Topic: Keeping interior dry and clean

[maredith]

I don't know if this would be the correct place to post something like this, so sorry if it's not!!!  I don't know if the majority of people on this board own just luxury cars or everyday cars too, but I was wondering what are your tips on keeping the interior (mainly the floors) dry and clean in the fall/winter/spring?? lol I remember the embarassing days of living with my mom and she'd stuff all of our old clothes on the floor underneath a clear mat, then on top of that she'll put a regular black mat. lol. It wasn't pretty! but it kept the inside clean. I'm thinking I might place some thick BLACK towels underneath the mats so that it's not too noticable and embarassing, any thoughts??? 

[ovr50]

IMO, floor mats are to used and when they get too dirty (if carpet mats) toss them and get new ones. You can also get rubber mats for the messy season and only use your carpet mats in the summer clean season. I won't put old cloths down there as they could bunch up under the brake pedel and cause a problem. Just my take on it.

[maredith]

hey! oh, we do use rubber mats, lol, just most mats don't really cover the whole floor, especially the back ones, and the stuff from our shoes just so happens to touch the unprotected parts of the carpet! Is it just me that has this problem? lol maybe I need to buy better mats...

[Snowman]

I use rubber mats in the winter along with frequent cleaning keeps the interior looking new. Most importantly all passengers are instructed to knock off any snow, ice, or slush before placing feet in the car. Enter car backwards, sit on seat, lift feet, knock off snow by slapping feet together, bend knees, and rotate legs into car……..on the mats!....thank you.

[maredith]

I use rubber mats in the winter along with frequent cleaning keeps the interior looking new. Most importantly all passengers are instructed to knock off any snow, ice, or slush before placing feet in the car. Enter car backwards, sit on seat, lift feet, knock off snow by slapping feet together, bend knees, and rotate legs into car……..on the mats!....thank you.

My mom used to make us do that... lol. It's kind of hard to make sure that everyone will follow those rules in this house cuz everyone shares their cars! We mainly get to use our own car on the weekends, cuz everyone works different shifts in this house and so they have to take whatever car is availible at that time... so when no one's working on the weekends that's when we finally get to see our car, and it's usually a huge mess!  lol what can ya do

[wing]

Apparently shaving cream cleans up salt really well so in the spring clean up the car and get out the shaving cream.

I still have a bottle sitting on my desk in front of me, I haven't gotten around to it yet.

[barrie1]

Having the right type of floormats also helps in keeping any car clean. You can also buy the pant saver ones for the winter which help keep the floor drier and cleaner. These have much deeper groves which trap the moisture and keep it from touching your actual carpet in your car. The last set of these I bought I couldn't get to fit my car actually so I bought slightly bigger ones and used a old Hunting Knife to shape them exactly how I needed them. Turns out they fit better then the real model ones I needed. 

[No H2O]

I was wondering what are your tips on keeping the interior (mainly the floors) dry and clean in the fall/winter/spring?

OK, mats by themselves are next to useless, even Pants Savers.

I place a double layer (folded) of clear 6 mil plastic under my Pants Savers. The 6 mil plastic is the heavy duty stuff used as vapour barriers in construction.  You cut the plastic sheeting so that it extends 6" to each side of your mat. Pants Savers can hold water (as shown on TV) as long as you don't drive...the minute you take a curve...you know. You still have to empty the Pants Savers every few days or so. The plastic sheeting is a bit of a pain because the mats tend to slide/move around. Something you have to get used to and live with.

Every car to date, including my 6 winter old CR-V is absolutely mint. The carpets have never seen moisture or salt and they've never been shampooed either.

You wonder how floors rust? Well they rust from the inside out, thanks to salt and a permanently wet sound barrier.

And when you get into the car, sit sideways and knock both feet together before swinging them into the car.

Hey, you asked!

[maredith]

I was wondering what are your tips on keeping the interior (mainly the floors) dry and clean in the fall/winter/spring?

OK, mats by themselves are next to useless, even Pants Savers.

