How to Clean Car Floor Mats?

No matter how careful you are to keep your car's interior clean and shiny, dirt can still build up and spills can occur. Having a set of napkins or wet paper towels on hand can help clean up the mess, but it takes more than that to restore the ambiance of a new car. Thoroughly clean the footwells and easily touch up your car's interior.

Your car's floor has more dirt stuck to the bottom of your shoes than anywhere else. It also suffers from spilled food and drinks, as well as loose debris from pockets, bags, boxes and any other items that enter or leave your car. After removing any items scattered on the floor of your car, clean the footbeds and make your car look brand new. This article focuses on the cleaning steps for car floor mats made of TPE.

TPE car mat

Cleaning tools

Gloves (This is always a good precaution when working with chemicals.)
Microfiber towel
Vacuum cleaner
Soft bristle brush
Pressurized water hose
Floor mat cleaner (regular soapy water can also be used.)

Steps

Step 1. Remove the Floor Mat and Shake off Any Debris

You can grab the diagonal lines to avoid surface debris or dirt scattered on the car floor. Also, after removing the mats, you can vacuum under the seats, pedals and crevices to make sure no debris, dirt or trash is left behind. Leaving too much trash and debris behind will hinder the cleaning process and you may not get good results.

Step 2. Pre-rinse the Mats with a Pressure Washer or Garden Hose

Pre-rinsing the rubber mat with a pressure hose will help remove some of the caked-on debris that wasn't removed by shaking, vacuuming or tapping. If you don't have a pressure hose, you can use bottled water instead, but you won't get the pressure advantage of removing the debris.

Step 3. Use a Cleaner or Soapy Water, then Brush the Stain off with a Brush

Use a cleaner or plain soapy water designed for TPE materials, then gently scrub with a soft bristle brush or sponge to remove excess dirt and debris.
Note: If you use a brush, be careful not to over-scrub. A hard bristle brush can scratch or even wear the surface of the car mat, so you can use a soft bristle brush and brush gently.

Step 4. Rinse the Car Mat with a Hose or Water, then Dry the Water Stains with a Towel

Rinse the mat thoroughly, making sure there is no residue on either side. After rinsing thoroughly, simply take a towel and wipe off any water on it.

Step 5. Apply the Protector and Towel Dry Again

Now that your mat is dry, you can apply some protectant to the mat, but be careful not to add too much to the mat as it will make it very slippery and not conducive to your safety while driving. You can feel the extra protective layer on the floor mat, which prevents dirt and liquid from staining.

Moisture in the car can cause unpleasant odors and even mold. Therefore, you need to let the floor mats dry completely before putting them back in place. You can shake off the excess water and hang them up to air dry. If you don't have enough time, you can also wipe them with a towel.

If you want to know more about cleaning car mats, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.