Tips to Keep Carpets Fresh All Winter Long

Published on January 07, 2019 08:10 PM in Car Care, Maintenance

Maybe you’ve just lugged groceries across a snowy parking lot and piled into the vehicle. Or, you just finished an afternoon on the slopes and are headed back home.

In either case, the odds are good your boots tracked in a bunch of snow and grit that’s now getting ground into the carpet. Left untreated, this slush could permanently damage carpeting.

Before long, the carpet appears matted to the floorboard, pockmarked by discolorations.

Solutions and materials used to melt ice and snow damage cabin carpets. Road grime gets embedded in fibers.

Road salts carry traces of iodine and other chemicals to melt ice quickly. Yet, those chemicals can stain your beautiful interior.

How can you keep your cabin interior looking and smelling fresh? Here's some tips on removing road grime from your carpet.

Begin by vacuuming the carpet to remove as much snow and filth as possible.
Look for products specifically designed for vehicle carpets. They are gentle on fibers while removing embedded contaminants.
When spraying solution on the affected carpet, allow it to soak in. Then, blot, or press, but don’t lean or push on the stain while attempting to draw it up into a dry towel.
Use a microfiber or terrycloth towel. They pick up contaminants readily while being gentle on vehicle surfaces.
Install rubber floor mats for the winter months. Make sure they are custom-fitted to your vehicle. Rubber mats are easy to clean and provide excellent protection against wet shoes and dripping clothes,
If you already have rubber mats, clean them frequently with auto wash. Apply vehicle rubber treatment to keep them looking great.
Look for products that specifically treat vehicle carpets. They are gentle on fibers while removing embedded contaminants.