HOW TO CLEAN CAR CARPET

The carpets in your car go through a lot. Between dirty shoes, food crumbs, spilled drinks, and mud, it doesn't take long for things to start getting dirty.

It's one of those areas that's easy to ignore or just leave to the professional cleaners to handle. However, keeping it clean doesn't have to be complicated. Regular maintenance can make a noticeable difference in how your car looks and feels.

If you have kids or pets, staying on top of cleaning is even more important. Regular cleaning of your car's floor mats and carpet can prevent buildup and make the job easier in the long run.

Choosing the right cleaner matters, especially if the carpet has multiple stains on it. For lighter messes or stain-resistant carpets, you may be able to clean without a machine. For deeper or set-in stains, using a carpet cleaner or steam machine can be more effective.

Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner helps cut through tough grime and buildup, making it a great choice for car carpets and for use in carpet cleaning machines.

Directions for Cleaning Car Carpet:

Tip: When in doubt about a surface, always spot test first.

Spot Cleaning by Hand

1. Clear debris. Before you begin spot cleaning, vacuum dry, loose dirt, blot up liquid with a paper towel or microfiber cloth, and pick up solid or sticky messes by hand or with a spoon to prevent it from pushing deeper into the carpet.
   • Tip: Make sure to get underneath the seats
   • Tip: It is recommended to use a stiff brush attachment on your vacuum to brush up loose dirt from the carpet.
2. Wet stain. Gently blot the stain with a towel dampened with cold water.
3. Dilute solution. Mix 2 tablespoons of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner and 1 cup of water (dilution ratio 1:8) in an empty spray bottle.
4. Spray solution. Spray onto stains and let it sit for a few minutes to soak.
   • Tip: Do not let the solution dry on the carpet.
5. Blot stains. Gently blot with a clean, damp towel or absorbent cloth.
6. Rinse stain. Use a damp towel or cloth to blot the area again to lift the dirt and solution from the carpet.
7. Air dry. Let the area dry fully. Do not touch it while it dries.
8. Repeat steps. Repeat if needed.

Using a Carpet Cleaning Machine

Tip: Read and follow the owner's manual for the carpet cleaning machine before use.

1. Clear debris. Before you begin spot cleaning, vacuum dry, loose dirt, blot up liquid with a paper towel or microfiber cloth, and pick up solid or sticky messes by hand or with a spoon to prevent it from pushing deeper into the carpet.
   • Tip: Make sure to get underneath the seats
   • Tip: It is recommended to use a stiff brush attachment on your vacuum to brush up loose dirt from the carpet.
2. Dilute solution. Mix 4 ounces of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner with ½ gallon of water (dilution ratio 1:16) into the reservoir of the carpet cleaning machine.
3. Clean stains. Plug in the carpet cleaning machine. Press and hold the spray button on the machine to spray the solution onto the stains. Work in small sections.
   • Tip: Do not let the solution dry on the carpet.
4. Scrub stains. If needed, use the brush attached to the machine or a manual soft nylon brush to help loosen the dirt.
5. Extract dirt. With the carpet cleaner machine, release the spray button and allow the machine to suction and extract the stain from the carpet. If necessary, add a small amount of white vinegar to reduce foaming in the dirty water tank (or recovery tank).
6. Rinse stains. Empty the tank with the cleaning solution and refill it with clean water. Go over the area again to ensure no cleaner residue is left.
7. Dry carpet. Let the carpet air dry completely before use.
8. Repeat steps. Repeat if needed.