How to Clean Car Floor Mats

Over time, car mats get dirty--especially when winter comes, as salt stains may occur on your vehicle's floor mats. These are your vehicle's first interior defense against mud, snow, and spills so knowing how to clean them properly is important. And it’s no surprise that they might need a little extra attention with more regularity than the rest of your interior. Learn more about how to clean rubber floor mats or carpet floor mats with us at the Haggerty Buick GMC service center, your auto VILLA PARK professionals, then be sure to check out other car care tips we have.

The Supplies You’ll Need

The type of supplies, and the process of cleaning, differ depending on the type of floor mats you have. These can include:

• Rubber Floor Mats: A stiff bristle brush, hose or bucket of water, vacuum, rubber floor mat cleanser, microfiber towel or a place to hang your mats to dry
• Carpet Floor Mats: carpet floor mat cleaner, brush, hose or bucket of water, a vacuum, wet vac if available, or a place to hang your mats to dry

How to Clean Rubber Floor Mats

1. To protect your vehicle from water damage, and to give you ease of access, remove the rubber floor mats from your vehicle.
2. Shake out the rubber car mats, or beat them with a sturdy broom handle to knock away surface debris.
3. Use clean water to rinse off the mats.
4. A cleanser for rubber mats will safely and efficiently help you scrub away any residue and grime with a stiff bristle brush.
5. Rinse the mats clean.
6. Hang up to dry or dry with a microfiber towel. Make sure mats are completely dry before replacing.

How to Clean Carpet Floor Mats

1. Again, remove the floor mats from your vehicle.
2. Use a hose attachment if possible to vacuum the floor mats to remove the first layer of dirt.
3. You can also shake or beat the carpet floor mats against a hard surface to get rid of dust and smaller particles a vacuum may miss.
4. Use a cleaner designed for car carpet floor mats and apply it to your floor mats. Each particular cleaner has specific instructions to maximize cleaning and treat your floor mats without damaging them, so be sure to follow them closely.
5. Scrub the mats to remove any stains and ground-in debris.
6. Rinse thoroughly.
7. If you happen to have access to a wet vac, using one will help you dry the mats faster and will remove additional dirt. Be aware that hanging them up to dry may result in dripping.
8. Hang your mats to dry. They should be completely dry before you place them in your vehicle, otherwise you run the risk of mold, mildew and damage to your vehicle.

Find More Car Care Tips at Haggerty Buick GMC

No matter if you're in need of tools to help you with the cleaning of your floor mats or if you're looking to have help cleaning your vehicle's interior, our team can help. Contact the Haggerty Buick GMC parts department for the equipment needed, saving more with our available parts specials . Not sure you want to do this on your own? Have the professionals at the Haggerty Buick GMC service center take a look. If you have questions in the meantime, want to check out our GMC accessories or Buick accessories, or want to schedule a service appointment , don't hesitate to contact us .