Tips for cleaning original floor mat? (9 Viewers)

[REZARF]

Looking for any tips on cleaners and what to do and or to avoid when cleaning up an original floormat?

Any products you guys have had good luck with. I was thinking of bleach white tire cleaner as it restores the look of old tires... not sure if it is too harsh for a floor mat?

I am open to suggestions. Mine seems to be getting brittle and I want to help preserve it while maintaining it. Never mind the huge burn mark! haha

Rear mat... looks like a big burn on the other side.

I spent some time on the rear mat. I think I instantly got some tears as I moved it around. Not sure if it is too brittle or if the chemical I used on it was too much? I used Purple Power and a pressure washer at distance to wash it off. This is what is making me a little more cautious with the front and mid mats.

Before:

After a good scrubbing with a brush on the end of a drill and purple power cleaner it came up pretty good but it seemed to still be brittle. Thoughts?

 

[bhsdriller]

simple green and a scrub brush

 

[mattressking]

There is a large amount of information on google explaining why rubber hardens with age, which you can read for yourself. Not much you can do - but the sort of popular method is a mixture of wintergreen oil which requires the entire mat to be cleaned thorougly.

To clean it properly you'll want to use a pressure washer, large ultrasonic, pressurized steam, etc. Otherwise you're stuck with scrubbing with a mixture of hard/medium hard bristle brushes, bathtub and your favorite non-solvent cleaner is the best way to clean safely.

Solvents will degrade or damage the rubber.

 

[peesalot]

Glicerin, rejuvenates rubber.

 

[45Dougal]

I just cleaned it with washing up detergent and hot water.
i bonded some sturdy canvas onto the back where it was really bad - hopefully that holds it together for a while longer and stops it getting worse.
I had a similar hole which I patched with an offcut of grey lino from a local flooring shop.

 

[3_puppies]

Drew, if you screw it up, I might know where a replacement is located

 

[DickM]

I have no help to give, but I also have the same problems and concerns with the mats out of the 45, except I have the added problem of contact cement where the PO glued a cover mat all over the OEM floormats. So, if any body has help for that (as well as dirty/brittle), I would be eternally grateful.

 

[GA Architect]

May want to try the Aerospace 303 for cleaning the rubber mat.

FWIW: on smaller rubber items like door & window seals, I use Gummi Pflege Stift to condition them.

 

[DickM]

I have the same problems and concerns with the mats out of the 45, except I have the added problem of contact cement where the PO glued a cover mat all over the floormats. So, if any body has added help for that (as well as dirty/brittle), I would be eternally grateful.