Restoring Floor Mats 93LE Red

[Dandy]

After 20 years of service, it was time to show my original floor mats a little love. They were looking faded and dirty, so I decided to give them a good cleaning and re-dye them in the hopes of extending their life. Here are the pics and some details on the process I used:

Step 1 - The Cleaning

I used a shallow plastic storage container and lined it with a Hefty bag. I filled the lined container with hot! water and threw in a cap-full of Tide and a big scoop of Oxy-Clean. The Oxy-Clean is supposed to be particularly good at lifting dirt from nylon fibers, and the Tide, well it just cleans everything. I completely submerged the mats and let them soak for about 25 minutes. I lightly scrubbed them while they were soaking and then I scrubbed them a bit more in the utility sink after removing them from their bath. When it appeared that all of the soap had been rinsed out, I took them outside to be thoroughly rinsed once more using a hose attached with a high pressure nozzle. I then let them dry in the sun.

Here are some before shots of the mats (the Miata mats and one from my VW):
http://s18.postimg.org/kmbjajbsp/IMG_0216.jpghttp://s2.postimg.org/o9ohet495/IMG_0217.jpghttp://s24.postimg.org/lin9gfshx/IMG_0218.jpg

The ingredients and materials:
http://s11.postimg.org/6p7awd0hf/IMG_0219.jpghttp://s16.postimg.org/kf8hamxfp/IMG_0220.jpghttp://s7.postimg.org/zftqdnvu3/IMG_0221.jpg

The rinse (the brush is a little chewed since my dog got ahold of it when he was a puppy):
http://s16.postimg.org/i9irtvjd1/IMG_0222.jpghttp://s13.postimg.org/gdaj6fud3/IMG_0223.jpg

My mats were looking so clean and good that I decided to bring in reinforcements to watch over my mats in the sun (and he brought his ball in case he got bored):
http://s7.postimg.org/gnrk8h7mz/IMG_0228.jpg

Here are the mats fully dried the next day (clean but still faded):
http://s17.postimg.org/dydk1ify7/IMG_0229.jpg

Step 2 - Bring Back the Color

I used the same plastic storage container and lined it with a fresh Hefty bag. I filled the lined container with just enough hot! water that a single mat would be completely submerged. I used a bottle of Rit Scarlet dye and a cup of vinegar per the Rit instructions. I soaked each mat, one at a time, for about 45 minutes. After the soaking, I thoroughly rinsed them off with the hose until the water running off of them was clear. I then let them dry in the sun . . . and here are the results:

The ingredients:
http://s14.postimg.org/nej8ulmkx/IMG_0231.jpg

The red dye bath:
http://s7.postimg.org/yn972erjf/IMG_0232.jpg

Dry mats the next day:
http://s13.postimg.org/3nydapo53/IMG_0233.jpg

The black portion on the drivers mat could use some touch up, but I am pleased with the results.

[atank]

Man Dandy, I have a set of LE mats that are pink from the fading, I think this would be the perfect solution for them. Then after I am finished I will hang them on my garage wall..........hehe

[SM16RMSM]

Night and day difference. Very good write up.

[Dandy]

Thanks guys. Here is a pic from inside the car:

http://s8.postimg.org/5xf4zqtj9/IMG_0243.jpg

[JLBMX5]

I have faded black mats. My only problem would be the black dye would turn the white Miata lettering also black :(

[Dandy]

I have faded black mats. My only problem would be the black dye would turn the white Miata lettering also black :(

That is true . . . but that might look pretty good. The lettering won't show dirt any more.

[Cxmoney]

at least you can buy brand new black and tan mats.... the LE mats are not available anywhere brand new, so we have no choice but to dye them back to their original color.

[atank]

^^And they are getting harder to find, can you imagine in 10 years how rare they will be................

[Cxmoney]

yeah I know. I have 4 LE floormats. a set of shitty ones, and a decent condition set. one day all the LE stuff will be completely gone, and ill have to change my interior to black because the LE stuff will be so old and discusting looking. haha.

[vote4pedro]

Thanks guys. Here is a pic from inside the car:

http://s8.postimg.org/5xf4zqtj9/IMG_0243.jpg

Look even better installed. Color match is spot on.

[jstammer]

I have faded black mats. My only problem would be the black dye would turn the white Miata lettering also black :(

You could always use a silver sharpie to color the Miata lettering on the mat to bring it back.

[Phatmiata]

wow that looks great !!!!

[jux]

Well done! I need to try this.

[93miatale]

Fantastic job Dandy and thank you.

Someone should try this on some tan ones being how scarce the le mats have been the last few years. I have heard of it being done but I have never actually seen any photo's of them done.

[Dandy]

Fantastic job Dandy and thank you.

Someone should try this on some tan ones being how scarce the le mats have been the last few years. I have heard of it being done but I have never actually seen any photo's of them done.

Thanks. Actually the dye that I chose came from a write-up I saw over on m.net from someone that dyed a set of tan mats. Do a search over there. He had pictures.

. . . and on another note: That little black spot on the seat in the picture is bugging me. I had my door cards off and got a bit of that black goo that seals the plastic moisture protector to the door on my hands, and then on the seat :sour:. That stuff is nasty.