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what to do about car mats?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by tigressa, Jun 8, 2007.

  1. tigressa

    tigressa New Member

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    well, i love my new 1 month old prius, but i have to admit, i'm not crazy about the floor mats...they came in a gray color and already are completely filthy, thanks in part to some oil that i accidentally stepped in...but even without the oil they were getting dirty fast...

    i've always had black interior mats to cover the dirt...any other people dump their factory mats and move on to new horizons? these ones of making me crazy...also have you ever heard that your gas mileage increases by not using any mat at all in the driver area? a mechanic i used to know swore by that. i think there's even a website on that point.

    thanks for any input.
     
  2. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    The mats are machine washable. :) Or you can buy all weather mats. I have both, they both show dirt, even the the black all weather ones.
     
  3. tigressa

    tigressa New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Michgal007 @ Jun 8 2007, 07:09 AM) [snapback]457934[/snapback]</div>
    wow, i didn't know that! thank you!
     
  4. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

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    I first bought some cheap clear vinyl mats from the auto parts store. They did the job in keeping the factory mats clean, though I didn't particularly care for their looks. Later I bought ExactMats from metrotpn.com. I have been very happy with them. They are custom sized and look great -- also clear vinyl, but without the grooves of the other mats, so they're much less conspicuous. A downside of not having the grooves is that they don't trap debris and water tracked in with your shoes. So I probably have to vacuum a bit more. In bad weather I throw down one of the old cheap mats to trap the water. But those are acceptable tradeoffs. Overall I'm pleased with the ExactMats.
     
  5. patrickindallas

    patrickindallas Shire rat

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    I used to get upset about dirty floor mats too, but then I
    transcended the issue.

    I realized that the mats are supposed to get dirty while
    protecting your carpet.

    Getting irked by dirty mats is like getting irked by
    a wet umbrella.

    But I did NOT know they were machine washable!

    That is cooler than Santa Claus.
     
  6. Enoyls

    Enoyls New Member

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    I do not know, Santa Claus is pretty cool.

    I'd have to say that Machine washable mats are a few notches behind Santa Clause yet still incredibly cool. ;)

    FYI - I had no idea they were washable either until this post. Thanks for the info.
     
  7. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
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  8. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

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    Darn it, Danny, I frequently tend to overlook the PC Shop. I'm sorry! :wacko:
     
  9. formerVWdriver

    formerVWdriver New Member

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    I was too cheap to get the "official" floor mats so I bought some better-than-adequate ones at Wal-Mart for under $30. I've been very happy with those. When they meet disaster, I will replace them with more of the same.

    Machine washable IS cooler than Santa Claus. I didn't know that either, and am not about to try it with my Wal-Mart ones.
     
  10. desertbriez

    desertbriez New Member

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    i didn't realize they were machine washable! [​IMG]

    however..... do they get all wrinkly from the spin cycle? has anyone actually thrown them in the washer (and do you machine or air dry?) and how did they turn out?

    if the carpet ones hadn't already been included with the car, i would have gotten the all-weather ones! i ALWAYS scotchguard my carpet and mats when we first get a new vehicle!
     
  11. PHPBrain

    PHPBrain New Member

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    Wal-Mart.... for 8.00 our Wal-Mart has DEEP all weather mats, these things must be almost .25 of an inch or deeper. Sure they are not an exact fit, but for 8.00 what can you expect.

    I would compare these to the weather tech all weather mats. I leave in the stock mats, to catch any excess where these mats don't fit, but they cover about 90% of the space. Too they come in three colors, Clear, Tan, and Black.

    Thanks

    Wan
     
  12. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(desertbriez @ Jun 8 2007, 11:39 AM) [snapback]458030[/snapback]</div>
    I did machine wash them. They didn't get wrinkly or anything. I put them with my other home rugs and washed as usual with regular detergent (Tide powder). I probably used either cold or warm water and not hot water. I air dried them afterwards.
     
  13. bshef

    bshef Active Member

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    I found a GREAT product for cleaning my carpeted mats.
    Yes...I did throw them in my large sized washing machine however they didn't come out very clean.

    WHAT DID WORK AMAZINGLY......


    CLUB SODA AND A FEW WHITE RAGS! :D

    The most simple thing in the world and they come out looking brand new. Just pour on the dirty areas and blot it up with a clean absorbant white towel.....towel picks up all the dirt.
    It's important to change out the towel for a clean one.

    This process will also work on the seats and arm-rest!

    [​IMG]
     
  14. desertbriez

    desertbriez New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Michgal007 @ Jun 8 2007, 08:44 AM) [snapback]458035[/snapback]</div>
    great! thank you! when they get dirty.... i'll give it a try!!!!! (i'm still in the anal/vacuum them every day stage :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: *SIGH*)
     
  15. rigormortis

    rigormortis Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Michgal007 @ Jun 8 2007, 07:09 AM) [snapback]457934[/snapback]</div>
    please reply with a toyota web page reporting that the floor mats are machine washable
    i could not find that in the manual.

    i aint throwing anything in the washing machine without more references ha ha
     
  16. Dr Ed

    Dr Ed New Member

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    Go to your local auto parts store, Target or Wal-Mart and buy a set of generic carpets for a small car. Toss the new front mats and use a new small back seat mat under your accelerator foot to protect the original Prius mats from stains and heel tears.
     
  17. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    Being from New England (48 years) and the past 6 years down here in Florida with it's long and wet "rainy season", I like real "rubber" floor mats with "crevices" to trap liquid and dirt. In the recent past, all the vehicles I had, I have always purchased WeatherTech rubber floor mats in either Gray, Tan or Black, depending on the color of my carpet, but even after trimming (yes, they are a "general purpose, CLOSE to fit but NOT exact") with knife and scissors they still never fit "exact" to where they should be on the floor............ leaving some areas "bare".........
    This time around, with our brand new 2007 Prius, we bought (actually got 'em FREE :D from Dealer) the GENUINE BLACK RUBBER TOYOTA 4 pc. set. and they fit PERFECTLY........... the driver's side comes with TWO CLIPS that easily and quickly snap into two plastic retaining holes on the floor near the front of the driver's seat, which "secure" the driver's rubber floor mat preventing it from sliding forward or moving !!
    They fit 100% PERFECT, after all they are made EXACTLY for the Prius.............. we love 'em B) ;) !!

    I forgot to mention that in a dark gray interior with black rubber floor mats look great as they "match" the black dash and other interior parts......... in a bisque inter the black rubber looks pretty good too !! I guess it's because the black floor mats "match" all the black panels Toyota Prius's use on the "upper door panels" as well as the black dash and other consoles and parts in that color interior too !!
     
  18. bgdrewsif

    bgdrewsif New Member

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    I got my toyota OEM all-weather prius mat for about $60.00 for a set of 4 on e-bay before I got my car... I dont know what I woud do without them... especialy in the winter when they get encrusted with snow, mud, salt, leaves, twigs, etc... juct hang them on the wall in the car wash and hose then down... After 14 months of ownership my car interior is still practically brand new looking... I have had several people think my car is new and not over a year old... I am super OCD when it comes to dirt so I keep my car spotless.... now if I could just get that new car smell back...
     
  19. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(formerVWdriver @ Jun 8 2007, 07:24 AM) [snapback]457984[/snapback]</div>
    I do have the "official" floor mats, but I covered them with ones I had gotten at Costco for my last car back in 1990. They're still good and fit pretty well.
     
  20. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    Duplicate post. Please disregard.