Hey all,

So winter sucks pretty badly, not because of snow but because of all the salt... salt is essentially raping my carpet despite having the all-weather mats - it just gets around the mat and in random places no matter how careful I am or how much I kick my boots off etc (not to mention passengers).

Since I can't vacuum and wash it out all winter long due to the cold; am I in any real danger of permanent salt stains on the carpet? or can I safely worry about it in the spring and remove them with <insert product> using <insert method>

Thanks guys.

 

I have factory mats and then put a set from Wally World over top. They seems to catch all the crap melting. It is inevitable that you will get salt stains. A good upholstery cleaner and stiff brush will remove most of it in the Spring. It is something you have to live with other than not driving it in the winter.

 

You can always go to the self service car wash and clean out your carpet. I keep a towel handy so when I get out of the car after running around in rain, snow or salt I wipe down the mats each time. It seems to save on the carpets and keeps spring clean ups from becoming a bigger problem.

Cat :x

 

Well here it is usually at or below freezing. Any damp towel would be frozen in the car. And seriously do you want to be wiping carpets when it is blowing and snowing and you are freezing? A fact of life here - carpets get dirty. Get the best fitting rubber mats you can find and try to knock off as much snow and crap as you can when getting in.

 

Sorry about that! Yes seriously I do wipe down the mats each time plus have a wet/dry vac to work on any messes but I do have a nice garage that the car is housed in when it is not being used and I do wash my Fit even in the winter as long as it is not below 29 degrees. Since the Fit is my DD and I show it in import classes it is very important to keep it as clean as I can.

Cat :x