How to Clean Carpeting in Vehicles
Organize your vehicle's interior., Remove your floor mats., Vacuum your vehicle thoroughly., Choose your carpet cleaner and find a good brush., Clean your carpet., Rinse your newly shampooed carpet., Let your car dry out., Remove and vacuum your car...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Organize your vehicle's interior.
Pick up any items that are lying on your vehicle's carpeting.
Put away any loose objects you may have floating around your car.
There are plenty of specially made car-organizer products available, but many vehicles now have their own built-in organizational compartments which are equally as handy.
Take out as much stuff as possible, and either lay it to the side of your car or put it in your house. -
Step 2: Remove your floor mats.
Take them out and shake them properly so all the pieces of dirt and other trash do not make it into your vehicle.
The best thing to do is to simply place them next to your car in a dry area., Reach under the pedals, seats and crevices around the car to pick up and dispose of all remaining dirt, crumbs and trash from the floor of your vehicle.
If you leave too much trash in your car when you began to wash the carpet, you won't truly be cleaning all that much., There are a wide variety of products on the market to clean car carpets and they are all pretty similar.
No matter which product you use, the method is the same.
Even laundry detergent will do the trick just as well.
Look for a soft-bristled brush that will help you work the shampoo into the fabric of the carpet., Spray the carpet cleaning shampoo on the surface of the carpet and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
Work it in slowly and methodically with your brush.
Remember to use circular motions which will best bring up dirt and grime.
Repeat if necessary on problem areas with stains or large amounts of dirt., Use a wet rag and dampen the shampooed areas.
Try and pull up as much of the soap as possible.
Remember, you do not want to get the carpet too wet, which will cause mold underneath.
As long as you are able to get most of the shampoo up from the carpet, you should be fine., This is important, as you don't want moisture to fester and not evaporate.
Open all the doors to your car, and let it sit out in the sun.
You should probably wait at least a few hours.
Go back and feel your carpets.
If they are still damp, give them another hour or so.
If not, your job is all done., Take the mats out and place them on the ground; preferably cement, concrete, or blacktop.
Use a standard vacuum or a shopvac to get rid of noticeable debris and dirt on the mats.
Make sure to vacuum both sides.
You can also give your mats a few shakes to get off any remaining dirt and grime., Turn your mats so that the plastic underside is facing upwards.
Use a few drops of dish soap on the plastic.
Use a water hose to agitate the debris, and ignite the soap's foaming action.
Scrub with a towel or sponge.
If there is stuck on dirt, feel free to use a brush.
Rinse the plastic down one more time with the hose, and then dry with a towel., Turn your mats around so the fabric side is facing upwards.
Purchase a carpet cleaning formula, or use laundry detergent.
Spray/pour a healthy amount onto the fabric.
Use a water hose, and spray the fabric with water.
This will initiate the cleaning formula and dislodge any debris., Use a medium sized brush and scrub the fabric in circular motions.
Some spots may require more pressure.
Feel free to spray the mat with water in between scrubbing different areas of the fabric.
After you are done scrubbing, rinse the fabric down again with water until all the soap bubbles are gone., Remove excess water with a vacuum.
Then dry with a towel or washcloth.
Press down to soak in as much excess water as possible.
Finally, hang your mats on a clothes line, or at least in a spot where they can hang freely., General stains are usually brought about by water, mud, dirt, excess moisture, etc.
Add together, in a bucket, the following: a gallon of hot water, a few drops of dish detergent, and a cup of white vinegar.
Mix these until they form one body of liquid.
Dip a rag or sponge and soak the stained area with the mixture.
Then take a bristle brush, and move in circular motions against the fabric.
Blot this area with paper towels., First add a healthy amount of cool water to the stain.
Do not add hot water, which will cause the stain to set-in even further.
Then blot the stained area with paper towels.
Let the area have some time to sit and dry., Buy a can of regular, non-flavored club soda.
Pour onto the stained area.
Then scrub in circular motions with a damp washcloth.
Dry the area with a towel.
You can also use a mixture of baking soda and water to treat the stained area.
This will get the job done just as well., Spray on hairspray to the area which has been marked by pen ink.
Rub the area down with a damp cloth in circular motions.
Dry off with a towel.
You can also add salt to the area.
Simply sprinkle a healthy amount and wait a few minutes.
Then wash off with a damp washcloth., Use a small amount of paint thinner on a cotton cloth.
Scrub the area in circular motions to remove the grease.
Then take a paper towel and blot up the remaining paint thinner.
