Cleaning car mats

[Mari]

Calling all dressage judges & writers that use their car in indoor arenas with a waxed surface. How do you clean your car mats when they’re clogged up with the waxed sand? I’ve tried beating them against a wall, using a vacuum & a stiff brush but in patches they seem to be impregnated with the stuff.

 

[Surbie]

I can't help with the clogged mats, but to save mine I put paper feed sacks in the footwells. Still gets mucky, but easier to hoover that out when dry.

 

[supertramp]

Not sure if this will work with waxed sand, but i saw a video of a toilet brush (clean) attached to a electric/battery powered drill, as the toilet brush whizzed round it knocked all the debris from the rug, like a high speed vacuum cleaner without the suck.
found this video,

 

[Beausmate]

I've pressure washed manky mats before, with great success. Got to be careful not to overdo it though.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I was gonna say jet wash but I would buy some cheap rubber mats and use those when you are going to get wax surface on your boots.

Those carpet mats get everything stuck in them.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I also use paper sacks.

 

[Jambarissa]

I am just amazed that people clean cars tbh. I find a good inch of dust and dirt protects everything.

 

[druid]

Lots of car washes have a machine that will do that mats now. It's steam and stuff brushed and you feed mats in one end and they appear nice and clean at other side!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I am just amazed that people clean cars tbh. I find a good inch of dust and dirt protects everything.

Not nice to sit in it though when you are clean what about when your not doing horse things.

 

[daydreamer]

Buy rubber mats!

 

[phizz4]

I agree with daydreamer. Whenever I get a new (used) car I replace the carpet mats with rubber ones. Dead easy to clean. Then, if I sell the car, I put the nearly new carpet mats back in.

 

[Mari]

I’m going to get rubber mats. Meanwhile I still need to try to clean the carpet ones for use when I’m not judging. Will investigate car cleaning places.

 

[Northern Hare]

Do you know anyone who has a carpet cleaner? We've got a domestic-sized Rug Doctor and it has a handheld tool that's brilliant for carpet car mats, it gets them really clean

 

[Mari]

I do. Thank you. I’ll give it a try.

 

[Mari]

Sussed it! A wire brush works wonders. A bit of elbow grease to get through the waxed sand, brush it off & then vacuum. Works a treat. But I’m still going to get rubber mats for judging days.