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TUXMAT floor mats spotting salt stains

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Marksquared

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
I decided to give TUXMAT a try since its a Canadian company. I park in my heated garage and clean the mats roughly once a week. Recently they have been turning white only on top of the mat and only in certain spot which is very odd.
And the worst part is its spotty in areas that the salt never touched.

Any ideas.

I emailed Tuxmat to see not expecting much, but this looks horrible I may have to trash these and go back to Weathertech

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#3 ·
I will bet anywhere your wet shoe touched that had salt on it dried showing the salt. I would just take them out and powerwash them next time you're at the car wash. Or use some simple green with a hose and brush. There are dedicated mat cleaners too. As well as dedicated salt stain remover products.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
I wash them regularly with a power washer and soap. They clean up well but not long after some spots whiten right away. Also most of the spots that whiten have zero contact with salt. The top ridge portion that completely goes under my seat has the same spot pattern. Its strange I know several people with these mats and that doesn't happen to them.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Power washing isn't the same as soaking. Soaking will pull the salt OUT of the fabric due to concentration gradient (ie osmosis).

SOAK (for hours, ideally overnight). "wringe" out. SOAK again (for hours, ideally overnight). "wring" out. Air Dry. This is the problem w/ cloth type floor mats: HARD to clean.

WeatherTech and its imitators (Husky) are the best! Rubberish and EASY to clean and get it correct on the first attempt. Just go back to WeatherTech or its imitators, no more repeated cleaning issues.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Honestly loved WeatherTech had them in most of my vehicle. Was just trying to support a local Canadian company.
But never considered the cloth aspect. I definitely don't have time to soak and wring out floormats.
The bottom portion gets dirty again 5 mins after I get into the car with my boots on.

To say the city here is liberal with road salt is being modest 🤣 🤣
 
#7 ·
Next time you're at the car wash hang them on those clips on the wall. Power wash them from the top down holding the sprayer at a 45 degree angle to the mat. Don't spray them at a 90 degree angle or straight on. If that makes sense. I have had all cloth floor mats before and have never had a problem getting salt out of floor mats. Getting it out of the carpet on your interior is a different story. You don't want to stick the sprayer in your car of course. I have found that letting it dry and brushing and vacuuming works when I have had to remove salt from an interior. A 50/50 mix of white vinegar and warm water works too. Agitating it with a brush and blotting it dry. I have literally thousands of dollars in detailing supplies and equipment. Have yet to have an issue I couldn't resolve with the above methods. I do have a dedicated salt stain remover that I have yet to have to use.
 
#8 ·
I have found that the new ceramic cleaners (like the armor all ceramic window cleaner) do a good job of restoring the dark color of the plastic on the lower extremities of my 2013 RAV4. I just wipe it on with a rag and it darkens the sun-bleached plastic to the original color for a long time. If you still have issues after trying the suggestions above it might be worth a try.
 
#10 ·
Marksquared said:
Well Tuxmat wrote back to me and basically told me, if I wasn't happy with their products to go back to Weathertech.
Very unprofessional ! So much for trying to support local companies

I guess ill be ordering a set of Weathertech mats today
Click to expand...
If you like the looks of your mats, take a look at the 3D Maxpider mats. Much nicer look than Weathertech and as easy to clean. I personally don't like the utilitarian looks with all the weird ridges that Weathertech has designed into their mats.

Best Price from #1 Authorized 3D Maxpider Dealer | AutoAnything™

Have a good day.
 
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#11 ·
NameofUser said:
Just go back to WeatherTech or its imitators, no more repeated cleaning issues.
Click to expand...
WT isn't perfect, though. I have those floor mats and they dry into a mottled "chalky" looking pattern when brush scrubbed with soap and water. A clear water rinse doesn't fix it, either. I got some mat conditioner stuff from Chemical Guys and the mats come out a little better with restoring the original black color, but still... I'd figure rubber WT mats would be a quick rinse-N-go thing. My old Husky mats in my CR-V were like that and I should have just gotten those again.
 
#13 ·
Marksquared said:
Well Tuxmat wrote back to me and basically told me, if I wasn't happy with their products to go back to Weathertech.
Very unprofessional ! So much for trying to support local companies

I guess ill be ordering a set of Weathertech mats today
Click to expand...
I would write back no problem I will be posting your written letter responce all over social media sites. Enjoy your brisk sales which are bound to come once I start posting your letter.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
So I had some spare time and decided to wash the Tux Mats with dish soap which is what their design team suggested.
I first pressure washed them then scrubbed them with a brush and dish soap.
The staining got much worst now its around the entire edge of the mat.
Just keep this is mind before buying them. For a premium mat company they should resist salt better then this.

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Marksquared
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