Looking for alternative ways to clean floor matts...

[Eldorado2k]

I use a different DA brush attachment, this one www.autogeek.net/hd-carpet-brush.html. I attach it to my old porter 7424xp and I leave it on...it's now my designated carpet brush. The bristles haven't flattened out, and I've used it almost every day for months. But the real game changer for me was the use of Citrol 266. I dilute it around 4:1 with water, and I'll spray it on the really dirty spots of the mat. I then use Optimums Carpet and Fabric cleaner diluted 3:1, spray it on the whole mat, I hit it with the DA brush, and I tell you my friend, the dirt and grease is GONE! I mean vanished into thin air. For some reason, that combo is like a magic trick. I've gotten some seriously hammered mats to look almost new again, customers can't believe it. I no longer get scared when I see a dirty, greasy disgusting mat! The Citrol just breaks it down so well, and so fast...most of grime ends up in the brush. Give it a shot, I do not lie! Oh, and it probably works just as well using any APC, but Optimums Carpet and Fabric cleaner is some pretty amazing stuff as well...together there lethal!

Thanks for the detailed reply. I think I'll have to check out that Citrol 266. As far as the DA scrub brush, I actually have a similar 1 that I bought a while back, but the thing only lasted about 30sec. before it delaminated from the velcro. I stuck it back on and the thing is pretty stuck on this backing plate so I just left it on and forgot about it. Haven't used it since.

I have a big plastic table top converted into a mat station, I cut slots in one end to hold clamps to clamp the mats for power wash.

Post a pic of your table. I'd like to see what it looks like.

I have probably cleaned thousands of the exact same 1998 Cadillac mats you have.

They're pretty good matts compared to the flimsy ones you find in other vehicles huh?

I started out without a steamer and extractor in the beginning as well.

I have a McCulloch steamer, I've just never found it to be too helpful on carpets and upholstery. I pretty much only use it for leather seats and other random things.

I usually just spray mine down with some APC or Spray n Wash or whatever laundry spot cleaner we have Shout, Oxy clean ect and throw them in the washing machine on a hot water setting and allow them to air dry after. Works perfectly and no the little rubber teeth under the mats don't break off in the wash.

That's interesting, because the little rubber feet on these matts come off just laying it on the floor when I vac and scrub them. They come off on the carpet in the car, I'm surprised theres any left. Lol.

Thanks everyone for the replies! As always, you guys are extremely helpful.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Ok so I decided to implement some of the advice in this thread and do a quik rough draft version with whatever I had on hand on the 2nd matt.

1st I sprayed a liberal amount of Folex on the matt and used as directed.

But instead of mopping up, I hit it with the hose nozzle. [sorry, no power washer available]

Results were decent. Just this was better than my normL method. Dirty part on the top half of the towel. [this towel is clean but stained]

Next I sprayed some Megs Super Degreaser@4:1 and scrubbed.

Spray it down...

Rinse it clean...

After: The left side is what I mopped up. A little better, but still needs a bit more.

So next I decided to use LATA straight undiluted and scrubbed with the brush and rinsed. This left the towel clean on the small area I tested... So I used a squeegee to remove the excess rinse water.

I brought it over to where it's going to dry and vacuumed it up with the Ridgid. I got a different much cleaner towel and did another wipedown and there was still a minor amount of dirt left. You can see it on the left side of towel.

I continued to wipe the matt down across 1 whole side of the towel and this is what it looked like afterwards. I thought it would be better based on my previous test wipe, but oh well, this dirt is stubborn. I'm going to try some of the advice you guys gave me.

Final rough draft results. Better, but not yet 100% + it's still wet.

