A clean vehicle is the first step to happy and healthy drivers. This starts with the car mats, which is the first place dirt is tracked into the vehicle. If you manage to keep the car mats clean, then you may find yourself using the car more than usual. Besides, you won't need to invest a lot in cleaning them on a regular basis or even as thoroughly as you would with badly stained mats. Here is how to keep your car mats clean.
Remove and shake the car mats daily
The first tip to ensuring your mats are clean is to take them out of the car and give them a daily shake. This helps prevent any dirt from settling on the mat, which will make doing a full clean in the future a lot easier. Sometimes you'll have to beat your mat to shake off the dirt that is sticking on it.
Apply a sealant to your mats
One of the best preventive ways to keep your mats clean is to have car mat sealant. This will help to prevent the problem of spills as the liquid won't penetrate the material or wet it. This will also protect your mats from cat or dog hairs sticking on the material.
If you decide to get a sealant, choose one that's suited for the material of your mats. There are great sealants that are specially designed for fabric mats, others are good for rubber and vinyl. You can be sure that literary any other mat materials will have a sealant that you can use. Ensure you make the right choice for your needs and apply as regularly as advised for the best results.
Use shoe covers
One of the most difficult parts of owning a car is keeping the carpets clean. With salt, dirt, slush, and other small particles sticking on your shoes, your carpets are bound to get dirty. And when it rains, you'll carry water and mud into the car, which compromises the quality of your mats over time. That's why you need to invest in shoe covers that protect the car mats anytime you use your car after being outside.
Shoe covers tend to be a convenient option to go with. Alternatively, get a towel to religiously wipe down your feet every time you want to enter your car. Doing this may be monotonous, however, it protects your car mats as well as your shoes against damaging compounds.
Some people use mat liners over their regular car mats whenever they suspect they've carried a lot of dirt. Others carry a separate pair of shoes that they only use to drive. With this, you can go with the most comfortable footwear for your needs. Regardless of which one you go for, make sure you use it effectively.
Vacuum your mats alongside your car's interior
Many people vacuum the interior of their vehicles but forget to do the same to their mats. Regularly vacuuming your car mats gets rid of the finest dirt particles before they accumulate into stains. Use a standard vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment. That way you can vacuum the mats without having to lug a heavy vacuum cleaner around.
Keeping stain-causing particles out of your mats through vacuuming them often prolongs their service. Depending on the season, when you finally vacuum your car mats, you'll be shocked by the amount of dirt that comes out of them. The more frequently you vacuum your car mats, the less dirt will accumulate in the fabric and better service you get.
Clean your mats regularly
While preventive measures are great to keep your mats clean, regularly cleaning your car mats is equally as important. Getting car mats clean can be a daunting task if you don't know what you are doing. We have comprehensive guides on this website to help you clean different types of mat materials.
To start, we recommend using a vacuum cleaner to remove as much dirt as possible. Next, mix water and liquid dish soap together in a bucket. Now, take a clean, wet sponge and scrub the dirt away. To give it a deep clean, mix white vinegar and water in a bucket and use the sponge to scrub the mats again. Rinse the mats with a hose or bucket of water, and then shake or spin them with a towel to remove excess water. Once this is done, dry them either with a towel or a hair drier.
A summary on how to keep your car mats clean
Keeping your car mats clean will make you enjoy the feeling that your car is nicely carpeted and fresh. Truly, one of the most effective ways you can make your vehicle feel fresh and clean is to invest in quality car mats in the first place. Having car mats in your car can prevent mud, sand, and snow from entering the car.
When it comes to cleaning your car mats, you can: Vacuum, apply a sealer regularly, use shoe covers, a mat liner, and even a towel to wipe our feet before entering the car. Ensure your cleaning is thorough and after successfully doing so, spray them with a great smelling car fragrance.
If you're after more tips on how to keep your car mats clean, why not see our how to clean your plastic car mats?
