Cleaning rubber cab mats

[jamesandtheopenroad]

Just got a second hand rubber wheel arch mat than all there but damn dirty.

What's the best way to clean it up? Have been trying white spirit and a toothbrush, but still comes up a bit dull (plus there it still dirt in the grooves/nobbles).

Ta!

[1664]

Good old fashioned black shoe polish in a can. (Kiwi or Cherry brands). Two good brushes. One to put the polish on, one to brush it off and up to a high gloss shine.Trust me, comes up showroom

You will have to get the cr@p off it first though. Is it dirt or the remnants of the adhesive used to stick a carpet to it?

[jamesandtheopenroad]

Genius! Would have thought of that. Thanks.

Yeah, ingrained dirt, adhesive, bit if paint.

[1664]

If it's a contact adhesive like Evo-Stik, Nitromors will get it off (and probably the paint too). (yes I know it's scary )

Have to be VERY careful doing this. Fill a bucket with hot very soapy water. Fill another with cold clear water. Using a paintbrush, brush a small area of the cab mat with nitromors (about a foot square, no bigger) making sure it goes in all the ridges etc. Leave for about one minute, no longer. Using a good stiff hand brush and plenty of the hot soapy water scrub the nitromors off. The nitromors will become 'snotlike' and cling to the brush bristles - just pull the clags off while holding the brush under the water in the bucket and they'll sink to the bottom. Scrub the area with clear cold water and dry off to leave a clean matt black area; the rubber will have 'softened' slightly but as long as you get all the nitromors off it will recover. Do this one small area at a time until the entire mat's done.
When it's totally dried out, brush in plenty of shoe polish, leave for an hour and brush off to a showroom finish

Never lose sight of the fact that these rubber mat's tear easily and once a tear starts there's no stopping it

I have removed carpet from two different t25 cab mats using this method so I know it works, just don't leave that nitromors on for too long. I don't know if it would actually dissolve the rubber if it was left on but since there's no need to leave it on why chance it?

[jrt]

After a good clean i sprayed mine with Plastikote vinyl paint-does a good job.
David

[andyb]

I found this stuff

Armor All Tire Foam Tyre Cleaner

to be really good for mats and dash - spray it on and wash off with cloth/sponge and water
leaves the mats a little slippy to begin with though but comes up really showroom

[jamesandtheopenroad]

Fanks peeps!

[Dazco]

Did mine earlier this year , used carb cleaner , have a look here https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 3&start=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;,
PS dont do it on wifes new carpet(ooo err missus)