Chilipalmer
Member Since: 19 Nov 2006
Location: Hadleigh, Suffolk
Posts: 11
 
|
| Cleaning rubber floor mats |
|
I took the mats out of the car for the first time last weekend to give them a clean. Gave them a blast with the jet washer and at first it looked like that had done the trick, they looked good as they were still wet, but as they dried it became clear that hadn't worked as it left them smeary and still dirty.
I did suggest to the wife that as it was her car she should clean them but the look I got left me in no doubt that I would be on rations for the foreseeable future 
Any ideas as to how to get them looking clean and bright?
|
 22nd Jun 2007 8:19 am |
|
|
SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
 
|
I just wash them with warm soapy water but they never come up like new....just clean........
I suspect you will be into all sorts of clever treatments to keep them looking new....plus teh rubber ones wear quiet obviously under teh pedals, carpet ones are easier to keep looking good if you never leave the tarmac. (C6REW?) end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 8:59 am |
|
|
dgrr
Member Since: 04 Apr 2006
Location: York
Posts: 212
 
|
When brand new, they must have had a shiny, waterproof coating of some sort, as I remember the water beaded up & ran off easily, following a quick pressure-wash. The surface finish to mine is much duller after 12 mths. I should imagine that one of the many tyre dressing products would probably return them to more of a "like new" finish, if that's what your after. Personally, I don't mind the used, matt-like finish. DGRR
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 9:35 am |
|
|
Lakeland Land Rover
Member Since: 06 Oct 2006
Location: Torver, Coniston
Posts: 462
|
A quick squirt with tyre sheen/rubber dressing and a rub with a dry cloth and hew presto good as new  Lakeland Land Rover
The Garage,
Torver,
Coniston,
Cumbria,
LA21 8BJ
Tel: 015394 41888
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 10:01 am |
|
|
Wex
Member Since: 16 Apr 2007
Location: Knackeragua
Posts: 5173
|
I actually take them out give them a liberal squirt of foam based upholstery cleaner ( lifts the dirt out well ) , wipe off with wet cloth , dry and apply a lick of rubber/back to black restorer ( as per lakeland above) and they look like new again.At least until the anklebiters destroy 'em with mud again.
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 10:37 am |
|
|
Dave
Member Since: 08 Mar 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 2462
|
I actually think that it is irresponsible of you to recommend the "licking" of automotive cleaning products in a public form Mr Discowax 
Anyway, as per Lakeland again, good as new  Captain Nick Medhurst would ask:
"What is the first rule when overlanding?"
I would Reply:
"Duratrac"
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 11:24 am |
|
|
BarryG
Member Since: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Eire
Posts: 1333
|
a can of silicon spray
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 11:37 am |
|
|
bkehoe
Member Since: 24 Feb 2006
Location: Wexford
Posts: 1481
|
Mine seem to come up nice and black with some old fashioned scrubbing with a brush and water... IE - 05 D3 TDV6 HSE - Zambezi Silver
SA - 07 VW Golf TDI - White - Sold!
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 11:58 am |
|
|
YeehawTwistyArms
Member Since: 07 Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 705
|
I jet wash mine, then rub them down with baby wipes and spray with back to black. They come up as good as new.
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 12:06 pm |
|
|
Slimer
Site Moderator
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Last Exit to Nowhere
Posts: 16295
|
I go as far as I kicking the lumps of mud off my mats if they're really lucky! The End
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 12:16 pm |
|
|
dflo
Member Since: 04 Jul 2006
Location: Wading in and out of it...
Posts: 1361
|
You mean that there are rubber mats under the mud??? -  "Funny, mine doesn't do that......."
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 1:15 pm |
|
|
Doctor Diesel
Member Since: 23 Sep 2006
Location: Driving the kids around as usual
Posts: 1587
|
MATS!....wimps...just don't bother and get a warranty claim for the carpet when it gets dirty! 2007 HSE Java Black.....sold
2007 B150 Horizon Blue
2008 Toyota Aygo Platinum
--------------------------------------------------
The Master of Suave !
Ding-Dong Matron
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 1:45 pm |
|
|
BarryG
Member Since: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Eire
Posts: 1333
|
Doctor Diesel wrote:MATS!....wimps...just don't bother and get a warranty claim for the carpet when it gets dirty!
I think the Doc. might be on to something her.
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 1:49 pm |
|
|
d3matt
Member Since: 03 Aug 2005
Location: South Oxfordshire
Posts: 1485
|
As Ryan said.....use tyre spray. I use a wet look tyre spray and it makes the rubber look like new and repels dirt for some time too. They don't look wet or glossy either. I use it on the external plastics too. Work better than many plastic trim treatments. Matt
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 3:31 pm |
|
|
Buckingham
Member Since: 08 Mar 2006
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 958
 
|
I jet wash mine and then dry thoroughly....
I then get some black kiwi, cotton wool and a bit of spit and spend my evenings bulling them to a mirror finish.
|
| 22nd Jun 2007 4:52 pm |
|
|
