How to clean and look after EVA car mats

The good news: water does most of the work

One of the main reasons people switch to EVA mats is how easy they are to clean. The material doesn't absorb liquids, so dirt stays on the surface and inside the cells and rinses straight off. You don't need a powerful vacuum or expensive products. That said, a few details will keep them looking new for longer.

The quick weekly clean

For routine upkeep, just lift the mats out, turn them over and give them a shake or a gentle tap against the ground. Sand, grit and leaves caught in the cells fall straight out. If you've got another minute, vacuum the car floor before putting them back.

If they're wet after a rainy day, tip the water out of the cells outside the car. That's exactly what they're for: holding the water so it never reaches the carpet underneath.

A proper deep clean, step by step

Every few weeks, or after a muddy day out, a full wash is worth it:

• Take them out and shake off loose dirt.
• Rinse with a hose or a bucket of lukewarm water. If you use a pressure washer, keep the nozzle at a sensible distance and use a wide spray — a concentrated jet up close can mark the surface.
• For stuck-on dirt, add a little mild soap or washing-up liquid and scrub with a soft-bristle brush, following the cell pattern.
• Rinse until there's no foam left: soap residue can make the surface slippery.
• Stand them upright to drain and dry them with a cloth or in the air, out of direct sun.

Products to avoid

EVA is tough, but it doesn't like harsh chemicals. Avoid solvents, petrol, acetone, neat bleach and industrial degreasers, which can fade or dry out the material. And don't use dashboard shine or silicone sprays on the driver's mat: they leave a film that makes your foot slip, exactly where you don't want it to.

Washing machines and tumble dryers are out too. The mats aren't shaped for them, and heat plus spinning can warp them.

Drying: in the shade, no rush

Because EVA doesn't soak up water, it dries very quickly. Leave the mats to air-dry propped up so the cells drain. Avoid leaving them for hours in full summer sun or right against a radiator — strong heat isn't kind to foam materials. In a hurry? A wipe with a microfibre cloth does the job.

Before refitting them, check the car floor is dry as well. If damp had built up underneath from before, it's a good moment to leave the doors open for a while.

Stubborn stains

Dried mud, chewing gum, grease from shoes and sticky drinks are the usual suspects. Mud comes off more easily if you let it soak for a few minutes before brushing. Gum lifts cleanly if you harden it with an ice cube first and peel it off. For grease, a drop of washing-up liquid straight on the spot and a soft brush is usually enough.

On light colours like beige or grey, deal with marks early: nothing soaks in, but dirt left sitting in the cells for days is more visible.

Refitting them properly

When you put them back, make sure each mat goes in the right place (the driver's mat isn't the same as the passenger's) and that it clips onto the car's original fixings. Press the clutch, brake and accelerator all the way down to check nothing catches. It takes five seconds and avoids nasty surprises.

Tips to make them last

• Don't leave dried mud on them for long: grit acts like sandpaper with every step.
• The heel pad protects the area that wears fastest; if yours is a contrasting colour it also shows you when it's time for a clean.
• If you often carry heavy loads or tools, an EVA boot mat saves the boot floor from knocks and scratches.
• Check the fixings now and then: if a clip has come loose, the mat can shift.