Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

[generator12]

I'm in Wisconsin, it's February, and I've got four months worth of salt and ice-melt residue from streets, parking lots, and my own driveway on the floor of my truck. Those of you who live in the north understand what I'm saying.

In years past I've tried ammonia mixtures, commercial carpet cleaners, and - on the mats - hitting them with high pressure sprays in do-it-yourself car washes. Everything helps, but nothing is satisfactory.

How do you guys renew the carpets and floor mats when spring finally comes? (Late May or early June around here...)

 

[superbenk]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

Maybe the best solution is to buy some of those custom fit rubber floor mats for use during the winter months. I've certainly thought of doing just that. Otherwise maybe a professional detailed could clean it up once a year?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

Weathertech digital fit mats and you'll never have to clean the carpeting. Well worth what they cost.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

I have weathertech mats in my Sequoia and they work great. Well worth the cash invested.

In my other car we have deep rubber mats and I also shampoo the carpets in the Summer with my wife's carpet cleaner.

 

[jkust]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

Both my current vehicles have the full set of front, rear and cargo of the digital fit Weather Techs. First thing I did the day I brought each vehicle home was order them. The second row covers the entire width of the vehicle with one mat. They are expensive and were the cheapest ordered directly from the manufacturer. I also hear good things about Husky which are a lot less money just not as form fitted or as pretty. As for the cleaning, I get our big Bissel upright carpet cleaner and drag it out to the garage and do a full carpet detail usually once a year. The trick I use to get all of the sand from the carpet is first vacuum the heck out of the carpet then take my air compressor basic air nozzle and hold it to the carpet and blow all the remaining dirt out and re vacuum. Pop a pair of goggles on because the sand will go everywhere.

I had a can of cheapo Tough Stuff automotive carpet cleaner and one detail I was overly generous with it and hit some of the dirty plastic/vinyl next to the sill plate that your foot steps on when getting into the car and realized how amazingly good it works for cleaning plastics as well.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

How do you guys renew the carpets and floor mats when spring finally comes? (Late May or early June around here...)

We have a commercial grade Bissell carpet cleaner. I do everything twice in the spring and it all comes out showroom clean.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

I use Catch-All carpeted mats. I think they only have mats and cargo liners for trucks and suvs but are made to fit your vehicle.

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

X4 on the weather tech. Have a full set in my truck. DW aslo has a full set including trunk mat in her Venza. Well worth the money.

BTW my truck is '03, carpets are still like new because of the weathertech mats. Been through 10 northen alberta winters and 3 east coast winters.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

I used to buy new carpeting from Browns of Two Rivers Browns of Two Rivers if the carpet was too funky (I usually buy used vehicles). the founder and my grand father were grade school friends.

I also used weather tech or Monster matts in most of my vehicles after replacing the carpeting to prevent having to replace the carpeting a second time.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

So, what is the importance of keeping the carpet clean, if it will always be covered with a full coverage mat?
Or why have carpet at all?

My '85 GMC had the construction worker vinyl flooring, no carpet. Loved it.

I'm not on vehicle cleaning, hate it, have no time for it. I find someone to do it once a year.

If I ever have a new or near new vehicle again, I would get the weather tech mats for the front.

I bought them for my dad when he got his 09 Trailblazer.

 

[canoemang]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

I run a couple older vehicles. I am not to concerned with the carpets etc due to the fact of i will be there last owner. I try to keep them as clean as possible in the winter and vacuum them once or twice, then i clean them the best i can in the spring and good enough.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

So, what is the importance of keeping the carpet clean, if it will always be covered with a full coverage mat?
Or why have carpet at all?

My '85 GMC had the construction worker vinyl flooring, no carpet. Loved it.

I'm not on vehicle cleaning, hate it, have no time for it. I find someone to do it once a year.

If I ever have a new or near new vehicle again, I would get the weather tech mats for the front.

I bought them for my dad when he got his 09 Trailblazer.

If you could still get rubber floors, I would. Main reason for me to want decent mats in there is to keep from rotting the floors out with all of the salt slush that gets in the truck in the winter. There is a reason it is always the drivers side floorboards that are rusted out in older cars/trucks here.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

When I lived up there I had a winter set of rubber mats and a summer set of cloth.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

I wash my rubber mats weekly just to keep up with the salt I track in. I have the upgraded GM water catcher rubber one's and they will hold maybe a cup and a half of water w/o leaking. I have to drain them weekly too, and I still get some salt around the edges. Nothing the bissel can't clean. Shop vac that salt build up often if you plan to keep it clean and drive forever.

 

[Splat]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

Simple green and a soft scrub brush, use a shop vac to pull it out.

Works like a charm in Ohio, even gets the black steel mill gunk out of them.

Bill

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

WeatherTech. I always used to turn my mats over so the rubber side was up.

Nothing but a thorough rinse in good old water will work just fine'. Throw them in a laundry tub or barrel and let em' soak. Change water often.

 

[generator12]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

Well, I don't know whether there's a solution in all the responses, but there are some things to try.

Thanks guys.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Floor mats and carpeting in a northern vehicle...

Baking soda and vinegar brush let almost dry and vac the rest on carpet ....justt dunp and wash matts with sunlight dish detregent