How to Deal with Odor from Original Car Mats?
2 Answers
Shake off the dust and debris from the mats, then scrub them with a brush. Spray a specialized cleaning agent thoroughly on the mats and scrub with a brush. Let it sit for 10 minutes. This will make it easier to remove stains. Scrub slowly with the brush until the mats are clean. There may also be dust and impurities around the edges of the mats. Use a vacuum cleaner to reach under the pedals, seats, and crevices to remove any remaining dust, debris, and trash inside the car.
Last time the carpet in my car smelled bad, probably because it got wet from muddy water on my shoes during rainy days. I immediately removed the carpet and left it in a sunny spot to dry for a whole day, then sprinkled a generous amount of baking soda powder to absorb the odor overnight. The next day, I vacuumed it clean. After that, I wiped it down with a diluted white vinegar water spray, waited for it to dry completely, and reinstalled it—the smell was almost gone. Now, every time I wash my car, I use a vacuum to thoroughly clean the carpet seams to prevent food crumbs from getting stuck, and I also park in a dry spot to avoid moisture. If the odor is severe, I’d consider steam cleaning or replacing the carpet, but handling it myself saved me a hundred bucks, which was totally worth it.
