In the normal course of a car’s life, the floor mats take a heavy hit. The floor mat is always there to accept your feet, no matter what the weather is outside or the condition of your shoes. It takes the rain, the dirt, the mud, the snow, and whatever else you stomp on it with the bottom of our sole. Rubber car mats are a smart choice if you live in areas with heavy winters and hard weather, but it is no surprise that your car’s floor mat—rubber or not—can get incredibly messy and even stained during the course of its life.
To get the most out of your car and its accessories, it is wise to clean your floor mats regularly to keep them fresh and around for as long as their mechanical counterparts. However, cleaning your car’s floor mats is something you can do yourself. Keep reading for Wade Auto’s tips and steps on how to clean rubber car mats, and if your car mats are looking a little worn out, check out Wade Auto's rubber floor mats to find a replacement that will be a perfect fit for your car.
Needed Materials
Knowing how to clean rubber car mats means longevity for your car’s interior accessories, but with every do it yourself project you need the right materials. Knowing the right materials is the first step in knowing how to clean rubber floor mats. When you have the proper cleaning materials, washing rubber car mats is a breeze and ensures you are cleaning rubber floor mats properly. Here are the materials you should have to properly wash your rubber floor mats:
- A cleaning agent, like dish detergent or any type of rubber cleaner
- A bucket of warm water
- A high-pressure garden hose
- A degreasing agent
- A towel or drying cloth
- A cleaning brush or washcloth
- A light scraping brush
- A mat finishing treatment agent
As you can see, most of these items are the same ones you need when washing the exterior of your car. Consider washing the floor mats alongside your car to kill two birds with one stone, cleaning your car’s interior and exterior at the same time. Using these specific materials will ensure that you are cleaning rubber floor mats properly and preserving them for long-term use.
The Proper Floor Mat Cleaning Steps
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The next step in how to clean rubber car mats is knowing the proper cleaning techniques. Using the proper cleaning techniques will guarantee that you are washing rubber car mats the right way and removing any harmful grim or dirt that can lead to long-term damage. Following are the cleaning steps and techniques for cleaning rubber floor mats.
Step 1: Remove Any Loose Dirt
Before you start throwing on the water and soap, make sure you shake or vacuum any excess dirt off of your rubber floor mats. This is the first step so don’t expect all of the dirt to come off, but shake or vacuum off as much as you can to help start the cleaning process.
Step 2: Remove Any Caked-on Mud or Dirt
An important part of how to clean rubber car mats is to make sure all of the dirt comes off, which means you might need to scrape off any stubborn dirt that will not come off with just a casual shake. This is where you get to employ your brush from the materials list. Use the brush to help remove any stubborn dirt as the need dictates. Once the dirt has been loosened give it another good shake or pass with the vacuum to remove it before putting on the soap.
Step 3: Start Scrubbing
Now on to the main event of how to clean rubber car mats, the scrubbing. Put soap directly onto the rubber floor mat or apply it to your cleaning brush or washcloth and begin scrubbing, focusing on those areas where there is still some caked dirt or possible stains.
Step 4: Rinse
After you have given the rubber floor mats a thorough washing take out your hose and rinse them off until you have completely rinsed off all the soap.
Step 5: Let Dry and Apply Finishing Treatment
Let your rubber floor mat dry completely, even hanging it up somewhere if you need to. When the mat is completely dry, you can add your mat finishing treatment. This helps to keep your mats looking new and guards against stains. After everything is done and dry, place the rubber mats back in your car.
Rubber floor mats are great with heavy weather, especially winter. By properly cleaning rubber floor mats you are ensuring that not only will your mats be clean but the cabin of your car will look nice for years. Keeping your car clean, inside and out, helps with the resale or trade-in value when the time comes. Follow these steps on how to clean rubber car mats to keep your car looking the best it can. If you would like more tips for keeping your car in the best condition it can be in, check out our blog at Wade Auto.