Cleaning the floor mats... a hail Mary

[Manhattan]

About a year ago, I detailed the MDX - an 08 with light gray interior. The following weekend, my wife and some of her friends did one of those zombie runs - a 5K in the woods, over obstacles... and mud.. red clay mud. Then they all piled in the MDX for the ride home. The gray leather was orange. The mats looked trashed.

I got the leather clean. But the mats... I tried spot cleaning. Shop vac'ed. Foam and scrub... Saturday, I hosed them down, soaked them in Simple Green and scrubbed them with a brush. That seemed to clean them. But after they dried, they smelled like crap. I said #*@& it. I'm done! I tossed them - all 3 rows - into the washing machine. Then the dryer. And, they look and smell great! I wish I stared there. I had written them off - was prepared to buy a new set.

[phins2rt]

Nice!

[Fab]

My advice for next time is try the rug doctor. Not sure if it will get off dried on mud but for every year cleaning, it gets the job done.

[Manhattan]

I think for newer mats or mats that I didn't think were shot, the Rug Doctor (rental) would be the way to go - or like you said, just that annual cleaning. But I wasn't about to drop $40+ on those old stained mats. I really was surprised how clean the washer and drier got them. I suspect if I did that too often, they'd come apart - particularly the backing... why did Acura decide to back the mats with a sponge anyway ;-)

[Bill_de]

I throw my mats in the driveway, soak them with the same soapy water I use on the car, then hit them with a pressure washer. Today's carpeted mats are very durable and the pressure washer gets the dirt out. The fibers are nylon, so nothing really penetrates them.

[lion9mdx]

It this sort of thing happens often, consider picking up some seat covers from SeatShield to protect the seats. They do a nice job when you need a waterproof temporary cover that doesn't take up much room when it's not being used. Mine have held up well for a few years now.

[Manhattan]

Originally Posted by lion9mdx

It this sort of thing happens often, consider picking up some seat covers from SeatShield to protect the seats. They do a nice job when you need a waterproof temporary cover that doesn't take up much room when it's not being used. Mine have held up well for a few years now.

That's a great idea. Thanks. I also mentioned flipping (left to right too for the front) the mats - not perfect but beats staining the nice side.

[coxodoina]

My advice for next time is try the rug doctor.

[Ishqkapujari]

bro next time take a bucket of water, and try magic eraser... it really does work like magic literally gets everything out and makes ur carpets look brand new. idk bout smell now lol.

[symmetrical]

I think an investment on some all weather floor mats is in order. And make the wife pay for it.

[JL_SS]

Originally Posted by symmetrical

I think an investment on some all weather floor mats is in order. And make the wife pay for it.

+1. Don't make the wife pay for it in money ...........