Coffee spill on the OEM front floor mats

I wash mine in the washing machine all the time. I have a front loader, though, so it tends to be more gentle.

(Hang the mats to dry; don't use the dryer).

Maybe a laundromat would have a nice big front loader for washing the mats.

Nate

 

And after you clean up that mat, go out and purchase Exact Mats from an Exact Mats dealer to cover your nice Prius mats from this kind of accident.

 

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Nate: I have a front loader too, but I was reluctant to put my Prius mats in for fear that they were too heavy. Can you fit the trunk mat in too?
And do you run the washer on a special cycle?
Not putting them in the dryer is a no-brainer. It takes me about four days to dry mine out, though, unless we have some good sun.
Bob
p.s. I assume you're talking about the $184.00 "optional" mats that come with the car?

 

I tried washing CarMyne's mats in a large capacity top loader and did not fare too well. The first mat turned out ok. I did them separately and used a towel to counterbalance the spin. Then hung it out to finish drying. Unfortunately on the second mat, I didn't take enough care to make sure it was down below the tub top. The rigid backing makes it want to stand up in the tub. So, when it spun dry, it rubbed on the tub shield and made a groove in the mat due to friction. The mats came out nice and clean but the damage was a bummer. Not sure if I will try it in the washer again or not. I'm considering replacing the light tan color mats with gray mats (since I have one that's damaged anyway) so they don't show the dirt so much.

 

the tan mats are actually rather easy to spot-clean, as i found out the other day. there is a lot of clay in the soil where we live and i end up getting brown clay spots all over my tan mats. the drivers mat looked awful.

i took a really wet towel (soaked it thoroughly then squeezed it once or twice) and just started scrubbing at it. it takes some elbow grease but you can get the job done and they look nearly new again. then you can take a dry towel to it to help accelerate the drying process.

i had the scotch guard done, maybe that was a factor. do they scotch guard the mats as well or just the upholstery?

 

No, I haven't done the trunk mat. I spot cleaned it with Resolve which works pretty well.

I don't think I'd machine wash the mats unless I had a front loader.

Nate

 

I just got and put in my car the exactmats (Thanks, Eddie). They are amazing. I got package number 3, which is mats for the front and one big mat for the back, which covers the hump, and the cargo mat for about $100. I ordered them on Monday and they were in my car on Wednesday. I can breathe now in my car not worrying about spills, and the PRIUS mats that are under the new exactmats show through very nicely. I don't know how I drove without them. So, the whole car is covered for about $100 and that $100 dollars is worth the lack of anxiety I feel about spills.

 

Consider getting the Rubbertite model of mats from matdepot.com

They have that "exact fit" characteristic that exactmats have.

They differ in that rubbertites are 1) opaque and 2) have little depressions that hold water/snow/dirt, so that stuff will not flow off the mat.

They come in black, tan or grey. The grey ones match my grey carpet color exactly.

I love mine. I bought a set of front and rear mats for $65 incl SH about a year ago. I think the price has risen about $8-10 since then.

 

Carpet cleaning idea from CaptainBaba in Seattle.....
I've come to love having two bathtubs in our house. I used to own a sailboat and I cleaned her sails in the bathtubs....now I use a similar method to clean HUMU's carpeting (and throw rugs too large for the washing machine).
Fill the tub about half way and use a small amount of BIZ or some other non chlorine bleach, and a cup or so of laundry detergent. Put the mats in the tub with the rubber backing facing up. Use a mop handle to agitate the mats. Trick is to leave them soaking at least overnight. By placing them face down, all the grit in the fibers will fall out of the carpeting and sink to the bottom. Rinse as necessary. What soap doesn't come out in the rinse will dry out and can be brushed out later.
Getting the mats to an outside clothes line without dripping all over the place involves patience. I used their inherent stiffness to roll them into cylinders which I left in the tub until most of the excess water ran out. On sunny days, I hang them up outside, otherwise I move the shower curtain rod so that it's over the tub,and hand the mats from that. Takes several days to dry them, but they come out beautfully.
Use a bristle brush to remove any dry soap or whatever, and they'll be fine. Gentle, no damage to mats, and you also get a clean bathtub to boot.
B

 

ExactMats were too costly for my wallet and the whole washing thing seemed too time intensive so I went to Lowes today and bought a 6' x 8' gray, indoor/outdoor carpet for $17.00. Using my cargo mat as a template I traced and cut an exact duplicate. It took me about 10 minutes and I stll have enough for the front and rear mats which I'll do tomorrow. It's a pretty good match as far as color and if they get soiled I can hose them down or just throw them away and make new ones.

BTW, my clothes dryer came with sweater drying rack that can be used for drying or partially drying the mats.