Interior Protection That Handles a Busy Weekend

There is dried mud on the door sill, there are paw prints on the back of the passenger seat, there are granola bar crumbs in the center console, and the factory carpet has turned a deep shade of brown with dirt and dust. What did you do over the weekend? There was probably no one single incident. Between drop off, running errands, commuting, and spending time outdoors, your vehicle’s interior has collected dirt and messes all weekend long.

By taking advantage of a few good quality products specifically designed for your vehicle’s cabin, it is possible to easily clean it up for a fresh start at the office. It might be tempting to just throw everything in and then grab a wet rag. Instead, consider what areas are the most used, and the areas where things get messed up the most: underfoot, in the trunk, around the seats and console.

Floor Mats Need a Secure Fit

The factory carpet is soft to the touch, but it is not designed to handle melting snow, muddy shoes, rocks, or a spilled beverage. Floor mats are designed to be removed and easily cleaned. The best mats are custom fit to your vehicle’s specific footwells rather than being cut from a sheet. Raised edges help to prevent liquids from pooling beneath the mat. Grooves are also a great way to keep shoes from getting too soggy when driving through heavy rain or a muddy parking lot.

Vehicle floor mats

Be sure to test the fitment of the driver-side floor mat before committing to it. Ensure that it sits completely flat, and does not curl or slip. Also, make sure it doesn’t impede the brake and gas pedals. It does not matter if the driver’s mat matches the rest of your vehicle’s interior. You want to make sure it is going to do its job correctly. Then, simply pull them out and give them a good shaking once the week is done.

Cargo Liners Keep Spills Contained

It is easy for the trunk area to become the dumping ground for everything from boots and sneakers to bikes, groceries, dog food and toys, tools, and anything that happens to be damp. Because the mess in the trunk is hidden, people tend to neglect cleaning it, and it is easy for liquid to leak and stain the carpet. This is why having a good trunk liner or cargo tray is important. (Shop these quality MOPAR Interior Accessories is the page that matches this.)

Trunk liners with a raised lip are useful for carrying around muddy or dirty items like boots or bags of potting soil. Texture is also useful for keeping items from rolling around while you are driving. Clear out the cargo area before starting to clean. Try sorting the contents into piles to get rid of the unnecessary stuff:

• Things that belong in the house
• Things that need to stay in the car
• Trash
• Anything that is dirty and needs to be cleaned

This should only take a few minutes, but it will help keep the trunk from becoming a permanent storage space. Consider how easy it would be to get to the compartments underneath your trunk liner.

Don’t forget about door-sill guards either, particularly when passengers come aboard with wet or dirty footwear. These thin strips of paint get scratched much sooner than the interior carpet. Install guards that match the shape of the sill and don’t keep the doors from closing properly. Clean these regularly, making sure to check for dampness at the edges.

If you have a third row of seating, look for protection that does not interfere with the seat latches, pull straps, or folding mechanisms. A product that stays in position as you fold the seat back up is much preferable to one that needs to be taken out each time.

Protect Seats and Keep Consoles Usable

Seats are exposed to a different type of wear. Pet hair, crumbs in the seams, sunscreen stains, wet clothing, and frequent ingress/egress take their toll. Seat protectors are useful when you have pets, kids, or frequent passengers that always sit in the same seats. Keep in mind that your seat covers will need to accommodate headrests, side airbags, and seat belt usage.

The console itself is smaller than other areas of the cabin, but it can become the biggest eyesore of all. Console organizers are perfect for sorting out chargers, loose change, receipt junk, sunglasses, and whatever other random necessities you happen to carry around. It is not the sexiest accessory, but it does help to alleviate the frustration of looking for your parking pass or cell phone charger. Be careful not to overload the organizer. Having an empty slot available for unexpected necessities, like a latte, permission slip, or car keys, will come in handy.

Ultimately, the best way to keep your cabin clean, something CNN walks through at www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored, is to use protectors that are convenient enough to use on a regular basis. Start by removing the driver’s mat to ensure it is securely attached, and that it doesn’t interfere with the brakes or throttle.