remove the front floor mats from my W123s, put them on the sidewalk, and brush them vigorously with a regular house broom. Gets rid of gunk AND brings up the nap.

Any other tricks?

I've done that before too. I've used a air compressor and it works pretty well, cleans better than a vacuum. Leaves the carpet frizzy again

__________________
Jason

00 Subaru Legacy (fun wagon)
96 Nissan Sentra (disavowed)
82 300SD (garage queen, will run again hopefully)
87 300DT (Gone: 10/15/2010)

First don't use your good set of floor mats in winter, MB sells nice rubber ones that will keep the snow and crap contained. Secondly I just vacum mine about once a week. They stay nice, but the driver one is starting to show some slight wear, I guess you just have to replace them every few years.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I just use some dish soap on the carpet mats. Work up a nice lather, scrub with a nail brush (especially the spots) rinse thoroughly and hang them in the garage to dry.

__________________
84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)

Eric has the best method. Dish soap and hand brush.. work up a nice lather and rinse them off, hang them out to try. I have a big basin tub in the basement, works great.

As a person who cleans cars full of spots and other *****, using really strong detergent is the only way. Wet-vac once youre done helps you make nice lines in the carpet so it looks freshly detailed. The carpet in MBs is nice enough that you can clean it as long as its not been wearing in for months.

Soaking it will help and let it dry before you put it back in the car otherwise it will start smelling like theres a dead rat in your car.
Peter

Haven't done this myself but a friend of mine took his to the carwash and powerwashed them. Then, of course, hung them out to dry.

Cheers,

Bill

What I left out was that I clean them at the kitchen sink

(the wife hasn't noticed this yet )

__________________
84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)

I hope she doesn't read that post!

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200