cleaning floor mats

[red-vue]

is it safe to put the floor mats in the washer machine? whats the best way to clean them?

[Ritz]

Originally Posted by red-vue

is it safe to put the floor mats in the washer machine? whats the best way to clean them?

No.

Well, it might not destroy them, but it probably won't get them very clean and probably won't be kind to the washer.

I'm not sure which mats you have. If they are carpeted, you can vacuum them and then either:

Spray them with carpet cleaner (like Resolve or Woolite), brush the carpeting to remove the soil, then vacuum again after they're dry.

Buy one of those cheap mini steam cleaners for $60-70 (my preferred approach for carpeted mats). I used the Bissell Mini Green Machine.

Use a pressure washer with soap. Then let them dry in the sun.

If you've just got rubber mats, a pressure washer works wonders.

Cheers,

[mellissam]

Originally Posted by red-vue

is it safe to put the floor mats in the washer machine? whats the best way to clean them?

While Ritz does it with flair I stick mine in the bathtub, use the shower nozzle to soak, then use a mild cloth detergent using a mild (soft bristles) scrub brush, then re-spray with shower nozzle to rinse and hang to dry overnight. Total time = 10 minutes for front carpets...they come out looking like new.

[binkybaby]

i might try that.........i usually use Resolve............

[ThePebble19]

I know around here in central PA, you can rent those steam cleaners for 15 bucks or so at our local grocery store...It's nice if you don't have a need for a steam cleaner all of the time.

[crj19]

Try the dishwasher, it works well.

[Ritz]

Originally Posted by crj19

Try the dishwasher, it works well.

Uhm...sure. If you want to replace your dishwasher. Sand, little bits of gravel, and fuzz from carpet are probably not going to be terribly useful to have floating around in the water that has to go through the pump impeller in your dishwasher.

Cheers,

[sspeer]

Automatic dishwashing detergent is some pretty harsh stuff. It might bleach the carpet

I usually use an APC (or laundry detergent, or a dedicated stain remover) on bad spots, scrub it in with a brush, rinse.. and then a general cleaning on the whole thing with my little green machine.

[def z]

Originally Posted by red-vue

is it safe to put the floor mats in the washer machine? whats the best way to clean them?

The best way is professionally. There are car washes that do that sort of thing. Most would do your mats only for $10-15 and they'll be cleaner than you can get them.

The other way is with a good wet-dry vac, some car wash upholstery shampoo, a softish bristle nylon brush and some elbow grease. You may want to find a carpet safe degreaser (citrus type cleaner) for the oil stains. Rinse, hang.

[golftango]

Originally Posted by red-vue

is it safe to put the floor mats in the washer machine? whats the best way to clean them?

No. The method I've been using for years works wonders. Take them to a high pressure self-wash. Usally they have hooks in the bay for clamping up your mats. Use the high pressure soap and rinse. Gets all mud / sand out perfectly.

[nakman]

After using one of the conventional methods to clean the mats, I'd recommend some after-market mats to go over the factory mats. At least for the winter but, I use them year round. I generally only have to vacuum the sand/dirt out of the factory mats. As others have posted, I spray the after market mats with a high pressure wash or even use the hose at home on a jet setting and scrub brush.

[gstien]

I use the Green Machine too.

[Dante]

For really dirty mats, I use Tough Stuff. I spray it on, let it foam up, scrub in with a wet cloth, then hose off. If you have a pressure washer, that will make it easier/faster to get all the cleaner out, but I don't like to hose them too hard, I'm afraid it will wear them out quickly, like washing your clothes on the scrub cycle. We use delicate cycle for almost all our clothes, so I take the same approach to my car mats.

You can also use Tough Stuff on the carpet inside the car, but you have to be sparing with it and "rinse" it out with damp cloths. It works, and you only need a rag and some elbow grease!

[mr weather]

I haven't had to. The day I got both the VUE and the ION I yanked out the factory mats and put in Pant Savers mats.

[runerx]

Blue coral spray on dry clean fluid works well on stains. Spray,scrub/pressure wash,wetdry vac. I get it at wally world

Dave

[Tom92SCm]

I use Mellissa's method- minus the bathtub- that's what a driveway is for.

[Speedy]

The day I got my new Vue home, I removed the carpeted floor mats. The Saturn rubber floor mats replaced the carpeted ones. Then some cheapo walmart rubber mats with a good lip for catching water, mud, debris and whatever, went on top of those. Carpeted mats are resting peacefully in a box in the attic waiting for a day when I want to show them off.

When I was staining carpeted mats every week, a steam cleaner with the hand attachment for upholstery, a stiff bristle brush, and any upholstery or carpet cleaner worked well for getting them clean in the driveway. A good rinsing with plain water in the steam cleaner after that, then some sunshine, made things all-good.

Now I just hose off the mats when washing the car.

[Dorian]

Originally Posted by def z

The best way is professionally. There are car washes that do that sort of thing. Most would do your mats only for $10-15 and they'll be cleaner than you can get them.

The other way is with a good wet-dry vac, some car wash upholstery shampoo, a softish bristle nylon brush and some elbow grease. You may want to find a carpet safe degreaser (citrus type cleaner) for the oil stains. Rinse, hang.

Great advice. One other note: when I'm getting ready to sell one of my cars the first thing I do is buy new floor mats. It's amazing how much new floor mats improve what I get selling a car. $75.00 for the mats can often raise the selling price by $500.00 or more just because of perception (that, and detailing the engine).