Cleaning cream floor mats

[Conor]

Hi everybody

I've just given my the mats for my SL a bit of a clean and thought some of you might be interested to see. I'm also not sure I did the "best" job possible as the mats aren't 100% and interested to see what can be improved.

The back story is that when I bought the SL, it came with ugly black floor mats installed (necessary I guess) and the nice cream ones were in the boot and very unsightly and in need of a clean. I put them in storage and forgot about them.

Recently I bought a "Charles" wet/dry vacuum as my regular vacuum needed replacing. I thought a wet one would be fun.. and I decided I would give the floor mats a go.

(Sorry for the crappy artificially lit photos - I started in the evening and had to continue that way to keep the comparisons the same)

In summary I'm kind of happy with the job. If I used a stronger chemical or better technique then they might have come out a little better. The drivers mat has some physical wear from heels, which looks like dirt. Nothing can be done about the. Check the areas where feet would be. I'll just have to insist that every body wears driving shoes from now on

In a sorry state, aren't they!?



TLDR - Before/After:

Driver side - full size here

Passenger side - full size here

I had some regular Vax carpet cleaning solution which I used on regular carpets. Along with a hand sprayer, brush and my new friend Charles, I was ready to go.



I started with the passenger side, which was the better of the two. I started off with 50/50 so I could compare.



I ended up taking one phot in the daytime to see what the difference was like. I should have done all in day Thats what I get for being a bit of a night owl.



The drivers side was worse, so I decided a different tack. I put the mat in the shower and sprayed then scrubbed but rinsed off with hot water.. and repeated a few times. I actually ended up doing a few rinses with the passenger mat too, just to remove any soap residue while I was at it.

When rinsing there was still slightly off clear (dirty) water coming off but I stopped at that. It seemed to be never ending and I thought I was entering a stage of diminishing returns.




Turns out I didn't take any decent pics of the drivers side.. but same thing really.

 

[Conor]

..And on a more serious note. Anybody know how to clean off the scum that forms on the sides of shower? I've tried a bunch of things.

 

[rorywquin]

Cleaning cream mats....something I've never had to worry about or ever will worry about. I cannot see the dirt on my black mats.

 

[Wighty]

..And on a more serious note. Anybody know how to clean off the scum that forms on the sides of shower? I've tried a bunch of things.

Something from the Cillit Bang range? I could ask Mrs W but that would start the when did you last clean anything conversation

 

[Blobcat]

Pressure washer and hang them out to dry cleans car mats well

 

[rorywquin]

Cleaning cream mats....something I've never had to worry about or ever will worry about. I cannot see the dirt on my black mats.

Is it not worth getting a new set (even after market) those look shot!

 

[bembo449]

..And on a more serious note. Anybody know how to clean off the scum that forms on the sides of shower? I've tried a bunch of things.

If you mean the black stubborn stuff in the tile grout etc , then buy some dettol mould spray , spray on , leave for 5 mins , wipe clean, its 4x dearer than any other like cleaner but it works great
Kim and aggi eat your heart out

 

[Wighty]

What about the washing machine ?

 

[peterws1957]

Conor watch a few You Tubes on professional valeting. They often use a special rotary brush on a slow set drill to agitate cleaning solutions on heavily soiled mats and carpets. Seems to work well.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Is it not worth getting a new set (even after market) those look shot!

For £70 a car set every few years, erm “hell yeah!”

 

[keefysher]

If you mean the black stubborn stuff in the tile grout etc , then buy some dettol mould spray , spray on , leave for 5 mins , wipe clean, its 4x dearer than any other like cleaner but it works great
Kim and aggi eat your heart out

Pah!!
Astonish product is much better, after using the Dettol one for years. 89p per litre bottle at Home Bargains, or £15+ on Amazon.

 

[rorywquin]

For £70 a car set every few years, erm “hell yeah!”

Not sure if are agreeing of being sarcastic.

Those look about 20 years old. One of the reasons I'd never have a car with a pale interior (especially mats). Plus, the loose mats are meant to be replaceable.

 

[bembo449]

View attachment 62468

Pah!!
Astonish product is much better, after using the Dettol one for years. 89p per litre bottle at Home Bargains, or £15+ on Amazon.

Is this what they mean by the term " chemical warfare" ??

 

[keefysher]

Good job Conor

Just how I used to do my light coloured mats in my W211 & W221. Those old fashioned scrubbing brushes are great.

Occasionally, in the middle of Lidl there is a Vax carpet cleaner on offer for around £80 that is great for carpets, rugs, car, caravan mats. It doesn't have the fancy wand thing but does a great job at a fair price.

 

[sonic]

View attachment 62468

Pah!!
Astonish product is much better, after using the Dettol one for years. 89p per litre bottle at Home Bargains, or £15+ on Amazon.

Great stuff the wife uses it all the time £1 in Poundland. Their other range of cleaning liquids are very good as well.

 

[Blobcat]

Good job Conor

Just how I used to do my light coloured mats in my W211 & W221. Those old fashioned scrubbing brushes are great.

Occasionally, in the middle of Lidl there is a Vax carpet cleaner on offer for around £80 that is great for carpets, rugs, car, caravan mats. It doesn't have the fancy wand thing but does a great job at a fair price.

I bought one in August, decent piece of kit. I use the carpet cleaner solution from Screwfix as cheap as chips and works very well

 

[Jason63]

If you have cream floor mats I find this works well, but it's a summer job (because they take some drying):

Take them out
Stick them in the bath with some Persil
Leave to soak
Scrub with scrubbing brush
Rinse
Hang on washing line

They come up like new and I'd rather do this than spend £100 needlessly on new mats.

If you do it with black mats the amount of dirt that comes out is shocking.

If you add some fabric softener for the rising they smell lovely too!

 

[eman]

Send your mats to one of the tv shopping channels and say clean theses live on air and if it cleans them you’ll buy the product

 

[A.J.]

..And on a more serious note. Anybody know how to clean off the scum that forms on the sides of shower? I've tried a bunch of things.

Viakal spray

 

[Conor]

Viakal spray

Tried that