How to Dry Car Mats in Winter? (7 Effective Ways)

How to dry car mats in winter? It can be a very time-consuming task, especially in winter. The good news is that there are some legit ways to dry your car mats in winter.

It’s wintertime, raining, and here you are, trying to clean your car mats with no luck. Your half-sucked, salty fries are still there.

The gum you thought you stepped on was so long ago, and it’s now a wad of gum and sand. Well, now this gum is stuck to your car mat, and as hard as you try to peel it off, it won’t work, and the only thing you’re doing is making the gum spread even more onto the mat.

It is when exasperation presents itself to you. What should I do? I can’t get this gum off my mat. You say out loud with frustration rising in your voice. That’s when you begin thinking about how to dry car mats in winter.

There’s nothing worse than removing a wet car mat and being unable to air dry them correctly, but there are some ways to do this properly and quickly too.

Why Do You Need to Dry Your Car Mats?

Here are some reasons why you should dry your car mats.

Avoiding Mold and Mildew

The main reason for drying your car mats is that they can get damaged by moisture and mildew.

If you don’t dry them properly and let them sit damp for a long time, it can cause damage to your car’s interior, which may require replacement parts, i.e., fabric or even a new vehicle. It can lead to health issues like allergies and respiratory problems.

Keeping Your Car Clean

There is also the smell factor; wet carpets can smell really bad after sitting in a warm place for a few weeks or months.

If you let them air dry, the mats will retain moisture for extended periods, which means dirt has more time to build on them before you can clean them again.

Even if you wash them and use fragrances to hide the smell, it will be there until you dry them properly.

It makes it harder for you to maintain proper hygiene in your vehicle, making it more difficult to keep things clean overall.

How to Dry Car Mats in Winter?

One of the worst things that can happen to your car is having a wet and muddy mat.

It’s annoying, but it also increases the risk of you slipping while stepping into the car. You’ll have to deal with the smell and cleanliness issues as well.

Drying your mats after each use is the best way to prevent this. Here are some tips on how to dry your car mats in winter:

1. Let Them Naturally Air Dry

After cleaning your car mats, ensure they’re completely dry before returning them to your vehicle.

If there’s still some moisture on them, it can cause mold growth or mildew problems in the future, which can be harmful to people’s health, as well as other issues, such as foul odors coming from inside your vehicle’s cabin.

Spread your car mat on a table for enough space to dry completely. It will take at least 24 hours if humidity is low outside or 24-48 hours if humidity is high outside.

Cover your mat with a plastic sheet to avoid getting wet again while drying out entirely if it rains outside.

2. Use a Hairdryer

It is one of the easiest ways to dry out your car mats in winter. All you need is a hairdryer and some patience.

Start by turning on the hairdryer on low heat and directing it towards the mat or mats that need drying. Hold down any buttons on the dryer so it doesn’t automatically shut off while drying your mats.

The mat should have enough time to regain shape and absorb moisture from within its fibers.

3. Let the Sun Do the Work

If you don’t want to use a drying rack or hang them outside on a clothesline, leave them on the driveway or sidewalk for an hour or two after washing them.

Once they are clean, dry them with a towel or let the sun do its job. The best way to dry them is by laying them out in the sun so that they can get all the warmth from the sun’s rays. It will also help kill any bacteria left behind from the cleaning process.

4. Towel Off the Excess Water

It’s important to dry off your mats thoroughly after you wash them. Otherwise, they’ll be damp for days and get moldy.

Take a handy towel; flip over your mat and shake it vigorously to remove as much water as possible.

5. Use a Blower

One way to dry car mats is with a blower. It will help remove excess water underneath your mats and allow the mat to dry faster.

If there’s too much water in your car mat, it won’t be able to dry completely because moisture will always be left behind.

A blower blows air underneath your mat to dry up faster than if you let it sit there.

6. Put Them In Front of a Heater

If you have a gas-powered heater, put your car mats before it to dry quickly. The heat will evaporate the water and kill any bacteria growing in them.

It’s also important to ensure that your car mats are completely dry before returning them to your car to avoid that unpleasant odor.

7. Put Them in a Tumble Dryer

Put the car mats into the tumble dryer on a low heat setting (40 degrees Celsius) and leave them until completely dry. It could take up to 24 hours, depending on how wet they were when you put them in.

Conclusion

We hope this article has provided valuable tips on how to dry car mats in winter and keep them free from odors.

Even if you’re only interested in drying thin rubber or vinyl storm mats, plenty of products can also help.

So go ahead, try one of the options above, and follow the helpful advice in this article for getting the most out of your new car mats.