How to Clean Car Floor Mats (Rubber and Carpet)

All-weather mats

How to clean rubber floor mats

1. Take them out and knock off the dirtSmack them against a wall or the ground to get the loose sand and gravel out of the grooves.
2. Rinse with a hoseA garden hose with a spray nozzle is plenty. Get the dirt out of the channels.
3. Scrub with cleaner and a stiff brushSpray an all-purpose cleaner or a little car shampoo and scrub in both directions to reach the grooves.
4. Rinse againMake sure all the soap is gone. Soap residue leaves a slippery, chalky film.
5. Dry fullyStand them up in the sun or wipe them down with a towel. Water trapped under a mat leads to mildew smell.

Fabric mats

How to clean carpet floor mats

1. Shake and beat them outGet as much grit out as you can before vacuuming. Sand is what wears carpet mats out.
2. Vacuum both sidesFront first, then flip and vacuum the back. Dirt works its way through.
3. Brush to lift the pileA stiff carpet brush pulls up packed-in dirt and hair before you add any liquid.
4. ShampooSpray a carpet or upholstery cleaner, work it in with the brush, and let it sit a few minutes.
5. Extract or rinseA wet-vac or extractor pulls the dirty water out. If you don’t have one, rinse lightly with a hose and squeeze out as much water as you can.
6. Dry completelyHang them or lay them flat in the sun. Damp carpet mats are the number one cause of musty car smell.

The hard ones

Common floor mat stains

• Coffee and soda

  Blot up what you can, then shampoo. Sugary drinks leave a sticky spot that grabs dirt, so rinse well.

• Mud and red clay

  Let it dry first, then brush and vacuum it out. Wet mud just smears deeper into the carpet. North Carolina red clay may take a couple of rounds.

• Salt stains

  Those white, crusty lines after a winter road trip. A 50/50 mix of warm water and white vinegar loosens them, then shampoo and rinse.

• Grease and gum

  For gum, harden it with an ice cube and chip it off. For grease, blot with an interior cleaner rather than scrubbing it around.

Don’t do this

Floor mat mistakes to avoid

1. Using tire shine or silicone dressingIt makes mats slippery. Your foot can slide off the brake or gas. Leave rubber mats clean and matte.
2. Putting them back wetTrapped moisture soaks into the car’s carpet and turns into mildew.
3. Running carpet mats through the washing machineThe rubber backing can crack and peel. Hand wash instead.
4. Skipping the retention hooksAlways clip mats back onto the hooks so they can’t slide under the pedals.

Clean mats should grip.
Never shine.

While they’re out

Check under the mats