Cleaning your car's carpet, whether made of rubber or cloth, can be the quickest way to improve the overall appearance of your car. As a bonus, the car will smell better!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparation for Car Carpet Cleaning
Step 1. Remove the car mat, whether rubber or cloth rug, from the car, if possible
Open all the car doors one by one and remove the car mat if it can be removed. Do not clean the car carpet while it is still installed in the car.
- Remove the carpet to prevent water from damaging the car interior. In addition, you should prevent products with an oily or foamy consistency from coming into contact with the gas, clutch and brake pedals as they can become slippery and cause your feet to slip off the pedals while driving. It is very dangerous.
- Clean the carpet outside the car. You can clean the carpet at the gas station or in the parking lot at home or in the garage. Most car mats are removable. However, sometimes the carpet becomes one with the car interior. In this case, you will have to clean it in the car.
Step 2. Clean the cloth carpet with a vacuum cleaner first
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove all dust particles and mud residue from the car carpet before you clean it further.
- Cleaning a wet car carpet can be difficult. You can use baking soda to absorb moisture and odors. Sprinkle baking soda evenly on the carpet and let it sit for 10-20 minutes before using a vacuum cleaner.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to clean both sides of the carpet, ensuring that no crumbs and dust remain.
Step 3. Shake or pound the carpet to remove dirt
This method will release the dust lodged in the carpet, whether made of rubber or cloth. Do it outside.
- Hit the rug against the floor several times to remove the dust.
- Find a hard surface on which to beat the carpet. This trick is suitable for both rubber and fabric carpets. You can also use a scraper to remove the hardened dirt on the rubber carpet before cleaning it.
Method 2 of 3: Washing Rubber Car Carpets
Step 1. Choose a good quality rubber car carpet
Most car carpets are made of rubber, especially in areas where it rains a lot, as they provide good protection against moisture and dry faster than cloth carpets.
- Choose a high-quality rubber carpet so that it is not easy to wear or have holes. The presence of holes allows water to run under the carpet and onto the car floor, which can cause rust to form.
- If the interior floor of the car starts to rust, over time it will emit an unpleasant odor.
Step 2. Take a water hose
Use a water hose to wash the carpet, but only the dirty side. Do not wet the underside of the carpet.
- The water hose will help you get rid of any dirt and food residue stuck to the rubber rug.
- If you don't have a water hose, use a bucket of water (although the pressure of the water from the hose will be very helpful in removing the dirt from the carpet). You can also go to a car wash and wash the carpet with water spray there.
Step 3. Use soap for each carpet
Mix laundry soap, baking soda and water. This mixture will float the dirt. If you don't have baking soda, just use any liquid soap.
- You can use a soap spray or apply the soap with a damp cloth. Actually, it is not difficult to clean the dirt on the rubber car carpet. Soap and water can be an adequate solution.
- Increase the water hose pressure and try to wash the carpet well and thoroughly. You can also clean rubber car carpets with wet wipes and hand sanitizer.
Step 4. Dry the carpet
The carpet must be completely dry before you put it back in the car. However, if you wash it in a car wash, you may not have time to wait for it to dry.
- In this case, put all the carpets in their original place and turn on the air conditioner and fan to the maximum.
- To dry the carpet faster, point the air conditioner at the feet. This way, the carpet will dry faster.
Method 3 of 3: Washing Fabric Car Carpets
Step 1. Rub baking soda on the fabric carpet
Baking soda is quite effective at removing stains on fabric carpets.
- Baking soda can also help neutralize odors from pets, food scraps, and other debris.
- You can also apply baking soda and water to a stiff-bristled brush and then use it to brush the dirt off the carpet until it's clean.
Step 2. Use soapy water to wash the car carpet
Add the detergent to the soapy water, then scrub the carpet with a stiff bristle brush until it's clean.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of powder cleanser and equal amounts of shampoo. Then, brush the car carpet with the mixture. You can also use this mixture to clean car bumpers that are made of plastic. There are many choices of cleaning agents that can be used.
- Use a small stiff-bristled brush or a floor brush to carefully brush off the dirt on the carpet. Then, brush hard and rinse off all the soap with clean water.
Step 3. Try using a cleaning spray
You can spray carpet cleaner and let it sit for 30 minutes. Another option is to purchase a special cleaning cloth for cars at an auto parts store.
- The carpet cleaner will evaporate or be absorbed by the carpet. Then, use a hand brush to make sure the cleaner is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the carpet.
- You can make your own cleaning spray by mixing an equal amount of white vinegar and hot water together. Then, spray it on the carpet. Use a brush to scrub the carpet. This method is perfect for cleaning salt stains.
- If you find gum stains on the carpet, use peanut butter and a pinch of salt, then scrub the carpet to remove any remaining gum.
Step 4. Use a pressure washer or steam cleaner
Another option for cleaning fabric carpets is to use a vacuum cleaner equipped with a steam system. This tool can be used effectively to clean car carpets as well as carpets at home.
- If you don't have a pressure washer at home, you can go to a car wash and clean the carpet there.
- You can also clean the carpet with the washing machine and detergent you normally use. Don't forget to spray the stain remover first.
Step 5. Use the vacuum cleaner one more time
This will help suck up some of the water and remove any remaining dust particles on the carpet.
- Using a wet/dry vacuum cleaner (eg Shopvac) is highly recommended as it is designed to absorb moisture. A vacuum cleaner equipped with a hose nozzle can also be used because it has good suction power.
- Choose a model with 680 watts of power or more so you have more power. Then, remove the carpet and run a vacuum cleaner to clean it. Use a small hose for better suction.
Step 6. Dry the carpet until it is completely dry
To dry a fabric car rug, hang it somewhere or put it in the dryer. Fabric rugs will give off a musty smell if they are not completely dry.
- You can also spray the carpet with deodorizer. Dry in the sun to dry. This step can also help make the carpet smell fresh.
- You can dry fabric carpets with a tumble dryer. Then, use a razor to trim the dangling hairs. You can simply shave the entire surface of the carpet to deal with hair that is too long.
