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Summary

  • To clean cloth floor mats, get rid of loose grit first, then treat stains before you go in with water and soap.

  • To clean rubber floor mats, shake them, rinse, then apply soap.

  • A car floor mat is a removable layer that sits in the footwell of your vehicle.

Every time you get into your car, your shoes bring in sand, dirt, food crumbs, road salt, or a little of everything mixed together. All of that ends up on your floor mats. If you leave them dirty for too long, they’ll trap odors, stain permanently, and in the case of cloth mats, even start to mold. Clean mats don’t just look better, they keep the rest of your interior from wearing out too quickly.

A solid cleaning session usually takes about 10 to 30 minutes of actual work. After that, drying can stretch the total time to anywhere from 1 hour to a full day. The cost runs between $0 and $15, depending on whether you already have supplies like dish soap and baking soda at home.

Here’s what you’ll need to clean your car’s floor mats: 

Necessary

  • Vacuum with upholstery or crevice tool
  • Hose with spray nozzle or a couple of buckets
  • Soft-bristle brush for fabric mats
  • Medium or stiff brush for rubber mats
  • Microfiber towels
  • Carpet or upholstery cleaner
  • Dish soap or all-purpose cleaner
  • Baking soda (for odor and light stains)
  • Rubber-safe cleaner

Optional

  • Wet/dry shop vac (handy for drying and extraction)
  • Oxygen bleach (for stubborn stains on fabric)
  • Rubber dressing (for restoring color and flexibility)
  • Lint roller (helpful for pet hair)
  • Plastic scraper (for gum or sticky debris)

How To Easily Clean Cloth Car Mats

Cloth mats are usually made from nylon fibers with a rubberized backing. They look good and feel comfortable, but they hold onto dirt like Velcro. The trick is to get rid of loose grit first, then treat stains before you go in with water and soap.

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Shake and vacuum

Take the mats out and shake them hard. Then vacuum both sides thoroughly. A wet/dry vac works especially well for pulling up ground-in dirt.

Spot-treat stains

Sprinkle baking soda over greasy or smelly spots and let it sit before vacuuming. For heavy stains, mix a little oxygen bleach in water and dab it on.

Scrub with cleaner

Use a carpet or upholstery cleaner mixed with warm water. Work it into the fibers with a brush, paying extra attention to the driver’s mat where most of the wear happens.

Rinse or extract

Lightly rinse with a hose or use a shop vac extractor to pull up the soapy water. Don’t drench your mats; too much water can weaken the backing.

Dry completely

Leave the mats out in fresh air until they’re fully dry. Sunlight speeds things up, but flip them now and then so they dry evenly.

Some people put fabric mats into a washing machine. It works if you use a laundry bag and gentle detergent, but be aware that the backing can separate over time if you do this.

How To Easily Clean Rubber Car Mats

Wondering how to clean rubber car floor mats? These are built for heavy messes. They’re perfect for winter or wet climates since they catch water and salt instead of letting it soak through. Cleaning them is quicker than cloth, but grooves and ridges can hold on to grit.

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Shake and knock

Give them a good shake. You can even smack them against the ground to break loose stubborn dirt.

Rinse with a hose

Spray off the mats, aiming into grooves where debris hides.

Apply soap or cleaner

Use dish soap, a mild all-purpose cleaner, or a rubber-safe product. Let it sit briefly to soften stuck dirt.

Scrub thoroughly

Work a stiff brush across the surface, focusing on textured areas where mud collects. You can also use drill brushes for faster scrubbing.

Rinse until clear

Keep rinsing until all suds and residue are gone. Leftover soap will only attract more dirt.

Dry fully

Shake off extra water, towel the mats down, and let them air dry. If you want, apply a light rubber dressing afterward to restore color. Avoid shiny coatings that leave the surface slippery.

What Is a Car Floor Mat?

A car floor mat is a removable layer that sits in the footwell of your vehicle. It’s not permanent like the carpet—it’s made to take the abuse from dirty shoes, spilled drinks, and rough weather. Mats come in fabric, rubber, vinyl, or thermoplastic, and many are shaped to fit your car model exactly.

How a Car Floor Mat Works

Floor mats catch dirt and liquid before it soaks into the actual carpet. Raised lips and grooves guide water away from your shoes, while the base layer keeps the mat from sliding underfoot. Anchors or clips keep them locked in place so they don’t shift while driving. By acting as a barrier, mats stop grime from reaching the layers beneath, which are harder to clean and much more expensive to replace.

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Floor Mat Parts

  • Top surface: The part you step on, made of carpet fibers or molded rubber
  • Grooves and channels: Direct water and dirt away from where your feet rest
  • Backing/base: Adds structure and grip. Fabric mats usually have rubberized backing.
  • Anchors or retention holes: Clip the mat to the car floor so it doesn’t slide around
  • Raised edges: Hold in spills and stop liquids from running over
  • Heel pad: Reinforced patch under the driver’s heel to handle constant friction

More Tips for Keeping Floor Mats Clean Longer

  • Knock out loose dirt weekly and vacuum if possible
  • Treat spills right away before they settle into fibers or grooves
  • Swap mats front to back occasionally to spread out wear
  • Use fabric protector sprays on cloth mats or a light dressing on rubber to repel grime
  • Switch to deep-lipped rubber mats in winter to catch salt and slush
  • Avoid scrubbing rubber mats too often with harsh soaps, which can wear them down

Knowing what to clean car floor mats with is half the battle, and a little routine care goes a long way. Keeping mats fresh not only makes your car look better, it prevents odors, stops bacteria from spreading, and keeps the flooring beneath your mats from wearing out too soon.


About The Author
Written By Automotive and Tech Writers

The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.

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