How to Clean a Car Carpet

The car carpet becomes dirty and dingy quickly from all of the traffic it receives. Dirt, mud, snow, bird droppings, grass and spills can wreak havoc on the carpet. When pets and children are thrown in, the carpets can really bad.

Materials Needed

• Vacuum with a hose attachment


• Cloth


• Stain pretreatment


• White distilled vinegar


• Mild liquid dish soap


• Water


• Spray bottle


• Scrub brush

1. Attach a hose to a vacuum. Plug in the vacuum and turn it on. Vacuum the carpet thoroughly to remove any loose debris. Try get under the seats as well.


2. Locate all of the stain in the carpet. Spray a stain pretreatment on the stain and allow it to work on the carpet for the recommended time on the package. Use a cloth to blot up the stain.


3. Pour ¼ cup white distilled vinegar into a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of mild liquid dish soap to the bowl. Add 3 cups of hot water to the liquids. Remove the lid from a spray bottle and add the liquids to it. Replace the lid and shake the bottle gently to mix the liquids.


4. Soak the carpets with the solution in the spray bottle. Use a scrub brush to clean the carpets. Work in circular motions to clean the entire carpet. Allow the cleaning solution to sit on the carpet for 45 minutes.


5. Fill a bucket with clean water. Use a clean cloth and the clean water to rinse the carpets. Place towels over the carpets and allow them to soak up as much of the water as possible.


6. Open all of the windows. Allow the carpet to dry for one complete day. The carpets can be cleaned with these steps twice a year.