To prevent ice buildup in the winter, salt is put down on major roads and highways throughout Freehold, Farmingdale and Manalapan. Once winter is over, most people get into their car and look down to find their carpet and floor mats covered in salt stains. How easy can it be to tackle those stains?
Fortunately, those pesky white salt stains are easy to take out with just a little bit of elbow grease and some expert cleaning methods. To help keep your car clean this winter season, Freehold Subaru is here to pass along some of our expert cleaning tips. Follow the steps below for carpets and floor mats that look brand new.
Mix together warm water and white vinegar
Vinegar, while carrying a strong scent, is one of the most powerful cleaning agents that you can find. If you don't have any spare white vinegar lying around, you can substitute in dish-washing detergent, but it probably won't be as effective.
Wet the stained area with your mixed solution
You want to pour a small amount, or spray a small amount if you're using a spray bottle, on the salted area. Get a scrubbing bush and gently scrub the area, stirring up the stain. You want to make sure that you don't push the salt deeper down into the floor mats to further stain the area.
Clean the stained area
Using a dry, clean towel, gently dab over the wet stain to dry it up. You don't want to use too much pressure because it will force it deeper. By dabbing the area, you can absorb the stain and the salt that's on top.
Repeat if salt still lingers
Salt can be persistent, so it may take a couple of tries to fully get all of the salt out of the mats. To speed up the process, you can use a wet/dry vacuum to pick up the salt. However, once the stain is gone, removal the towel and let it dry.
Eliminate the vinegar smell
Don't be surprised if you find that your cat floor mats reek of vinegar after you're finished with the cleaning process. You can spray your car with air freshener or you can take out your floor mats and hang them outside to dry and de-fume. If you're cleaning an area of your car that can't be taken out and hung up, you can roll your windows down and let your car air out to get rid of the smell.
Residents of Freehold, Farmingdale and Manalapan can fight off salt stains this winter with our expert cleaning method. Freehold Subaru wants to see your car looking brand new with no hints of any salt stains.
This holiday season, stop into Freehold Subaru to experience our brand new lineup of 2015 Subaru models. Our friendly sales team will teach you all about the new features in each model and can even schedule you a test drive that day.
