Getting Your Floormats Clean

[SLeepr]

I recently stumbled on a great way to get all of those stubborn stains out of your carpeted floor mats. Previously, I was fond of the product Tuff Stuff for removing soil stains and other nasty goo. But, no matter how much I scrubbed, the mats always seemed to retain some of the grunge.

But, I decided to remove all of the mats and take to the bathtub. I deposited 4 scoops of Oxy Clean (yeah, I know) into the tub and filled it with about two inches of water. Working with one mat at a time, I used a little extra Oxy Clean granules directly on the nasty spots while submerged. With a regular scrub brush, I massaged the oxy clean into the mats for about 3 minutes a piece. Needless to say, the color of the water looked similar to rotten, rusty radiator water. Each mat was then treated to a water rinse before being laid out in the direct sun. The results were stunning. The mats nearly looked new!

I would advise you to try it on a small spot before dunking your mats. Mine happen to be tan so darker colors may or may not fair as well. I assume no liability for the outcome of your trials. However, I have found nothing that even comes close (maybe a professional steamer).

Just thought I would share.

[jeep4523]

I've had great luck with Simple Green Automotive, a cotton towel, and a vaccume.

[David 93 SL2m]

Originally posted by SLeepr
Needless to say, the color of the water looked similar to rotten, rusty radiator water.Don't let your wife find out!

Lucky for me, I finished up with my cleaning of the valve cover in the kitchen sink before my wife came home. Boy that was a close one!

[TedL]

To really get her going, try cleaning it in the dishwasher!

[Dr. Bob]

I was fond of the product Tuff Stuff for removing soil stains and other nasty goo.
Yup, the Tuff Stuff works good on upholstery.

But, I decided to remove all of the mats and take to the bathtub. I deposited 4 scoops of Oxy Clean (yeah, I know) into the tub and filled it with about two inches of water. Working with one mat at a time, I used a little extra Oxy Clean granules directly on the nasty spots while submerged. With a regular scrub brush, I massaged the oxy clean into the mats for about 3 minutes a piece.
Not bad - I've done that before, but I take the mats out of the car and spray 'em a few times with a garden hose to get most of the gunk out, then let 'em dry, then bring 'em inside for a final wash. Rather than the bathtub, I use a large utility room sink. Warm, softened water is a good thing.

[auxmike]

Ted,that's a great idea!
Mom would not approve though.:rolleyes:
Hey,my dad picked up a full set of genuine Nissan Xterra floormats today at a yard sale for $1!:yes: They look brand new unused front and back.
An almost perfect fit to mom's Lumina,grey to boot.
Wish they would have been biscuit tan Satty mats,then I would have bought them!:tear:

[David 93 SL2m]

I tried cleaning my almost 12 year old 1993 SL2's floor mats. First I blasted them with the garden hose and then I scrubbed them with lots of powered Tide clothes detergent. I keep the Tide in the garage for cleaning the concrete floor of the garage after it gets dirty from mistakes I sometimes make while changing the cars' oil and oil filters.

My floor mats came out a little cleaner. They are grey colored. The front passenger floor mat looks great and it probably has the least amount of wear and the least amount of dirt. Next were the rear floor mats. They got a bit more use and were a little dirtier. The one from the passenger side of the rear of the car has some stains on it near the edge; later I will try carpet cleaner on those spots. Lastly we have the driver's floor mat. This has the most wear and was the dirtiest. Not all of the dirt came out of it. There are still brownish areas. The parts on the driver's floor mat that look the worst are actually bald spots! I might try cleaning the driver's floor mat again but in the bathtub as SLeepr described - when my wife is not around!

Here is something cool I got to work today! Check out this image. It is actually a hyperlink to a larger version of the same image. In other words, if we click on the small image below it will open a new window containing the large image! :cool:

http://home.comcast.net/~David93SL2/floor-mats-small.jpg (http://home.comcast.net/~David93SL2/floor-mats.jpg)

[HiWire]

What's a good way of getting salt out of the carpet? I have encrusted deposits from 3 winters :(

[ENTP]

I gave up on mine a few years ago and bought Saturn OEM rubber floor mats. I like 'em. They're heavy duty, easy to clean and don't look too bad.

I think they were about $75 which is kind of pricey but I thought I'd be keeping the car for a while.....

I like Sleepr's Oxy clean tip and will try it on the Echo mats.

[jeep4523]

This is using simple green, working it in with a cotton towl, and vacuming it out.

http://firetresses.com/pix/Jeep/lincoln/IMG_0002.jpg
http://firetresses.com/pix/Jeep/lincoln/IMG_0001.jpg

[Lucas1]

what works well is to use carpet cleaner, like from a steam cleaner, undiluted and blast them with a pressure washer like at a carwash. then vacuum out the water and let them air dry.

[thewretched]

Originally posted by jeep4523
This is using simple green, working it in with a cotton towl, and vacuming it out.


so... what you're saying is... simple green bleaches your carpet?

:D :grnjump:

[David 93 SL2m]

I think jeep4523 didn't use a flash when taking the "before" picture but did use a flash when taking the "after" picture.

[r_o__]

i found the spray nine and a rag work too,on the carpets, seats, and headliner

[TomM96]

HiWire-
Salt(s) dissolve readily in (preferably warm) fresh water. Good technique is a sequence of rinses, each in initially very fresh water. Salt solution dissolves metals {= 'body rot' } , and also salt absorbs water vapor from surrounding air, promoting moldy humid zones.

[jambra1]

One other really good spot-cleaning product for carpet/upholstery is Folex. Runs about $5/quart at Wal-Mart and is also available in quart and gallon size at Home Depot. No toxic chemicals. No smell.

Our house has very light color carpet and it's been a lifesaver. Anyone with kids ought to have a bottle handy. :) Have used it to spot clean carpet in the cars and it's worked like a champ.

Just spray, rub in with your fingertips, let it sit a few minutes, then rub it out with a towel.

[cris_thomas]

Lucky for me, I finished up with my cleaning of the valve cover in the kitchen sink before my wife came home. Boy that was a close one!

Kitchen sink? Wimp! Thats what the dish washer is for! ;-) I put it on the pot scrubber setting, add a little extra detergent and hi heat for drying. All parts (and tools and tool boxes etc) come out sparkely clean!

Tools get washed about once per year. Engine parts get a second rinse in the sink under HOT water to remove any disovled detergent and then immediately dried with the hair dryer and lightly oiled to pevent rusting.

Sure as hell beats trying to clean stuff with a wire brush and nasty smelling solvents.

[emptypockets]

I used to spray mine with simple green, let it soak in, and then rinse it out with the hose and some good pressure. Then I got some rubber floor mats for the winter and I might go to some of those thinner "racing" mats like they have at Wal-Mart because these winter ones are too bulky and sometimes slide up against the gas pedal. Not fun for summer driving. Haven't had to clean my valve cover yet but our dishwasher barely gets half of the dishes clean as it is so I don't think some extra grease and oil is going to help it any.

[matt2791]

I put my gray mats through the washing machine-I just set it and forget it :)

[BobL]

The all weathers are so much better since you can clean them at a self-service car wash.

Once had a pair of Rockport shoes bleed color onto my SL's front mat. Saturn of Raleigh was nice enough to try to steam clean it free in their detail shop.

Only helped a little, so I converted to rubber mats for all cars from then on.

Saturn of Raleigh's a great dealership.

[Garciavision]

Bought grey rubber mats at Costco for $20