubber car mats frequently come in spray bottles.
Step-By-Step Guide
Step 1: Take Out The Rubber Car Mats And Vacuum Clean The Carpet
For two reasons, the rubber car mats must be removed first. For starters, it would be necessary to clean the carpet underneath them. Second, you shouldn’t clean your car’s floor mats inside the vehicle to prevent interior water damage and foam from the cleaner from getting on the pedals, which could make your foot slip while you’re driving.
Set the car mats aside once you’ve removed them from the vehicle. After that, vacuum your car’s carpet.
Step 2: Shake Off Loose Dirt From The Rubber Car Mats
The rubber car mats can be cleaned by shaking off a small amount of loose dirt, debris, and food crumbs. To remove all the loose dirt, you can also stomp on the car mats with a stick.
Step 3: Scrape Out The Dirt That Has Caked On The Rubber Car Mats
Rubber car mats may collect dirt and mud from shoes. Additionally, they would surface dry and harden, which might make them challenging to remove. If they are on your car mats, you can get rid of them by using a scraper to remove them.
Step 4: Vacuum Clean The Rubber Car Mats
Additionally, you can use a hand vacuum or a vacuum from a car wash to remove any loose dirt from the rubber car mats. This can be carried out in place of or after shaking the floor mats.
Step 5: Wash Rubber Car Mats With A Cleaner And Stiff-bristled Brush
Get started by preparing your preferred cleaning agent. Just adhere to the usage directions if you’re using a commercial rubber cleaner. They typically come in spray bottles and are either ready to use or require mixing with water.
If you choose to use liquid dishwashing soap, generously squeeze some into a bucket. After that, add one to two inches of water to the bucket. And mix them.
After making your cleaning solution:
- Apply it evenly and completely over the car mats.
- Give the solution some time to absorb into the car mats.
- Using a stiff-bristled brush, scrub the car mats to get rid of any surface stains and dirt.
Step 6: Rinse The Rubber Car Mats
Use a high-pressure hose at a car wash or one at home to rinse off the cleaning agent and the debris you scrubbed from the rubber car mats. Make sure to thoroughly rinse them off. It might need a few rinses.
Step 7: Let The Rubber Car Mats Dry
To prevent mold from growing in the carpet, the rubber car mats must be completely dried before being reinstalled. For more information on how to clean up mold from your car’s interior, click here.
They should not, however, be dried in direct sunlight as this can cause fading and cracking. The mats can be dried with a towel or left to air dry in a shaded area away from direct sunlight.
Best Way To Dry Car Carpet Floor Mats
Prior to putting your car’s floor mats back on the ground in front of the seats after cleaning them, make sure they are completely dry.
If you don’t let them dry, there could be moisture buildup between the carpeting on the floor and the mat, which could result in mold and mildew. We’ll show you a substitute since clotheslines are becoming less common.
Hanging car floor mats outside in the sun is one of the best ways to dry them. Any accessible location can be used to hang a coat hanger, such as the porch railing, a tree branch, or a wall.
After cleaning each floor mat, use clothespins to attach it to a coat hanger. This will enable both sides to dry simultaneously and shorten the drying time.
Conclusions
While interior car cleaning, it’s simple to forget about the car mats. If your car’s floor mats are stained and covered in caked-on dirt, having a spotlessly clean car won’t help much. With this knowledge, hopefully, you can always have a spotless car interior from top to bottom.
Read More: How To Clean Car Carpets Easily?
