this is why i want an extractor

When I got my new truck, it came with just rubber floor mats, not carpet. I figured that I would wait until Spring to get carpet-no sense in messing them up right? Well, lemme tell you-it's amazing how much crap you track into your car when you can see it and it's not just going down into carpet. And I try to be so careful before I get in-especially watching out for oil & stuff in parking lots. But my rubber mats are just completely filthy after a couple days-I had no idea how much I was tracking in. Fortunately I can just clean the rubber ones with a wet paper towel back to perfection-glad I decided to wait on the carpet ones until the weather gets better.
 
Here's my Little Green procedure for floor mats. I don't consider it even possible to do the carpets with LGCM. It's just too awkward, except for the backs of minivans, SUVs, hatchbacks, etc..



1) Pretreat bad stains with stain remover of your choice

2) Fill the LGCM tank to the line with hot water and 8 oz of the Little Green shampoo (12.5 cents per ounce). Spray the 4 floormats with the solution until the tank is empty. Get the mats wet.

3) Agitate with brush or cloth, wait 10 minutes

4) While waiting, rinse the LGCM tank and agitate again toward the end of 10 minute dwell.

5) Fill tank with clear hot water. Inject and extract this hot water, one tank per front mat, one tank for the two rear mats. This will suck up the dirt and detergent residue. Using one tank per mat, you will be able to inject/extract each mat many times. You will have to empty the "dirty" tank a few times.



It takes me 45-60 minutes to clean 4 dirty floormats using this procedure; but they come out clean and detergent free. Total cost in chemicals: $1.00, not including any stain remover I used (only for really bad stains).



EDIT: Don't forget to vacuum THOROUGHLY first.
 
I've had very good luck immersing the mats in the bathtub and using laundry detergent. Let them sit for a bit. Scrub them with a stiff brush, then rinse them out under the shower faucet. Then I suck the water out with a bissel and they are almost perfectly clean. Probably could let them air dry also.



Really a quick way to do it.
 
Yeah, I think the bathtub idea would work well....a pressure washer too in many cases. I just use my Little Green because it cost me $100. I insist I get some use out of it. :) I was disappointed it was so difficult to use on the floorboards. Among other things, the hose is way too short. I probably would not buy it if I had it all to do over again. I'd just save the money for a real extractor. But, I'm managing to get some good use out of this housewife's tool. I call it my floormat machine; and it does a good job on floormats.
 
this is killing me. . . . people help me here please . . . why is everyone (ill be fair here, most people) talking negativly about the duramaid. i am about ready to buy one . . . whats the problem with it. . . . I would appriciate any bodys oppinion. I would buy a sensi or a mytee spyder, but they are so freggin much money, plus a grip to ship them. - the duramiad looks perfect, and has a clear lexan plastic detailing tool with interchangable tips for reduced and increased water flow - Mini Hot Carpet Extractor



help me guys . . .thanks in advance.



ps- if anyone is uncomfortable with posting an oppinion - pplease pm me. the conversation will remain confidential . . . im gonan spend 700 bucks on one of these things, and im in cali - no dealers or warranty stations anywhere for the aztec, duramaid, the one from rightlook.com if i get one and it breaks im gonna be stupid mad and out a lot of money. . . . thanks again
 
the duramaid is out of the question for me. iv heard good and bad. thanks to everyone for responding to my pm's. guess im gonna shell out the extra cash for a spyder . . . .
 
my method of going about cleaning mats is vacuuming them, blowing them with a air compressor, vacuuming again, applying stain remover on the stains accordingly, brushing the fibers from all angles, applying shampoo, brushing the fibers again, then pressure washing the mats until water running off the mats is clean and then vacuuming them thoroughly and hanging them up to dry
 
HenrikP said:
my method of going about cleaning mats is vacuuming them, blowing them with a air compressor, vacuuming again, applying stain remover on the stains accordingly, brushing the fibers from all angles, applying shampoo, brushing the fibers again, then pressure washing the mats until water running off the mats is clean and then vacuuming them thoroughly and hanging them up to dry
Click to expand...





that is quite a method indeed . . . i would imagine that is quite time consuming . . . .

I bet your mats come out spotless however . . . .I just woudl nto be able to find the time needed to preform so many steps on just floor mats . . . .
 
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