I place a double layer (folded) of clear 6 mil plastic under my Pants Savers. The 6 mil plastic is the heavy duty stuff used as vapour barriers in construction.  You cut the plastic sheeting so that it extends 6" to each side of your mat. Pants Savers can hold water (as shown on TV) as long as you don't drive...the minute you take a curve...you know. You still have to empty the Pants Savers every few days or so. The plastic sheeting is a bit of a pain because the mats tend to slide/move around. Something you have to get used to and live with.

Every car to date, including my 6 winter old CR-V is absolutely mint. The carpets have never seen moisture or salt and they've never been shampooed either.

You wonder how floors rust? Well they rust from the inside out, thanks to salt and a permanently wet sound barrier.

And when you get into the car, sit sideways and knock both feet together before swinging them into the car.

Hey, you asked!

lol, do the plastic sheets make the floors look sorta, you know, messy? like there are corners and edges of it sticking out under the mats?

[skypoint]

I use regular carpet mats year-round. Though always, JUST IN CASE I ever go thrugh a bad mess, I keep a full set of 4 rubber mats ready for use in the trunk of my car.

Sure, the carpet mats get dirty, but they look and feel so much better than rubber. I bought a can of Simoniz Dri-Clean carpet cleaning foam from Crappy Tire and it works like a treat to restore upholstery.

Basically, vacuum the carpet first, then spray on the foam, scrub thoroughly with a bristled brush, periodically cleaning off the brush because the amount of crap in the carpet is amazing. The foam basically loosens the dirt and stains in the carpet and all the contaminants get lodged amongst the bristles of the brush.

Wait 15 minutes for the foam to dry, then vacuum.

I've been able to get even mud out of the carpets with ease with that stuff.

[safristi]

Geez you guys prolly still have the plastic wrapping on yer mattresses and couches ya BIG BED-WETTERS......do you give yer guests a cavity seach and lice dusting before they can have a "POP" wif ya....I pass.....on PERFECTION...down and dirty is where the action is......

[sterling]

Ignoring the obvious suggestion of OCD counselling for the moment ...

Is there some problem with regularly cleaning the car? What are you trying to achieve by keeping dirt from touching the edges of your car's floor? Better resale value? Hoping the metal lasts 26.3 years instead of 26.1?

[maredith]

ACtually I just like having things clean all of the time... especially in the winter when there's melted snow with the smell of salt is just so gross and disgusting... i don't know if you guys notice it too but the smell is just gross

[No H2O]

lol, do the plastic sheets make the floors look sorta, you know, messy? like there are corners and edges of it sticking out under the mats?

Yup, like I said, the edges stick out by about 6" on all sides. What is the point otherwise. Besides, winter is a messy time of year. Do you think I'd worry about what my plastic sheeting looks like? Bottom line, my carpets are mint without having to shampoo them which just makes them look nice...who knows whats going on below them.

And everytime I've sold my cars, I've gotten what used car dealers ask, and we all know how inflated those prices are...way above book values. The buyer could never argue with me and they got an extremely well looked after vehicle.

[sterling]

I would think that plastic sheeting on the floor of a car in a Canadian winter is just asking for trouble. Unless you've got a water-tight seal around every edge, water will get under the plastic. Combined with moisture that will condense on the cold floor means that the wet carpet will have no opportunity to dry out. This will likely lead to mold and rust under that carpet. But it will look nice.

[mrthompson]

This fall I might try a set of floor mats by either Highland, Husky, or Weathertech.

[No H2O]

I would think that plastic sheeting on the floor of a car in a Canadian winter is just asking for trouble.

Actually it isn't.

Unless you've got a water-tight seal around every edge, water will get under the plastic. Combined with moisture that will condense on the cold floor means that the wet carpet will have no opportunity to dry out. This will likely lead to mold and rust under that carpet. But it will look nice.

But water/salt never makes it to the carpet. It makes it between the Pants Saver and the plastic sheeting, which you then remove and drain. Otherwise it would make it to your carpets without the plastic sheeting.

Trust me, I've been doing this since the early 80s.

Wanna compare carpets and the rotting floor I don't have...after 10 years. But none of this matters as most cars are used and either chucked or passed on to some poor unsuspecting soul.