How to Get Rid of Groggy Car Carpet Stains

Chuck all the loose rubbish, floor mats, and kids' toys out of the car. If the mats are carpeted, you'll treat them the same way as the floor, but do them outside the car so you don't make a mess.

This is the most important step. If you add liquid to red dust or sand before vacuuming, you're just making mud. Spend 10 minutes just vacuuming. Use the brush to agitate the fibres while you suck up the dry grit.

Have a look at what you're dealing with. Greasy burger drop? Coffee? Red mud? Different stains sometimes need different approaches, but the general process remains the same.

Spray your chosen cleaner onto the stain. Don't drown it, you don't want to soak the under-felt because it'll smell like a wet dog for weeks. Just get it damp.

Let it sit for 2-3 minutes. This gives the chemicals time to break down the bond between the muck and the carpet fibres. Don't let it dry out, though.

Take your brush and work in a circular motion. You're not trying to scrub a hole in the floor, just work the cleaner into the pile. I once had a customer who tried to use a wire brush on a latte stain, ruined the whole carpet. Stick to nylon.

Take a clean microfibre towel and press it firmly into the stain. Don't rub side-to-side yet; you want to draw the liquid up into the towel. You'll see the gunk transferring over.

If the stain is stubborn (looking at you, red wine), you might need to go again. It's better to do three light passes than one heavy, soaking pass.

Lightly mist the area with clean water. This is vital because leftover soap will actually attract more dirt later on (the 'sticky residue' trap).

Use your wet/dry vac or a dry towel to suck up as much moisture as possible. If you use a towel, put your weight into it.

Open all the windows or park the car in the sun (if it's not a 45-degree day that'll bake your dash). If you've got a pedestal fan, chuck it in the doorway for an hour.