 

[The Guz]

I use a different DA brush attachment, this one www.autogeek.net/hd-carpet-brush.html. I attach it to my old porter 7424xp and I leave it on...it's now my designated carpet brush. The bristles haven't flattened out, and I've used it almost every day for months. But the real game changer for me was the use of Citrol 266. I dilute it around 4:1 with water, and I'll spray it on the really dirty spots of the mat. I then use Optimums Carpet and Fabric cleaner diluted 3:1, spray it on the whole mat, I hit it with the DA brush, and I tell you my friend, the dirt and grease is GONE! I mean vanished into thin air. For some reason, that combo is like a magic trick. I've gotten some seriously hammered mats to look almost new again, customers can't believe it. I no longer get scared when I see a dirty, greasy disgusting mat! The Citrol just breaks it down so well, and so fast...most of grime ends up in the brush. Give it a shot, I do not lie! Oh, and it probably works just as well using any APC, but Optimums Carpet and Fabric cleaner is some pretty amazing stuff as well...together there lethal!

Optimum is good stuff. Seems to work very well from personally using it.

 

[RTexasF]

I purchased several sturdy clamps at Harbor Freight, enough for 4-5 mats. I clamped the mats to the wooden fence (I detailed at home) and used pre treat then soap in the power washer. Once done all were rinsed with power washer with water. They dripped dry while hanging on the fence. By the time I was done with the customer's car, some 6-8 hours later, the mats were dry.
It worked well for me but I lived in deep south TX where summer is 10 months long.

The clamps were similar to this but larger with a very stiff spring.

View attachment 60858

 

[yakky]

I've used a washing machine for mats, while it does get them clean, it also made the carpet frizzy and look more worn than it was. A pressure washer and a vacuum to extract the water works well for me.

 

[UncleDavy]

My neighbors already think I’m crazy when I wash my Weathertech mats on top of the snow Banks in mid January. I like the idea of the Worx PW. Perfect for mats, door jambs, engines and light PW needs.

Weathertechs have relegated all my carpet mats to permanent (year round) storage. After scrubbing carpet mats for 10 years I gave up and went to plastic. I’ve grown to love their ugly, bulky, utility looks.

I love it. My neighbors think I am crazy for washing my cars in the winter while wearing shorts and singing Beach Boys songs. Get rid of the carpeted mats and replace them with Weathertech.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Get rid of the carpeted mats and replace them with Weathertech.

I'd never put Weathertechs in my Cadillac. I think they'd kill the look of the interior.. I wouldn't even put them in my fathers truck, I gave him Cadillac matts because I want his truck to look good! Lol.

My matts are light green [almost beige] but I keep em looking good.

 

[MattPersman]

When you tromp through snow ice and salt weathertech is a good thing. In SoCal mats are probably not much of a problem. Maybe sand.


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[TTQ B4U]

haven't read through all the replies but floor mats for me simply get washed either in the driveway with a garden hose and brush then I extract the water with a machine and let them hang dry. In colder months I simply bring them inside to the wash tub in our laundry room. keep it simple IMO.

 

[Mattarbenz]

The worse thing about some of these mats in my mind, if your detailing for a business, and you've got a package that included cleaning floor mats, you've already estimated the hours needed for size of car and priced your package accordingly. Now you run into these terrible factory floor mats that are about two steps above the quality of cardboard with the cheapest excuse for carpet attached. Honestly, many of these are just terrible, and when you get a truly neglected one, you know if it was yours you'd trash it. The rest of your detail looks awesome, you blow your time and effort and scheduled hours working on a set of trashy mats that at the end I still would throw away because they detract from the rest of the job you've just done.
It's very frustrating, and often times I've had a polite conversation with clients and explained to them that these floor mats are removable for another reason, so you can replace them when they are just too far gone.
I can't afford to sink two hours in floor mats on a 6hr. detail job.
I'd be money ahead to buy the client another set of cheap floor mats.

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[UncleDavy]

I'd never put Weathertechs in my Cadillac. I think they'd kill the look of the interior.. I wouldn't even put them in my fathers truck, I gave him Cadillac matts because I want his truck to look good! Lol.

