A bed liner hides scratches but holds dirt in its texture. The right cleaning method depends on the liner type, and the wrong one can leave it dull, slippery or damaged.
Bed liners come in three common forms: spray-in liners cured onto the bed, drop-in plastic liners and rubber mats. Each is made from different materials, so what is safe on one may not suit another. Check the liner manufacturer's care instructions if you have them. When in doubt, test any cleaner on a small hidden area before using it widely.
Spray-in liners are textured and bonded to the metal, so they trap dirt in the grain. Drop-in liners sit loose over the bed, so water and grit can collect underneath. Rubber mats are easy to remove, which makes cleaning them straightforward.
A basic kit handles most beds.
Remove everything from the bed, including tie-downs, tool boxes and mats. Sweep or vacuum loose gravel, leaves and dirt. Cleaning with water first turns dust into mud that packs into texture and makes the job harder.
Check drain holes and corners. Plugged drains hold water, which leads to rust under a drop-in liner and mildew in bed mats.
Rinse the bed with a strong stream of water to loosen packed dirt. A pressure washer helps on spray-in and rubber surfaces, but keep the nozzle at a sensible distance and avoid using a tight, high-pressure tip close to the edges of a spray-in liner, since concentrated pressure can lift an edge on a poorly bonded liner.
Apply an all-purpose cleaner or degreaser according to its label. Let it dwell without drying. For oil and grease stains, which are common on a work truck's bed, a degreaser designed for automotive use works better than soap alone. Fuel and solvent spills can be harsh on some liner materials, so check compatibility before using strong solvents.
Work a stiff-bristle brush into the texture in small circles, then in straight passes, to lift dirt out of the grain. Nylon bristles are usually fine; avoid wire brushes, which can tear the surface and leave metal fragments that rust. Pay attention to corners, the bulkhead and the tailgate area, where mud accumulates.
On drop-in liners, remove the liner if you can and clean both the liner and the painted bed underneath. Trapped moisture and grit between them cause scratching and rust over time.
Rinse until runoff is clear. Leftover cleaner leaves a film that attracts dirt. Let the bed air dry with the tailgate down, or dry with towels or a blower, especially around seams and under mats. Make sure drain holes flow freely.
Faded, gray liners can look better after a dressing made for textured black plastic or liner surfaces. Choose a non-greasy, water-based or specifically labeled product. Avoid anything that leaves the surface slick, because a slippery bed is dangerous for people and cargo. Wipe off the excess and let it dry before loading.
If you want a clean, easy-to-wash bed to stay that way, rinse it after dirty jobs instead of letting residues sit. Spills of fuel, oil and chemicals should be wiped up promptly. For DEF spills that reach the bed or surrounding paint, follow the steps in our DEF cleanup guide.
Oil and grease usually yield to a degreaser and repeated brushing. Rust stains from tools and fasteners can respond to a cleaner labeled for rust stain removal on the liner material. Always read the label for compatibility. Mildew smells in bed mats and under drop-in liners are usually a moisture problem, so address the water source, not just the smell.
If the liner is cracked, peeling or lifting, cleaning will not fix it; that calls for repair or replacement.
A few habits keep a liner easier to clean. Rinse the bed after hauling dirt, mulch, manure or wet loads, and let it dry with the tailgate down. Use cargo mats or tarps under messy items. Avoid dragging sharp tools across a liner, since scratches and gouges hold dirt. Check the drain holes and corners now and then to keep water from pooling.
For a rubber mat or drop-in liner, pull it out periodically and clean the bed floor underneath. Trapped sand and water act like sandpaper and a moisture trap at once. Treat chips in painted metal at the bed edges promptly so rust does not start beneath the liner.
Some work leaves residue that ordinary soap will not touch. Wet concrete should be washed out before it hardens, because cured concrete bonds to textured liners and is hard to remove without damaging them. Manure and feed are best rinsed promptly, since they stain and smell as they dry. Fertilizer, pesticide and other chemicals should be rinsed according to the product label, and you should wear gloves and keep runoff away from drains and water sources.
If you are unsure whether a solvent or cleaner is safe for your liner, contact the liner manufacturer instead of experimenting.
A bed that is covered in ground-in grime, a liner you are unsure how to treat or a bed being prepped before a sale is a good candidate for a professional job. Bed cleaning can be added to a full truck detail. Fleet operators can include it as a recurring item in a fleet program.
Generally yes, with a wide tip and sensible distance, and with care near edges. Check the liner manufacturer's guidance if you have it.
An all-purpose cleaner or an automotive degreaser that is safe on plastics and coatings, used with a stiff brush. Test it on a hidden spot first.
If you can, yes. Dirt and moisture collect underneath, and cleaning both surfaces prevents scratching and rust.
Clean it thoroughly, then apply a non-slick dressing made for textured plastic or liners. It restores color but does not repair damage.
Describe the truck and what you want done, and we will reply with scope and a quote.