I was wonderin how do you all clean your carpets? I know mines need it! but I dont know what I should use. Their not tha black carpet, the ugly tan color ones.

 

everyone has their own method. My opinion, just get a bucket of water, add lots of soap, and scrub that carpet with a nice coarse brush. Some people like to buy carpet cleaners, but I really do not see the need. They can be pretty expensive, and for what? I've detailed many a car, and always used the soap and water method.

If you have grease stains, just spray some solvent on them and scrub them out as well. Vacuum the soapy water out, open your windows an inch and leave the car running with the heat on full, for a few hours (thats if you're doing the entire car)


Good luck.

 

Meg's APC &/or Folex

 

Mac... dish soap?

 

nm... just used dish soap and they came out lookin dang good.

 

People who spend $$ on carpet cleaners are

 

anythign really works. i used to use windex and paper towels and i guess the ammonia semi bleached it. so if your carpet is really dirty i advise you dont use this method because it will leave spots. carpet cleaners IMO and from experience is pretty much useless or a waste of money. it comes down to scrubbing. the more elbow grease the better

 

what about the actual floors inside the car (not just the mats)? You cant soak those can you?

 

I wouldn't advise soaking the carpets. If they're heavily soiled, try a good APC and then a something like Folex.

Windex on carpet =

 

I take the rugs and put them in the Washing machine.... thats how i wash Mine. works very good (gentle/gentle cycle- cold water wash- use liquid detergent/ powder has 20 percent fillers i.e. clay, ground glass, bleached sawdust)

 

Here is an option to using your home washing machine:use the "big load" washers at your local laundrymat, they can do a decent job of cleaning your mats, plus there are "big load" dryers there that can dry them as well. Just be prepared for some strange looks.

 

If you are cleaning the actual carpets and not the floor mats, make sure you introduce AS LITTLE MOISTURE AS POSSIBLE into the carpet! The jute or padding behind the carpet contains cotton fibers. Cotten, being a natural fiber, is a smorgasboard for bacteria and mold when combined with zero light and moisture.

 

Would those lil rubber feet on the back of the mats fall off doing this method?

 

not that i know of when i did mine, those nubbs were fine, But i let mine air dry for about 4 hours after being washed.

 

OxyClean or other oxygen variants work great

 

several suggestions in the how-to: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=402935

 

Whould you advise using oxy-clean on the carpet inside the car ?? Im not talking the mats, I am talking that actual carpet inside the car.

-matt

 

OXY Clean, Hot Water, and elbow grease...works like a charm.