It's bad enough that your car carpet rarely sees anything but the bottoms of dirty shoes. Throw in forgotten pieces of candy and old chips, spilled soda and coffee, dried mud and dirt, and your floor mats and carpets take their fair share of beatings on a daily basis.

Cleaning the carpet in your car is often a passed-over chore, or even left to professional cleaners, but it doesn't require much effort to make the difference between a dingy ride and a well-kept vehicle. Maintaining your car's interior appearance will help retain the value of the car, which will come in handy when it's time to trade it in or sell it.

If you have kids or dogs, procrastination isn't really an option – you're going to need a regular cleaning schedule to clean your car mats as well as your car carpet.

Your choice of cleaning product is important, particularly when car carpets have been neglected for a while and are matted with dirt and grime, or have built up several stains in the same area. You may be able to clean your car's carpet without a machine if it's been treated for stain resistance. But for untreated carpet or deeply-set stains, a carpet cleaning machine or steam cleaner may be required.

Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner works as a stain remover and can be used in a carpet cleaning machine to tackle those tough-to-clean areas. Plus, it's biodegradable* – safer for the environment, your family, and your car.

Directions for Cleaning Car Carpet

If you're unsure about how Simple Green will affect a surface, be sure to spot test before cleaning.

Spot Cleaning

1. Remove excess mess. Scrape up any solid mess with a spoon and blot up any liquid from the carpet before you begin cleaning.
2. Vacuum. Vacuum the carpet, making sure to get underneath the seats. You can use the stiff brush attachment on your vacuum to brush up loose dirt.
3. Dampen the stain with clean water. Gently blot with a towel that you've dampened with cold water.
4. Mix your Simple Green solution. Mix 2 tablespoons of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner and 1 cup of water in an empty spray bottle.
5. Apply your Simple Green solution. Spray onto stains and let it sit for a few minutes to soak.
6. Agitate stains. Gently blot with a clean, damp towel or absorbent cloth.
7. Rinse. Use a damp towel or cloth to wipe away the Simple Green.
8. Allow to air dry. Prevent contact with the treated area until it's completely dry.
9. Repeat if necessary. Do not allow your Simple Green solution to dry onto carpet and upholstery.

Carpet Cleaning Machine

1. Vacuum. Vacuum the carpet, making sure to get underneath the seats.
2. Mix your Simple Green solution. Mix 4 oz. Simple Green per ½ gallon of water into your carpet cleaning machine.
3. Apply solution onto the carpet in sections.
4. Agitate the stains. Gently brush or scrub the area (a soft nylon brush works best).
5. Extract. Use the carpet cleaner and clean water to extract the dirty water. If necessary, add a small amount of white vinegar to reduce foaming in the recovery tank.
6. Allow the area to dry completely. Prevent contact with the treated area until it's completely dry.
7. Repeat if necessary. Do not allow your Simple Green solution to dry onto carpet and upholstery.