Road Salt and Calcium Chloride: Car Carpet Care
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You protect car carpet and subfloor from road salt and calcium chloride by covering the footwell with a water-resistant floor mat that has high sidewalls. Our TuxMat® floor mats have a water-resistant vinyl top and high sidewalls that help contain slush and salt, and you wipe the top down with a cloth or rinse it with water.
This guide explains how road salt and calcium chloride differ, how winter weather affects a car's interior and how to keep your mats and carpet clean from the first snowfall to the last thaw.
What are road salt and calcium chloride, and why are they on Canadian roads?
Road salts melt ice and make winter roads safer, and Environment and Climate Change Canada reports that about five million tonnes of road salts are used in Canada each year for that purpose.
Environment Canada and Health Canada's 2001 assessment of road salts reports that sodium chloride is by far the most frequently used road salt in Canada. The same assessment says calcium chloride is the second most commonly used road salt in North America, and that most calcium chloride is used for dust control.
How is calcium chloride different from regular road salt?
Calcium chloride has a lower practical melting temperature than sodium chloride, the regular road salt, according to the University of Minnesota's winter salt guide. The University of Minnesota guide gives about -9°C as the lowest practical melting temperature for sodium chloride and about -29°C for calcium chloride, converted here from its US units.
Two provincial governments describe similar limits for regular salt. New Brunswick's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure says that below minus 10 degrees Celsius, salt use is impractical. The Government of Québec explains that salt needs moisture, heat and time to dissolve, so salt is rarely applied on roadways at temperatures below -15°C.
Calcium chloride also attracts moisture from the air. The US Federal Highway Administration's 1996 anti-icing manual describes calcium chloride as hygroscopic and reports that calcium chloride absorbs moisture at a relative humidity of 42% and higher.
How do snow, slush and road salt affect a car's interior?
According to AAA Auto Club Group, snow, slush and salt can affect a car's interior, including its carpets. AAA Auto Club Group also notes that cloth interiors tend to absorb moisture and suggests considering seat protectors and rubber floor mats to keep that moisture at bay.
Consumer Reports advises you to use all-weather floor mats to contain the snow melt.
How do you look after car carpet through a salty winter?
Look after car carpet by putting a floor mat that you can lift out and clean in the footwell, where it catches winter moisture and salt. AAA recommends rubber or all-weather floor mats with deep channels that hold water and debris.
According to CAA-Québec, salt that builds up in floor mats over the winter can be removed with a product made for the purpose and a simple brush (the page is in French).
What is the subfloor of a car, and how do floor mats help keep it dry?
The subfloor is the vehicle's floor structure beneath the carpet. AAA's winter driving guide adds that the deep channels in all-weather floor mats prevent moisture from seeping into the car's flooring.
Our mats cover the footwells, and their high sidewalls help contain slush and salt. This is our Maximum Coverage design: a mat that covers more than just the floor and extends up the sidewalls to block messes from every angle. It covers footwells, sidewalls and hard-to-reach spots, with up to 2.5x more coverage than generic mats¹.
Which floor mat features help keep road salt off the carpet?
Look for four features: a water-resistant surface, high sidewalls, coverage that matches your vehicle and a backing that stays put. Our TuxMat® mats have all four.
- The top layer is textured, water-resistant vinyl.
- The high sidewalls help contain slush and salt.
- Each mat is made through 3D laser scanning to match the exact make, model and trim of your vehicle, and it covers footwells, sidewalls and hard-to-reach spots.
- A non-slip backing keeps the mat firmly in place, and the mat snaps into your vehicle's built-in retention system.
Our TriForce™ construction combines a textured, water-resistant vinyl top, a shock-absorbent EVA core that gives the mat structure and a non-slip backing.
How do you clean road salt and calcium chloride off floor mats?
Wipe the mat down with a cloth or rinse it with water. There is no need for soap, chemicals or scrubbing.
- Take the mats out and shake them off outside, as CAA North & East Ontario recommends.
- Wipe the surface with a cloth, or rinse the mat with water.
- Let the mat air dry, as CAA North & East Ontario also recommends after rinsing.
- Snap the mat back into your vehicle's built-in retention system.
Our How-To Guides page includes a Cleaning Guide.
What else should I know before buying TuxMat® floor mats for winter?
How do TuxMat® floor mats deal with winter slush and salt?
The high sidewalls help contain slush and salt. The top layer is water-resistant vinyl that you wipe down with a cloth or rinse with water.
Are TuxMat® floor mats water resistant?
Yes, the top layer of our floor mats is textured, water-resistant vinyl. It sits over a shock-absorbent EVA core and a non-slip backing, which together make up our TriForce™ construction.
Do I need a special cleaner for my TuxMat® floor mats?
No. There is no scrubbing, shampooing or special cleaners needed. Use a damp cloth to wipe the mat down, or rinse it with water.
Are TuxMat® floor mats made for all seasons?
Yes. Our mats offer All-Season Protection against rain, snow, sand and slush.
How do TuxMat® floor mats stay in place through winter weather?
A non-slip backing keeps each mat firmly in place. The mat also snaps into your vehicle's built-in retention system and stays locked in through rain, snow, dirt and daily wear.
Does TuxMat® offer back seat and trunk coverage?
Yes. Several listings, including the Subaru Outback set, offer SuperTrunk™, which is complete back seat and trunk coverage. We also make trunk mats for most vehicles, and trunk mats are sold and shipped separately.
What are the shipping and return terms for TuxMat® floor mats in Canada?
Most of our orders ship within two business days, holidays excluded. We offer free shipping to most locations within Canada. You have 30 days from delivery to return your purchase for a full refund, and our 30-Day Risk-Free Trial covers the return shipping. Our shipping policy and return policy pages cover delivery and returns.
Is TuxMat® a Canadian company?
Yes, we are Canadian owned and operated.
Which TuxMat® floor mats fit my vehicle?
We make mats for 600+ vehicle models, from sedans to EVs and trucks.
Pickup drivers can look at the Ford F-150 SuperCrew set, listed for 2021 to 2027 models. That set does not fit trucks with the optional lockable fold-out storage under the rear seats, and a separate listing covers trucks that have the optional storage. Both F-150 listings also fit hybrid models. Subaru drivers can look at the 2020 to 2025 Outback set, and a 2026 to 2027 Outback set covers newer models. Check the model years on the listing to confirm your vehicle before you order.
Find Your Fit with our vehicle selector, or browse the TuxMat® Interiors collection.
¹ Surface area comparison to 2025 Tesla Model Y OEM floor mats.