How to Deep Clean Pet Mess from Car Mats, Boot Liners and Seat Covers

Dogs and cats are lovable creatures, but you probably don’t love the mess they leave behind in your car. From hair and mud to accidents, pets can cause a lot of wear and tear on your car’s interior. Thankfully, some smart cleaning tactics can help you keep your vehicle looking and smelling good.

Keep reading to learn how to deep clean pet mess from car mats, boot liners, and seat covers. 

Clear All Items from Your Vehicle

Before doing a deep clean, plan on taking everything out of your car. This includes your trunk’s boot liner, floor mats, and any other removable items. Shake these items to help loosen dirt or hair that’s trapped in the fibres.

While these items are out of your vehicle, vacuum the interior. Switch tools to ensure you’re reaching both the main surfaces and crevices. Move your vacuum to suck debris from seams in the seats, and use your vacuum beneath the seats and around your trunk. 

Attack Pet Hair with a Brush

Even a good vacuum can’t always remove cat or puppy hair from your seats and mats. You may be better off using a pet hair removal brush to collect stubborn hair. 

Use a rubber glove if you don’t have a brush. Rub it across the surface of your seats and floors to pull up hair. Especially if the hair contrasts with the color of your interior, you’ll be able to spot problem areas more easily. 

Focus on Fabric Mats

You put your feet on your car’s mats, and your dogs and cats do, as well. Fabric mats require a little more focused cleaning to remove mud that’s caked onto the fibres.

Use an upholstery cleaner spray to penetrate stains on your mats. Give it a few minutes to work its magic before scrubbing with a brush to remove discolouration and debris. 

Spot touch-ups may work in some instances, but dirtier mats will benefit from a deeper clean. Using a pressure washer can knock out dirt, but it’s not always clear which should you buy. Compare pressure washers to find a light-duty model that won’t harm the fibres in your mat. 

Once you’re done clearing the mats, set them in the sun to dry. You don’t want to risk introducing mould and musty odours into your car by placing the mats back inside too early. 

Rinse Boot Liners

If your car has rubber mats or boot liners in the trunk, remove them and rinse them with a hose. You can use simple dish soap and a brush to clean dirt deposits and stains. 

Make sure you rinse away all soapy water and let the mats and boot liners dry in the sun. If you have rubber floor mats in your driver’s seat, make sure the surface isn’t slick. Otherwise, you could introduce a safety hazard that can compromise safety while driving.

Tackle Pet Accidents Promptly

Pet accidents are inevitable, even with well-trained dogs and cats. If one happens in your car, treat it right away. Letting urine or waste sit for a long time can contribute to stains and unpleasant odours. 

Clean up the liquid first by blotting. Don’t use too much pressure or scrub, as this can make stains worse. Use an enzyme-based cleaner that can break down the compounds in urine or faeces.

Give the cleaner enough time to sit before cleaning it up according to the instructions. With quick intervention, you can make sure accidents don’t leave a permanent scar in your car. 

Treat Odours in Your Car

While it can be rewarding to remove stains from your car’s mats and seats, a deep clean doesn’t always eliminate odours. You may need to address odours directly.

Baking soda can be an excellent solution, as it neutralises the acidic components of pet urine. Shake some baking soda on your fabric mats and let it sit for a few hours. Then use a vacuum to remove it.

It may seem easier to just get an air freshener for your car. But baking soda offers a more lasting treatment that won’t smell artificial.

Keep Your Car Cleaner

Don’t let pet messes overtake your car. By shaking car mats, vacuuming thoroughly, and using a brush, you can maintain a cleaner car. Treat all pet accidents in your car as soon as they happen, and use baking soda to neutralize odors.

With some diligence, you can keep your car clean even when your pets are messy.