Warning: paint thinner can cause your carpet to fade.
First try this in a secluded area of your car, or preferably your trunk., This can be for general stains or more set-in stains.
Simply spray the glass cleaner onto the effected area.
Wait about 5-10 minutes to let the cleaner act and lift the stain.
Finally, wipe away with a damp washcloth and let dry., Some stains are incredibly hard to get rid of, and require extra strength.
Make a paste using 3% hydrogen peroxide, and a dab of non-gel toothpaste.
Lather it onto the stained carpet area.
Let it sit for about 5 minutes.
Then, with a rag, rub the mixture into the carpet using a swirling motion.
Finally, dab with a paper towel to wipe off the excess., Mix together equal parts laundry starch and cold water into a bucket.
Stir the ingredients until the paste is fairly firm.
Apply the paste to the blood stain and let it sit for 30 minutes.
Then scrub the mixture in with a wash cloth.
You can wipe away any excess with a wet paper towel., Place one or two ice cubes over a piece of gum that is stuck to the carpeting in your car.
Let it sit there for about ten minutes.
This will harden the gum (freezing it).
You can then use a scrape, or your hands and pry the gum off.
Finally, wash the area with a damp washcloth and let dry., After your pets have been in your car long enough, your car tends to get an animal odor.
Sprinkle some Borax onto the carpeted areas.
Let this sit for about an hour to let the Borax act on the smell.
Then, vacuum up the Borax, and wipe clean with a dry washcloth., Add together, in a bucket, equal parts cold water and meat tenderizer.
Mix both together until the tenderizer has diluted.
Then place on the stained area using a towel.
Let the mixture sit on the stain for 30 minutes.
You can then clean the area up using a damp washcloth and let the area dry. -
Step 3: Vacuum your vehicle thoroughly.
-
Step 4: Choose your carpet cleaner and find a good brush.
-
Step 5: Clean your carpet.
-
Step 6: Rinse your newly shampooed carpet.
-
Step 7: Let your car dry out.
-
Step 8: Remove and vacuum your car mats.
-
Step 9: Wash the underside of your mats.
-
Step 10: Spray upholstery with cleaner.
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Step 11: Scrub the fabric of your mats.
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Step 12: Dry and hang your mats.
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Step 13: Get rid of general stains with hot water.
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Step 14: Dilute coffee
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Step 15: alcohol
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Step 16: and soda spills with cold water.
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Step 17: Clean up vomit stains with club soda.
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Step 18: Lift pen stains with hairspray or salt.
-
Step 19: Rid your car of greasy stains with paint thinner.
-
Step 20: Spray glass cleaner onto the stained area.
-
Step 21: Make a hydrogen peroxide paste.
-
Step 22: Treat blood stains with a laundry starch paste.
-
Step 23: Clean off gum after freezing it.
-
Step 24: Apply Borax to get rid of animal smells.
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Step 25: Rub in a meat tenderizer mixture.
Detailed Guide
Pick up any items that are lying on your vehicle's carpeting.
Put away any loose objects you may have floating around your car.
There are plenty of specially made car-organizer products available, but many vehicles now have their own built-in organizational compartments which are equally as handy.
Take out as much stuff as possible, and either lay it to the side of your car or put it in your house.
Take them out and shake them properly so all the pieces of dirt and other trash do not make it into your vehicle.
The best thing to do is to simply place them next to your car in a dry area., Reach under the pedals, seats and crevices around the car to pick up and dispose of all remaining dirt, crumbs and trash from the floor of your vehicle.
If you leave too much trash in your car when you began to wash the carpet, you won't truly be cleaning all that much., There are a wide variety of products on the market to clean car carpets and they are all pretty similar.
No matter which product you use, the method is the same.
Even laundry detergent will do the trick just as well.
Look for a soft-bristled brush that will help you work the shampoo into the fabric of the carpet., Spray the carpet cleaning shampoo on the surface of the carpet and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
Work it in slowly and methodically with your brush.
Remember to use circular motions which will best bring up dirt and grime.
Repeat if necessary on problem areas with stains or large amounts of dirt., Use a wet rag and dampen the shampooed areas.
Try and pull up as much of the soap as possible.
Remember, you do not want to get the carpet too wet, which will cause mold underneath.
As long as you are able to get most of the shampoo up from the carpet, you should be fine., This is important, as you don't want moisture to fester and not evaporate.
Open all the doors to your car, and let it sit out in the sun.
You should probably wait at least a few hours.
