Tips For Cleaning Road Salt Residue From Your Car's Floor Mats
One of the biggest problems that drivers in snow-prone regions can face is the presence of salt on the roads. That salt can accumulate in your car, staining your carpet floor mats and leaving residue behind. Luckily, you may not have to seek elaborate detailing services to restore your floor mats to their original beauty. Here are some tips to help you get rid of the residue that winter road salt leaves on your car's carpet mats.
Let The Mats Dry
If you've recently been out in your car and the weather is still snowy or wet, take the mats out of your car and let them dry completely before you clean them. While this may seem pointless, it's actually quite important. Letting them dry allows all of the salt residue to dry and become powder. This will make it easier to eliminate the excess salt before you start thoroughly cleaning.
Vacuum The Mats Well
Once the salt is dry, it will be easier to vacuum up any that is loose. This will leave you with only the residue that's stuck to the mat's fibers. Use a shop vacuum or something similar with a decent amount of suction for the best results. Go over each mat a couple of times very thoroughly to make sure that you get all of the loose, dry salt out of the way first.
Wash The Mats Thoroughly
Create a washing solution using a little bit of carpet detergent plus some lukewarm water in a bowl or a bucket. A couple of tablespoons of detergent in a bucket of water is sufficient. Use an abrasive sponge or a soft brush to apply the cleaning solution to the mats. Let it soak for a bit because the liquid will help the salt residue dissolve.
Use clean, dry cloths to sop up the moisture from the mats. If you have a wet vacuum, you could use that as well. Then, rinse the mats completely with clean water. Once they're rinsed, draw the water out with the wet vacuum or sop it up with towels.
You may have to repeat this process a couple of times to actually get rid of all of the salt residue. If the residue persists after several cleanings, you can add some white vinegar to the mixture and repeat the process again. Let the mats air dry completely before you put them back in your car.
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