New life in rubber floot mats

[Blade]

What are the significant differences between the "digital liners" and rubber/plastic floor mats?

I have both types. Actually, I've had several of the generic rubber mats, including ones from the manufacturer (Toyota and Audi, in this case).

The WeatherTech digital liners are more plasticky and more rigid, not easily bent - they conform and fit the contours of the floor of my van perfectly, but they're of a thinner and lighter material.

The generic rubber mats, and even the manufacturer brands are more rubbery and easily very pliable but relatively denser and heavier.

Since these Weather Tech Digital Liners are very different from any other similar floor protection, you should follow the manufacturers cleaning instructions very carefully

WeatherTech® TechCare® - FloorLiner™ and Floor Mat Cleaner | WeatherTech.com

Apparently, they require a very special cleaner and Protectant

Make sure to carefully watch the video on the website linked above

Not necessary, in my case. Like I said, all I've used on mine is OPC and a brush going on 7 years now. A few spritzes and a simple scrub brings the material back to its original clean sheen.

I'll post pictures this weekend. But then again, it's likely the newer ones are a different material.

 

[allenk4]

I have both types. Actually, I've had several of the generic rubber mats, including ones from the manufacturer (Toyota and Audi, in this case).

The WeatherTech digital liners are more plasticky and more rigid, not easily bent - they conform and fit the contours of the floor of my van perfectly, but they're of a thinner and lighter material.

The generic rubber mats, and even the manufacturer brands are more rubbery and easily very pliable but relatively denser and heavier.
Not necessary, in my case. Like I said, all I've used on mine is OPC and a brush going on 7 years now. A few spritzes and a simple scrub brings the material back to its original clean sheen.

I'll post pictures this weekend. But then again, it's likely the newer ones are a different material.

I was teasing in the post about using the Weather Tech version of APC

I am getting excited about this Show & Shine. I hope he has a good camera

 

[FUNX650]

I've seen that stuff, but I've read elsewhere that its simply degreaser.

I was hoping for alternatives to their product since the reviews of it are mixed.

•Yep...you're darn tootin'...that's the stuff I use.

-It's fantastic! The Wife loves the way her DigitalFit® FloorLiner(s)™ always look ever since I've been using this stuff to clean and protect them. :dblthumb2:

-They have a coveted spot on my highly recommended list of car-care products.


Note:
•Thanks for taking the time to read this mini review of mine that casts a positive take upon the above pictured WeatherTech® products.


Bob

 

[dwolson2]

Har har har guys, I'm looking for help, not sarcasm. On my vehicles, I clean them regularly. This was taken from a work truck I cleaned, left is before, top right is after rinsing, bottom right is while still wet:

What i want them to look like:

that was new, and no it wasn't detailed before the picture. I just threw them in and cleaned it out a few days later.

Here are dry mats after I was done, but they weren't that bad to start out. They came out nice with apc only:

And this is after scrubbing twice with apc, I let it sit in at least five min the first time. They started out bad, not as bad as the first picture, but close enough:

 

[dwolson2]

•Yep...you're darn tootin'...that's the stuff I use.

-It's fantastic! The Wife loves the way her DigitalFit® FloorLiner(s)™ always look ever since I've been using this stuff to clean and protect them. :dblthumb2:

-They have a coveted spot on my highly recommended list of car-care products.


Note:
•Thanks for taking the time to read this mini review of mine that casts a positive take upon the above pictured WeatherTech® products.


Bob

I'll have to try some then. I'm quicker to trust people here than on amazon. I still would like to know if anyone has another route, besides apc that works as well as that.
I also noticed in the video it looks like it comes out foamy, so I ordered a foam spray bottle to try that with purple power and apc.

 

[HateSwirls]

I just found out that the Meguiar's APC helps the mats not to look so dull after cleaning them.
What I do is hit them with Meguiar's Last touch, leaves them looking nice, natural look.

 

[PA DETAILER]

I have the floor liners in the xterra. One of the best liners on the market. Love them. At over $100/set they are not cheap, but worth every penney. I have been cleaning them with megs APC 4:1 with a brush. They are holding up fine. I am interested in the WT kit tho. The protector looks interesting.

 

[parttimer]

I had good luck using the cyclo brushes and APC on weathertech.

 

[dwolson2]

I just found out that the Meguiar's APC helps the mats not to look so dull after cleaning them.
What I do is hit them with Meguiar's Last touch, leaves them looking nice, natural look.

Meg Last touch is a finishing spray for outside. I might have to try that.

I have the floor liners in the xterra. One of the best liners on the market. Love them. At over $100/set they are not cheap, but worth every penney. I have been cleaning them with megs APC 4:1 with a brush. They are holding up fine. I am interested in the WT kit tho. The protector looks interesting.

