Many people spend quite a bit of time in their cars. It’s common for someone to use their car to drive to work as well as for running errands. Considering that, it makes perfect sense that car carpet will begin to lose its original appearance. In fact, a study conducted by GAP Enviromicrobial Services found that a car is quite often dirtier than a home with nearly 17,000 times more bacteria. With that in mind, here are five tips for keeping car carpets clean.
- Spilled Beverages
Many people keep a beverage nearby while driving. One of the most popular beverage choices for workers across the nation is coffee. While coffee does well as getting people ready for the day, this dark beverage can wreak havoc on car carpet. Unfortunately, many people will experience a time where they have to deal with a coffee spill inside of their respective vehicles. Having the best chance at removing spilled coffee means diluting the stain with cold water as fast as possible. Next, you can use a light amount of household glass cleaner in order to remove any lingering stains. - Removing Foul Odors From Carpeting
Over time, many car owners will eventually have to deal with car carpet that smells. However, you’ll find that a few simple steps are all it takes to have carpeting smelling fresh again. To begin, you’ll need to find either some sort of carpet cleaning powder. In most cases, this powder is to be applied generously throughout the carpet of your vehicle where it will sit for a period of anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour. After the allotted amount of time has passed, vacuum the remaining powder. - Cleaning Vomit
Unfortunately, there might be a time where a driver or passenger becomes car sick. In turn, you could find yourself dealing with a vomit stain that is unpleasant in terms of both smell and sight. Considering that, it’s important to know a few steps to remove vomit from car flooring. Vomit is an acidic substance, meaning it should be diluted as soon as possible. In most cases, a mixture of water and baking soda will be all you’ll need to remove vomit from car carpet. - Brightening Faded Carpet
It’s important to note that brightening carpet on your own can lead to damaged flooring, meaning you’ll want to be extra careful. Certain people mix a small amount of ammonia with water to brighten carpets. However, ammonia is a dangerous substance and it isn’t recommended that you use this substance on your own. In many cases, a simple vacuuming can remove surface stains which makes carpeting appear brighter. If at all possible, it’s advisable to replace car carpet that has become dull and dirty. - When all Else Fails, Consider Replacement Carpet
If all else fails, it’s time to strongly consider replacing the carpet inside of your vehicle. In fact, statistics show that it’s wise to consider replacing the carpeting inside of your automobile if it is 10 years or older. In many cases, older car carpeting has its fair share of spills and dirt. Charles P Gerba, a microbiologist, found large amounts of bacteria in automobiles with carpeting containing spills from either food or beverages. In addition, these spills provide the perfect environment for bacteria to grow as they feed where stains are formed.
To summarize, there are several important tips for removing stains from car carpet. Many people have experienced spilling a beverage inside of a vehicle. With darker beverages including coffee and certain sodas, it’s important to dilute the stains with water as fast as possible. Over time, car carpet can begin to smell foul from the presence of lingering grime and stains. It’s wise to purchase a carpet cleaning powder, leave it in the vehicle, and thoroughly vacuum the carpeting. If you need to clean up after a carsick passenger, it’s best to remove the acidity of vomit with a mixture of baking soda and water. The newest of automobile carpeting will likely start to fade over time. In many cases, your best bet for brightening carpet is to replace the carpeting altogether. Many people find custom carpet when the carpeting has become too stained or dirty to effectively clean.