My matts are light green [almost beige] but I keep em looking good.

I agree that Weathertech would not look very good for that vehicle. The carpeted mats give the interior an added richness. Here in New England, Weathertech is a must especially in the fall and winter. I do change them out in the summer for carpeted mats and I clean them with the Hoover carpet cleaner.

 

[LSNAutoDetailingLSNAutoDetailing is verified member.]

If you get a Tornador, get the wet/dry vac kit... works like an extractor.


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[Eldorado2k]

If you get a Tornador, get the wet/dry vac kit... works like an extractor.


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I'd have to get a compressor, and TBO that's something I haven't even begun to think about... So at this time the odds are slim that I'll be getting a Tornador anytime soon.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I’m currently dealing with a set of super dirty Cadillac matts...

I did a search and found this thread.. Come to find out I started it. Lol.
Lots of good info posted here. Btw that Citrol is expensive as heck! What’s up with that? Lol.

How in the world did those matts come from inside this car?!

 

[Belo]

I'm glad the washing machine method works for others but I would never do that

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why? All my current vehicles have rubber mats, but my old rav4 didn't and i honestly thought this process worked great for a hobbyist like myself.

 

[sudsmobile]

I’m currently dealing with a set of super dirty Cadillac matts...

I did a search and found this thread.. Come to find out I started it. Lol.
Lots of good info posted here. Btw that Citrol is expensive as heck! What’s up with that? Lol.

How in the world did those matts come from inside this car?!

I think I win.

View attachment 64305

 

[Eldorado2k]

View attachment 64305

Check out the difference so far...

And I haven’t even touched them yet.lol.

 

[LEDetailing]

Check out the difference so far...

And I haven’t even touched them yet.lol.

What did you use? For not touching them that product looks like some form of magic

 

[Calendyr]

Lots of replies, stopped reading halfway down the list cause I just woke up and am tired

For really bad mats, what I do is use the pressure washer first, as many people has suggested. This usually takes away most of the dirt.

Then I spray them with super degreaser and agitate with a brush like you do. I sometimes use the brush on the DA but most of the time I use a hand brush I do up/down then left/right followed by diagonals in both directions.

I then rinse it off with the pressure washer and finally I extract it before wiping it down.

I do not know if that takes 100% of the dirt away, but if any is left, I feel it is a very tiny amount after all that cleaning. This whole process is very time consuming so I feel doing anything extra would be a diservice to the customer because I would have to spend too much time on it and would have to charge him for it.

These are on the floor and they will get dirty the second someone put their feet on them, so going anal retentive on them seems to me like a waste of time. So to me, the idea is to have a cleaning method that is a efficient as possible. And I feel like what I described to you is what will get them as clean as they can be without cleaning them several times. This whole process takes me about 30 minutes to do all 4 mats. So that is quite a lot of time for one single aspect of the detail.

 

[Coleroad]

I use a different DA brush attachment, this one Heavy-Duty DA Carpet Brush Short Bristles. I attach it to my old porter 7424xp and I leave it on...it's now my designated carpet brush. The bristles haven't flattened out, and I've used it almost every day for months. But the real game changer for me was the use of Citrol 266. I dilute it around 4:1 with water, and I'll spray it on the really dirty spots of the mat. I then use Optimums Carpet and Fabric cleaner diluted 3:1, spray it on the whole mat, I hit it with the DA brush, and I tell you my friend, the dirt and grease is GONE! I mean vanished into thin air. For some reason, that combo is like a magic trick. I've gotten some seriously hammered mats to look almost new again, customers can't believe it. I no longer get scared when I see a dirty, greasy disgusting mat! The Citrol just breaks it down so well, and so fast...most of grime ends up in the brush. Give it a shot, I do not lie! Oh, and it probably works just as well using any APC, but Optimums Carpet and Fabric cleaner is some pretty amazing stuff as well...together there lethal!

Citrol 266 is the bomb for a ton of stuff.