When I get it in, and have some dirty mats to try, I'll write up a review.

I had good luck using the cyclo brushes and APC on weathertech.

I have heard that too agressive scrubbing on the mats will cause the finish to be removed. Have you had that issue?

 

[Desertnate]

To clean the rubber mats in our vehicles I simply use car wash shampoo I've used on the car and scrub them down with a soft brush to get out all the grime.

Once they are clean, I follow up with a wipe down of Duragloss #253. They look brand new and the protectant seems to hang on pretty good in mild weather conditions.

 

[FUNX650]

What I do is hit them with Meguiar's Last touch, leaves them looking nice, natural look.

Meg Last touch is a finishing spray for outside. I might have to try that.

Once they are clean, I follow up with a wipe down of Duragloss #253.

Gotta be really, really careful with what rubber/vinyl
protectant products that are to be used on floor mats.

I think of them in the same vein as:
running boards/nerf bars/step rails; motorcycle tires; etc.


Bob

 

[07gtcs]

I treated mine with Meg QID and the looked good and not slippery.

 

[SameGuy]

I wish they made the DigitalFit liners for my car; its a friggin aquarium in there all winter, and one giant salt lick all summer as a result. Mine is a non-US 2006, and WT only made them for the US-available 2008-up model. The floor pan difference is slight, but it leaves enough gaps to cause them to not be worth the huge price compared to generics.

 

[dwolson2]

Gotta be really, really careful with what rubber/vinyl
protectant products that are to be used on floor mats.

I think of them in the same vein as:
running boards/nerf bars/step rails; motorcycle tires; etc.


Bob

Its one of the issues I ran into on that truck. The fronts weren't as nice as the backs, not bad though, and I tried a few other dressings and it ended up slick. I cleaned off the dressings and left them just clean.

I treated mine with Meg QID and the looked good and not slippery.

I'll also try that next time.

I wish they made the DigitalFit liners for my car; its a friggin aquarium in there all winter, and one giant salt lick all summer as a result. Mine is a non-US 2006, and WT only made them for the US-available 2008-up model. The floor pan difference is slight, but it leaves enough gaps to cause them to not be worth the huge price compared to generics.

What kind of car is it? I have them for my '12 Durango(pictured) but not yet for my Sierra Denali. Its on my "wish list" for my truck, but I have other priorities right now(Got a nice bill for property taxes, Jumped from 500-2400!, because least year it didn't include the house on the land, since we bought a new house)

 

[parttimer]

I use the blue cyclo brush and haven't seen any coating issues:

 

[Desertnate]

Gotta be really, really careful with what rubber/vinyl
protectant products that are to be used on floor mats.

I think of them in the same vein as:
running boards/nerf bars/step rails; motorcycle tires; etc.


Bob

I don't think I'm tracking, Bob.

The floor mats are rubber and the Duragloss product is dry to the touch once you wipe it down. It leaves a matte, like-new finish to the mats. Even when wet or covered in snow they aren't slippery.

Am I missing something?

 

[dwolson2]

I use the blue cyclo brush and haven't seen any coating issues:

That looks good. I don't have a cyclo, but I am sure there is a similar brush for my DA

I don't think I'm tracking, Bob.

The floor mats are rubber and the Duragloss product is dry to the touch once you wipe it down. It leaves a matte, like-new finish to the mats. Even when wet or covered in snow they aren't slippery.

Am I missing something?

I think he is saying a lot of vinyl products leave a slippery residue. So be careful what products you use.

 

[SameGuy]

The Cyclo brushes will fit your DA.

2006 smart fortwo cabrio, turbodiesel engine that gets 65 mpg all summer long, about 45 mpg in the depths of winter.

 

[parttimer]

The Cyclo brushes will fit your DA.

2006 smart fortwo cabrio, turbodiesel engine that gets 65 mpg all summer long, about 45 mpg in the depths of winter.

Yes, just buy the cyclo brushes, I have the grey and blue brushes and just bought two cheap HF units so they are always ready.

 

[dwolson2]

The Cyclo brushes will fit your DA.

2006 smart fortwo cabrio, turbodiesel engine that gets 65 mpg all summer long, about 45 mpg in the depths of winter.

Yes, just buy the cyclo brushes, I have the grey and blue brushes and just bought two cheap HF units so they are always ready.

I used to get 45mpg...on my motorcycle. My SUV and Truck average 14 City 18 highway.
I ordered one of the white "PC" carpet brushes. I'll order the cyclo brushes in a few. I'm sitting at around 100$ in detailing crap for the past 24 hours, I'm good for today.