Looking for alternative ways to clean floor matts...

[ChrisT]

Floor matt makes me picture a ‘too much tequila’ night.

[WillSports3]

The best way would be a steamer and instead of a da, try one of the brushes on a rotary polisher. What I find works out great is to spray down the mats a few times and let it sit while you do the rest of the interior, then you come back and deal with the mats after the cleaner has had some time to work on the dirt a bit. What I've also done is spray the mats down with a strong citrus based cleaner and then toss it into the washing machine.

[Mattarbenz]

The best way would be a steamer and instead of a da, try one of the brushes on a rotary polisher. What I find works out great is to spray down the mats a few times and let it sit while you do the rest of the interior, then you come back and deal with the mats after the cleaner has had some time to work on the dirt a bit. What I've also done is spray the mats down with a strong citrus based cleaner and then toss it into the washing machine.

Yet another reason I want to pick up a used washing machine to hook up in the shop for dirty deeds.

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[DetailedByPrecision]

I started out without a steamer and extractor in the beginning as well. I would use the pre treat method and proceed to using a stiff carpet brush to scrub the area, mop up the area using a towel, and finish up by vacuuming.
This technique worked, but it has its limits on how bad the condition of the carpets and floor mats. If I was dealing with just some dirt in general and no really bad stains that's been there for quite some time it wasn't a problem. The moment I started to encounter gum, food spills, extra soiled big patch areas, crusty hardened dirt, and any liquid or substance with coloring then that technique can't get the job done.
I purchased a bissell pro heat , and a McCullough 1385 steamer based on positive feedback from AG members on here. The addition of these tools have helped me tremendously with getting better quality results. Don't know how I was gonna to attempt to clean vomit on carpets or vomit on fabric seats without the steamer to kill the bacteria and the extractor to lift the soil from the carpets fibers and the liquid from the seats padding/fabric surface.

My process for cleaning floor mats and carpets are

Vacuum
Spot treat individual areas with appropriate cleaners
Steam focused area
Brush with stiff brush
Extract

After spot treatment done

Vacuum again there will be lots of sand lodged in there sometimes
Steam whole floor mat to use the heat to break up dirt
Spray cleaner all over floor mat
Brush whole floor mat
Extract
Rinse and repeat til satisfied




I'm aware everyone does things differently to get the desired results so I'm not saying this is the only method. For whatever reason I been getting more interior work and have put more time in honing my interior skills and knowledge. This is the system I have decided on to use for the majority of situations. There will be some interiors that are extra dirty and will encounter different defects like paint correction but for the mean time this system works for me.

[pickles]

I usually just spray mine down with some APC or Spray n Wash or whatever laundry spot cleaner we have Shout, Oxy clean ect and throw them in the washing machine on a hot water setting and allow them to air dry after. Works perfectly and no the little rubber teeth under the mats don't break off in the wash.

[Klasse Act]

I'm glad the washing machine method works for others but I would never do that

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[jeffindetail]

I second this. Pre-soak, agitate, pressure wash, find a place where you can hang them up to dry.

[Klasse Act]

I second this. Pre-soak, agitate, pressure wash, find a place where you can hang them up to dry.

BAM

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[minerigger]

I use about 5 drops of laundry detergent with the hottest water my sink puts out and mix it in a spray bottle. I spray down the surface, agitate with a stiff brush and blot away...rinse and repeat as needed
Larry from Ammo has a video on it and it works well. If it's crazy bad I hit a spot with APC and then go over it with with the laundry detergent. I use dye and fragrant free as well

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[Firehouse Mike]

BAM

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I third this too! Vacuum, Pre-treat stains, spray down the whole mat with my carpet cleaner solution ( a mixture of ZEP High Traffic Spotter and ZEP Citrus Degreaser ), agitate thoroughly then pressure wash, hang to dry. I'll do this first thing for max drying time. If needed I'll put them on the floor of my van with the floor heat on, dries out in no time!

Mike