Regular Maintenance of Your Car Carpet

In your car's interior, there is no other surface that is forced to withstand intense and constant abuse as the carpet. Most would not hesitate to enter their car without thinking about the grime, grit, and goo that has accumulated in their shoes. Thus, the carpet becomes dirty in no time at all. Here are some tips on how to make your car carpet spic and span.

First, remove the entire carpet from the car. Hang the carpet on a clothesline or lay it on the ground. Vacuum the entire carpet to get rid of food particles, pebbles, and dust. Vacuuming also lifts the fibres upright and reduces the effects of wear and tear.

If there are new wet stains, clean them immediately by blotting the stains with a damp sponge. For stubborn stains, you need a little bit of help from a few cleaning chemicals that can be found in any household. For example, blood stains can be removed by using a solution made of dry laundry starch and water. Ink stains, meanwhile, can be eliminated by applying hairspray or salt. For coffee stains, use a glass cleaner. In addition, you can get rid of oil and grease stains by rubbing on paint thinner with a clean cotton cloth then covering the stain with salt. Vacuum any residue that remains.

Once the stains are removed, clean the entire carpet with heavy duty shampoo. You can also make your own shampoo by mixing a gallon of hot water, a good amount of dish detergent, and a cup of white vinegar. Scrub the shampoo or solution into the carpet using a hard bristle brush. Let it sit for half an hour before rinsing the carpet. Finally, let the carpet dry out in the sun.