Go back and feel your carpets.
If they are still damp, give them another hour or so.
If not, your job is all done., Take the mats out and place them on the ground; preferably cement, concrete, or blacktop.
Use a standard vacuum or a shopvac to get rid of noticeable debris and dirt on the mats.
Make sure to vacuum both sides.
You can also give your mats a few shakes to get off any remaining dirt and grime., Turn your mats so that the plastic underside is facing upwards.
Use a few drops of dish soap on the plastic.
Use a water hose to agitate the debris, and ignite the soap's foaming action.
Scrub with a towel or sponge.
If there is stuck on dirt, feel free to use a brush.
Rinse the plastic down one more time with the hose, and then dry with a towel., Turn your mats around so the fabric side is facing upwards.
Purchase a carpet cleaning formula, or use laundry detergent.
Spray/pour a healthy amount onto the fabric.
Use a water hose, and spray the fabric with water.
This will initiate the cleaning formula and dislodge any debris., Use a medium sized brush and scrub the fabric in circular motions.
Some spots may require more pressure.
Feel free to spray the mat with water in between scrubbing different areas of the fabric.
After you are done scrubbing, rinse the fabric down again with water until all the soap bubbles are gone., Remove excess water with a vacuum.
Then dry with a towel or washcloth.
Press down to soak in as much excess water as possible.
Finally, hang your mats on a clothes line, or at least in a spot where they can hang freely., General stains are usually brought about by water, mud, dirt, excess moisture, etc.
Add together, in a bucket, the following: a gallon of hot water, a few drops of dish detergent, and a cup of white vinegar.
Mix these until they form one body of liquid.
Dip a rag or sponge and soak the stained area with the mixture.
Then take a bristle brush, and move in circular motions against the fabric.
Blot this area with paper towels., First add a healthy amount of cool water to the stain.
Do not add hot water, which will cause the stain to set-in even further.
Then blot the stained area with paper towels.
Let the area have some time to sit and dry., Buy a can of regular, non-flavored club soda.
Pour onto the stained area.
Then scrub in circular motions with a damp washcloth.
Dry the area with a towel.
You can also use a mixture of baking soda and water to treat the stained area.
This will get the job done just as well., Spray on hairspray to the area which has been marked by pen ink.
Rub the area down with a damp cloth in circular motions.
Dry off with a towel.
You can also add salt to the area.
Simply sprinkle a healthy amount and wait a few minutes.
Then wash off with a damp washcloth., Use a small amount of paint thinner on a cotton cloth.
Scrub the area in circular motions to remove the grease.
Then take a paper towel and blot up the remaining paint thinner.
Warning: paint thinner can cause your carpet to fade.
First try this in a secluded area of your car, or preferably your trunk., This can be for general stains or more set-in stains.
Simply spray the glass cleaner onto the effected area.
Wait about 5-10 minutes to let the cleaner act and lift the stain.
Finally, wipe away with a damp washcloth and let dry., Some stains are incredibly hard to get rid of, and require extra strength.
Make a paste using 3% hydrogen peroxide, and a dab of non-gel toothpaste.
Lather it onto the stained carpet area.
Let it sit for about 5 minutes.
Then, with a rag, rub the mixture into the carpet using a swirling motion.
Finally, dab with a paper towel to wipe off the excess., Mix together equal parts laundry starch and cold water into a bucket.
Stir the ingredients until the paste is fairly firm.
Apply the paste to the blood stain and let it sit for 30 minutes.
Then scrub the mixture in with a wash cloth.
You can wipe away any excess with a wet paper towel., Place one or two ice cubes over a piece of gum that is stuck to the carpeting in your car.
Let it sit there for about ten minutes.
This will harden the gum (freezing it).
You can then use a scrape, or your hands and pry the gum off.
Finally, wash the area with a damp washcloth and let dry., After your pets have been in your car long enough, your car tends to get an animal odor.
Sprinkle some Borax onto the carpeted areas.
Let this sit for about an hour to let the Borax act on the smell.
Then, vacuum up the Borax, and wipe clean with a dry washcloth., Add together, in a bucket, equal parts cold water and meat tenderizer.
Mix both together until the tenderizer has diluted.
Then place on the stained area using a towel.
Let the mixture sit on the stain for 30 minutes.
You can then clean the area up using a damp washcloth and let the area dry.
About the Author
Jerry Cox
A seasoned expert in educational content, Jerry Cox combines 5 years of experience with a passion for teaching. Jerry's guides are known for their clarity and practical value.
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