Is it actually worth upgrading to all-weather floor mats for a first car?

Posted by junkjournalofsissy@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 42 comments

Hi! I just got my first car recently and I’m still pretty new to car maintenance 😅

I’ve been wondering if upgrading floor mats actually makes a difference, especially for keeping the car clean. Right now I’m just using the basic ones that came with the car, and they get dirty pretty quickly. I didn’t even realize floor mats were something people upgrade until recently.

Is it worth switching to all-weather ones, or am I overthinking it?

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mpython1701@reddit

Yes. Especially in areas prone to harsh weather. Or have kids. One of the best purchases I’ve made for my car.

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ExpensiveOccasion542@reddit

If you do outdoor activities that involve mud, dirt, sand, or snow, absolutely

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JaKr8@reddit

It depends on where you live and where you park the car. If you're going to be bringing a lot of water, dirt or mud into the vehicle, it makes sense to get specific floor mats for that purpose.

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advmaxx@reddit

Everything I have with 4 wheels and doors has Weather Tech floor liners.

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i-stay-driving@reddit

Definetely get an off brand. Look on Temu even. All weather prices are crazy.

It does impact the interior quite a bit. And makes winters a breeze.

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Conscious_Dog3101@reddit

Yes. Never understood why carpeted mats exist for cars. Just personal opinion. Especially if you have kids woo spill things often as kids absolutely will at some point

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VoidingSounds@reddit

Carpet mats look so much nicer. Rubber all-weathers are ugly as hell but I understand why you'd run them in winter/if you have kids.

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LivingGhost371@reddit

Carpet feels oh-so good to put your feet on compared to rubber. Same reason we have carpet in the car in general and in our houses.

I have carpeted mats in my car and taken them out and run the rug shampooer over them twice a year.

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7eregrine@reddit

I like carpet in my cars. I swap seasonally.

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mrchowmein@reddit

Depends on where you live, what you do on a weekly basis and if you’re a clean person to begin with.

Before kids, my carpet was always clean. I made sure my shoes were clean before getting into the car and I don’t live in a place with a lot of rain.

After kids, I got all weather mats as they kept spilling stuff and we did a lot of stuff that resulted in dirt in the car.

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MVmikehammer@reddit

Yes. Especially if live in area that gets snow. Your regular mats capture some but not all of the water. And you don't want water in your interior carpet. It is a bitch to get out, especially in winter.

The underside of a car passenger cabin carpeting is essentially a big sponge. Once it gets saturated, you'll have water under your carpet and with all the wiring running under the carpet, you're gonna start getting weird parasitic drains and/or electrical glitches. They might in fact be so weird as to only occur when the ambient temperatures are above freezing.

I have the distinction of being a person who removed his first car's carpet after 4 years of ownership to dry it out and then replaced it. It took 4 weeks at room temperature to not feel damp. I don't recommend the experience.

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junkjournalofsissy@reddit (OP)

That actually sounds way worse than I expected 😭

I didn’t realize it could get under the carpet like that. I was thinking the ones with higher edges would help more in that case?

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MVmikehammer@reddit

Rubber mats with high edges do help to avoid that. I now put them in every car I buy as the first thing.

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junkjournalofsissy@reddit (OP)

I can see why you’d switch them out right away. Do you usually go with a specific brand or just whatever fits your car?

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MVmikehammer@reddit

I haven't had a bad experience with neither the cheap or expensive ones. The main difference between them seems to be whether they are model specific and the more expensive ones are made of rubber that maintains their shape in higher temperature ranges. The cheaper ones get kind of flimsy when heated to 100F+ in direct sunlight.

Not really an issue in a passenger car and in winter, as the mats feel oversized in a passenger car, but can feel awkward in summer and in an SUV or a pickup truck with a completely flat floor in 2nd and 3rd rows.

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Binford6100User@reddit

I lived in Louisville, KY most of my driving life. Never had "fancy" floor mats. Moved to Buffalo, NY and now consider them mandatory.

I got Tuxmats for my latest car. They're very expensive, but provide EXCEPTIONAL coverage. Especially in a snowy/salty location like Buffalo.

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docnsx01@reddit

i use them on top of all my cats esp here in northeast ! i purchase the less expensive ones at bj’s costco etc !! matter of fact set i just recently got for my daily is actually trip to size urself by cutting

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Slipknot31286sic6@reddit

Always swap them out ASAP make sure they have a rise on sides such as weather tech or lasfit.

