Guide · Car wash and vehicle care ·
How to Clean Car Mats
Car mats are the dirtiest part of a vehicle: dust, mud and sand from shoes, and road salt in winter, collect most on the mats. Rubber and plastic mats wash easily with water; on carpet and fabric mats dirt works between the fibres and they must be dried well. This guide explains cleaning by mat type and what to watch for so the mats are safe to use.
First take out the mats and shake them
- Take the mats out of the car; vacuuming the interior without mats is also easier.
- Shake the mats or knock them together to remove dust and sand.
- Vacuum carpet mats on both sides.
- If there is mud, wait for it to dry first, then brush it off (how to remove mud stains).
How to clean rubber car mats
- Wet the mat and apply car shampoo diluted with water at the ratio on the label with a brush.
- Clean the patterns and grooves with the brush.
- Rinse with plenty of water and hold the mat upright to let the water drain.
- Put it back in the car only once it is completely dry.
How to clean fabric and carpet car mats
- Vacuum the mat thoroughly; sand and dust between the fibres must be removed before washing.
- Spray TETİK Kar Aspirin onto stains and work it in gently with a brush; leave it briefly.
- For general dirt, dilute carpet shampoo with water at the ratio on the label and apply it with a brush.
- Rinse with clean water and remove the excess; carpet mats are thick and dry slowly.
- Dry the mat completely in a sunny, airy place; a damp mat causes bad smells and fogging in the car.
- On the causes of damp, mat, air con and fuel smells inside the car: car smell.
Winter salt and white marks
Salt spread on roads in winter leaves white marks on mats. Brush rubber mats with lukewarm water and car shampoo and rinse; on carpet mats, dampen the mark with lukewarm water and brush it, then clean with carpet shampoo and dry thoroughly. Shaking the mats out more often in winter reduces salt working into the fibres.
How to clean car mats at home
At home you can wash the mats in a basin on the balcony or in the bathroom. Brush rubber mats with car shampoo and carpet mats with carpet shampoo, and rinse with the shower head. Do not wash carpet mats in the washing machine; the rubber backing and thick carpet strain the machine and spoil the mat's shape.
Safety: do not put shine products on mats
- Do not apply tyre shine or silicone products to mats; the mat becomes slippery and your foot can slip off the pedal (how to use tyre shine).
- Do not apply shine products to the pedals or around them either.
- When putting the mat back, attach it to the fixing hooks; a mat that slides can end up under the pedals.
- For cleaning car seats: how to clean car seats.
- For the boot carpet and boot liner: how to clean a car boot.
- For the headliner, dashboard and the whole car interior: how to clean a car interior.
For car washes and car valeting
At car washes and valeting centres, mat cleaning is a standard step of interior cleaning. START Car Shampoo, TETİK Kar Aspirin in 5 kg and 30 kg, and TETİK Carpet Shampoo in 20 kg and 30 kg packs are produced. For the product list, see our Car wash supplies and chemicals guide and car care products page; for bulk purchases you can request a quote.
