Mat cleaning technique

[LiquidBlack]

First off, let me know if there is anything wrong with this technique, as I have not read anywhere on this forum that anybody has done this.

To clean my mats and the mats of others, I usually just stick them in the bathtub, throw in some detergent (tide with bleach if the mats are light colored), add enough hot water to where it is about an inch higher than the mats, and let them sit for awhile.

Usually, the water turns brown on cars that are not mine. I drain the dirty water, put in clean, hot water, and get to scrubbing with my Meguiar's interior brush (a must have). Again, I'll drain, then rinse the mats, then let them dry. They always come out extremely clean.

[petrong1186]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

sounds interesting. I have black mats in my car but would be hesitant to try it (even w/o the bleach). Have you done black mats before and if so, did you notice a fade in the color?

thanks
-dp

[BlueZero]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

Hmmm... I know what I'm doing this weekend. Sounds like a good idea. I'll even try mine with bleach for colors and see that that does. I want custom mats, but mine are in really good shape. So if i ruin them, oh well...

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

Hmmm... I know what I'm doing this weekend. Sounds like a good idea. I'll even try mine with bleach for colors and see that that does. I want custom mats, but mine are in really good shape. So if i ruin them, oh well...

Hmmm, I wonder how my wife would react to me trying this?

[amari]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

First off, let me know if there is anything wrong with this technique, as I have not read anywhere on this forum that anybody has done this.

To clean my mats and the mats of others, I usually just stick them in the bathtub, throw in some detergent (tide with bleach if the mats are light colored), add enough hot water to where it is about an inch higher than the mats, and let them sit for awhile.

Usually, the water turns brown on cars that are not mine. I drain the dirty water, put in clean, hot water, and get to scrubbing with my Meguiar's interior brush (a must have). Again, I'll drain, then rinse the mats, then let them dry. They always come out extremely clean.

Great Tip... I must try it...

Hmmm... I know what I'm doing this weekend. Sounds like a good idea. I'll even try mine with bleach for colors and see that that does. I want custom mats, but mine are in really good shape. So if i ruin them, oh well...

[N52]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

that method sounds good but...Doesnt it take a lot of time and do the mats need that much of a cleaning every time.

What about the Meguiars carpet and upholstery cleaner? anyone tried that?

[F-150]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

Yeah it's good stuff. Removes stains in seconds w/ a terry and dries quickly too.

[TH0001]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

I'm gonna do this right now and take pictures, hahaha. My wife is out tonight and my son is sleeping so I have nothing better to do...

[noswirler]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

what kinda mess does it leave in the bathtub?

[BlueZero]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

I just got done cleaning the drivers side mat. I didn't take any photos because I had just cleaned it not long ago, so it looked clean. Wow, I guess it wasn't! The water was black, then I rinsed and the water was dark brown. It took me 5 rinses to get the water almost clear. I have dark gray colored mats and used Tide with bleach. It didn't seem to harm the mat any. It's hanging up to dry now. The shower sprayer came in handy too. I wish I would have had one of those hand held sprayers. It does make a big mess in the tub, but thats pretty easy to clean up. LiquidBlack thanks for the tip, I like it. Good luck TH0001, can't wait to see some good before and after pics.

[TH0001]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

Okay well lets do the rundown...

I pulled the mats from my GMC Jimmy (which I wanted to do the interior this weekend so) and started by taking a few pictures of thier obviously disgusting condition...



Then I vacummed them with my shop vac and tried to get out as much dirt and grime as possible...

Then I used an old toothbrush and some Meguars APC (cut 4:1) to soak and agitate some of the heavier soiled areas. I let this soak for 5 minutes while I preppared the bath! LoL!



I used a light mixture of Woolite and Lemon Bleach in the tub and threw the mats in. I scrubbed them using Meguiars carpet+upholstory brush.



There was a lot of grim in the tub and the water became mildly opaque...





I drained the tub and ran the shower on the mats (I then held the mats up and used the shower head to rinse each mat until the water ran clear).





I headed back to the garage and vacummed the carpets to remove some of the mostiure then used the Meguiars brush to stripe and dress the mats.

The afters...






I will say that the traditional method is faster and more effective but this was a nice change of pace..

[N52]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

this method looks like its WORKING

[mckeand13]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

Okay well lets do the rundown...

I pulled the mats from my GMC Jimmy (which I wanted to do the interior this weekend so) and started by taking a few pictures of thier obviously disgusting condition...



Then I vacummed them with my shop vac and tried to get out as much dirt and grime as possible...

Then I used an old toothbrush and some Meguars APC (cut 4:1) to soak and agitate some of the heavier soiled areas. I let this soak for 5 minutes while I preppared the bath! LoL!



I used a light mixture of Woolite and Lemon Bleach in the tub and threw the mats in. I scrubbed them using Meguiars carpet+upholstory brush.



There was a lot of grim in the tub and the water became mildly opaque...





I drained the tub and ran the shower on the mats (I then held the mats up and used the shower head to rinse each mat until the water ran clear).





I headed back to the garage and vacummed the carpets to remove some of the mostiure then used the Meguiars brush to stripe and dress the mats.

The afters...






I will say that the traditional method is faster and more effective but this was a nice change of pace..

What is the "traditional method" you are using? I like the bathtub idea (i'd probably use the washtub in the basement to avoid trouble) but if you've got something that works better......

[LiquidBlack]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

Glad to see such great reaction to my mat cleaning solution. I understand how removing stains and such can be done easier without soaking the mats in the tub, but to really get all the dirt and grime out, I figured soaking/agitating in the tub would be a much better solution for me, and I was right!

As for dark mats + tide w/ bleach, I never noticed any change in color. Tide with bleach is very gentle, yet if I were you, I'd go with regular detergent instead of the bleach, just because the bleach part is unnecessary.

[2slow4you]

Re: Mat cleaning technique

ahh,this method works great iMO. I tryed it the other night, well i was bored and got em cleaned up.. Thay were not very dirty but i got before and after pics...