Easier to clean and carpet don't get as ruined quick. Skim through Amazon / ebay... I got a front, rear and trunk set for 100 bucks

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junkjournalofsissy@reddit (OP)

That makes sense, I was kinda thinking the ones with higher edges might be better for keeping dirt in place. I came across OEDRO too and they seem a lot cheaper than WeatherTech or Lasfit. Do they all perform pretty similar or is there a big difference?

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ObviousAlias7@reddit

I bought the weather tech knock-offs from Amazon and they work fine.

Downside is I just prefer the look of the OEM floor mats so much more. This is like putting seat covers on nice leather seats so you don’t ruin them.

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Critical-Magician421@reddit

Just look for reviews for your car. It's about the fit.

You don't NEED them, but they are sure are useful for keeping dirt out.

If you are keeping your car forever it is up to you if this is an issue.

For folks who sell cars pretty often, keeping it extra clean helps.

If don't want to spend cash now, you don't need to. If you are selling the car in a couple of years, you can just buy clean mats if it needs it.

I just bought rubber mats and I don't think you can use them atop the carpet mats. They won't have a place to attach

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7eregrine@reddit

Tuxmata are transformative if they make them for your car. They cover everything. The first winter mats I've considered leaving in all year. I don't though. I like carpet in my car.

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IcyInstance9001@reddit

Yes. It's a mat ok the floor. Some are softer rubber like weather tech or high pile carpet, but any mat that fits snugly and has a lip will do just fine

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Living_Fig_6386@reddit

Yes. All-weather floor mats are a must-have upgrade for the car. They are easy to clean and preserve the floor of the car (and prevent it from getting wet and mildewy).

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gotcha640@reddit

Where do you live? If no snow, no sand/mud, no wet boots constantly getting in, no reason to spend the money.

I live in Houston, if I do get in with wet shoes, it will be 90 degrees within a week and dry out, or it’s a hurricane and I’m not out driving around anyway.

I vacuum my car out at least twice a month. I drive barefoot a lot, any dirt or debris on the floor is annoying. Carpets feel a lot nicer on bare feet than chunky rubber mats.

If this is a brand new car and you need it to be pristine to sell it in a couple years, maybe put in cheap walmart mats to keep the factory ones clean, otherwise just use your car.

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keithrc@reddit

If you've only just gotten your car and the mats have already gotten dirty, yes, you need rubber mats.

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Inconsequentialish@reddit

Absolutely, unless you live somewhere with no dirt and no sand, where it never snows or rains.

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Blu_yello_husky@reddit

I hate rubber floor mats. I just the stock cloth ones the car comes with or no mats at all. Rubber ones suck for a multitude of reasons

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LavishnessOk6635@reddit

Buy them yourself, not at the dealer

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Ivy1974@reddit

If it doesn’t come with All Weather mats which my Tacoma did then j always buy Weathertec the ones lasted cut to your vehicle.

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Turbulent-Matter501@reddit

do you want all weather floor mats? buy some. you don't have to ask strangers on reddit for permission to buy floor mats.

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Bulocoo@reddit

One of the first things I do.

If it's a used car I shampoo all the seats, carpet and headliner.

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MarkVII88@reddit

I've been using weather-tech floor mats in all my cars for years. At the very least, I'll put a pair in the front.

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IcyInstance9001@reddit

And #1 thing to keeping your car clean is go through a $3 car wash every 1-3 months. Vacuum all the floors and seats. Wipe things down including the carpet with a damp microfiber whenever you get it dirty. And fully detail it yourself for 2+ hours or pay someone to get it in excellent shape. Cleaning headliner, plastic panels, trunk, door sills, the car will feel brand new.

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IcyInstance9001@reddit

I have the stock rubber mats for my Lexus rx. They're pretty thin but hold up fine. Key is to buy something that fits your vehicle. Take a good look at the stock mat and floor and decide what shape would fit it best. Custom is best but pricy. You can get cut to fit mats at my Menards for like 30-40 that are thick and specific for truck SUV or car

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unpolire@reddit

For ANY vehicle, if you live in a geographic region with seasonal weather. It will protect your flooring material from moisture/dust, etc., and adds a layer of insulation for heat and sound to your interior. It will prolong the life of your flooring material of any type, rubber or carpeting.

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junkjournalofsissy@reddit (OP)

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it! I’ll definitely look into it a bit more

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Indigenousboy420@reddit

This is pretty much common sense. All weather mats are easy to clean, and they won’t get soggy like a carpet floor mat. Thankfully, my car came with carpet and all weather mats.