How to Shampoo Car Carpet: Easy Steps for a Deep, Fresh Clean

Your car's inside matters just as much as the outside. Over weeks and months, dirt, sticky drinks and food spills make your carpets look worn and cause bad smells. If you want to know how to shampoo car carpet so your car feels fresh, you are in the right place. You will find methods for both spot cleaning and giving your whole car floor a deep clean.

Getting ready before you start helps you finish the job more quickly. When you clear out anything that can cause new dirt, you set yourself up for a good clean. Washing your carpets is simpler if nothing is in the way and you have what you need.

• Remove Floor Mats: Start by taking out all your floor mats. This step gives you space to see the whole carpet. You should wash your mats by themselves so no extra dirt lands on your clean car floor. Floor liners from 3W Liners only need soap and water for a wash.
• Thorough Vacuum: Use a vacuum to pick up loose dirt from the carpet. A brush head on the vacuum lifts up things like crumbs, pet hair and sand in the fibers. Clean under seats and along the doors too, so all areas are ready for more cleaning.

After you get rid of the loose dirt, you will find spots that need more care. Each type of stain comes out best with a different approach. You want to treat these before washing the whole carpet so you have a much cleaner end result.

It is common for dirt, mud, and old bits of food to end up on your car floor.

• Create a Cleaning Solution: When you mix a little dish soap with warm water, you get a strong cleaner for everyday stains. The soapy water acts on mud or food, but it is not harsh and keeps your carpet safe.
• Scrub and Blot: Dip a brush in the soapy water and use it to scrub the stain. Go in small circles so dirt comes loose. Use a clean towel to blot and pull out both dirt and extra liquid.

Any drink that tips over in your car can leave a stain. These spots from soda, coffee, or beer are sticky and can pull in more dirt if ignored.

• Use a Vinegar Solution: Mix white vinegar with water in equal amounts. This simple solution helps break down sugar and color left by drinks on the carpet.
• Apply and Blot Dry: Spray or pour a small bit onto the stained area. Wait about ten minutes. Then dab the spot with a clean towel until you soak up the moisture and the color.

When grease or oil falls on your carpet, it can stick tight and not want to come out.

• Apply a Degreaser: You can use a special car carpet cleaner from the store, or use options like paint thinner or dry salt. With salt, cover the grease stain and give it a few hours to draw up the oil, then vacuum.
• Blot the Stain Away: After letting your cleaner work, press with a clean towel. You want to see the grease move to the towel. Keep flipping to a fresh spot on the towel as you lift out more grease.

Pen ink looks impossible to fix once it spills. But some easy supplies help you pull up ink and leave your carpet free of blue or black spots.

• Hairspray or Rubbing Alcohol: Both can work. The alcohol in them breaks apart the ink, so it comes off the fibers faster.
• Dab Gently: Pour or spray on a little, then dab the stain. You should never rub, or the ink will spread. Keep dabbing until your cloth stays clean.

Having pets or a smoker in your car can leave strong smells in the carpet, even when you cannot see a stain.

• Baking Soda for Odors: Cover your carpet with a thick layer of baking soda. This absorbs unwanted odors. Leave it for a few hours or overnight.
• Vacuum Thoroughly: Once the time is up, vacuum the baking soda. Go over the area a few times to pick up all the powder and bad smells.

Deep colors like wine, juice, or blood show up right away and are tough to get out later.

• Hydrogen Peroxide Solution: Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts water. Test on a hidden area first so you are sure it will not bleach your carpet.
• Apply and Wait: Pour the solution on the stain and wait for bubbles. This means it is working on the color. Once the bubbles slow, use a wet cloth to wipe up any leftover liquid.

The best time to shampoo your car carpet is after you remove special stains. When the whole floor is washed, you give your car a nice, even clean.

• Apply Carpet Shampoo: Read your carpet shampoo label and use it on small areas at a time. Most shampoos bubble up and lift any leftover dirt hiding in the carpet.
• Agitate with a Brush: Use a soft or medium brush to work the shampoo in. Change directions sometimes to pick up more dirt from every angle.
• Blot Excess Moisture: Dry the cleaned area with a microfiber towel. Press down to soak up the dirty water and help the carpet dry.

Some tools pick up more dirt and water than a towel alone.

• Wet/Dry Vacuum Extraction: This tool sucks up all the water, dirt and soap left behind after shampooing. Your carpets will be less wet than if you only use towels.
• Steam Cleaner Power: A steam cleaner uses very hot water to ripple through the carpet and break up dirt. It also kills germs. Use your wet/dry vacuum after steam cleaning to pick up extra water.

After cleaning, your carpet needs to dry well before you drive a lot or put your mats back in.

• Absorb Remaining Moisture: Use clean towels that you press firmly into the carpet after washing. When a towel comes away wet, use a fresh one and keep going until you feel less water.
• Maximize Air Circulation: Open your doors or windows if you can, while parked somewhere safe, to move air through. Good air movement makes the carpet dry faster and safer.
• Use Fans for Faster Drying: Directing a portable fan at the wet carpet is a good idea. It moves the air and gets the floor dry sooner.

Read more: How to Clean Car Carpets Step-by-Step Guides

There are times when you want someone else to clean your car's carpet. Professionals use strong vacuums and products that make the floor look new.

The usual price of a car carpet shampoo by a detailer change with the job size and dirt level. The average is $75 on the low end and up to $200 or more for bigger or very dirty cars.

You should consider yourself a professional if you have deep stains, strong smells or just no time for cleaning yourself. A specialist may also help if your tools at home are not clean well enough.

The right habits keep your carpets looking nice for longer.

Use Quality Floor Mats: If you use special floor mats from 3W Liners, you will protect your carpets from dirt, water and trash. These mats are easy to pull out and clean fast.

Address Spills Immediately: Whenever you drop something or tip a drink, wipe it up right away. The shorter the time a spill sits, the less likely it stains your carpet.

Vacuum Regularly: Make a habit of vacuuming your car's carpet each week or at least every other week. Taking out dirt fast stops it from pushing deep and causing stains.
For more tips on keeping your vehicle's interior spotless and protected, explore our related post: Car Interior Protection.

If you follow these steps, you will do a good job learning how to shampoo car carpet and keep your car comfortable and tidy. Picking the right cleaner, acting fast on spills and quality mats like those from 3W Liners give you the best chance of a carpet that looks and smells clean.