It takes a lot of time and energy to keep your car in good working order, and with so many things to keep an eye on and potential issues to consider, you could potentially be forgiven for not prioritising your car mats.
However, although they have a relatively long life span, they do tend to be put through a lot, from general wear and tear to more specific issues such as mud, sand, and food and drink spillages. As we’ll discuss, there could be safety as well as cosmetic implications, so the question remains, when is it time to change your car mats, and what’s the best thing to do?
Signs that you need to change your car mats:
Below we have listed some of the main signs that indicate you need to change your cat mats.
Your car mats are becoming worn down
Although they are designed to be hard-wearing, over time your car mats will begin to become a little worn down, especially on the driver’s side as your feet move across them between pedals for example.
While this is not unusual, it can be problematic, especially if your feet begin to catch on the mat whilst driving, for example, your heel may catch whilst trying to use a pedal. If this occurs, it is recommended to change your car mats immediately in order to avoid a serious accident.
The other thing to consider is the upkeep of your car from a cosmetic standpoint, put simply, worn-down car mats are not a good look. Not the most pressing issue, perhaps, but a consideration, nonetheless.
Your car mats are slipping
After a time, you may find that your car mats begin to slip and bunch up because of regular usage. We recommend a change as soon as this occurs, as it can interfere with the safe operation of your vehicle, as an example they might begin to bunch around the pedals, causing potential risk to you and other road users.
At Click Car Mats our products are fitted with fittings designed to prevent slipping and bunching once your car mats are installed, minimising the potential risk of an accident caused in this way.
Act quickly to prevent issues in the future:
A rip in the car mat
Rips and tears have a nasty habit of worsening over time, leading to potentially more serious cosmetic and maintenance issues as discussed above.
We recommend changing your mat as soon as you notice an issue.
Inadequate protection
The main function of your car mat is to protect the carpet underneath, in order to avoid long-lasting issues, yet unfortunately, they are not always fit for purpose.
If your mat is not fitted properly or does not provide adequate coverage of the carpet underneath, there is the potential for trailing mud or other debris underneath and creating the potential for more significant cosmetic issues such as staining.
We recommend replacing any such car mats with tailored car mats to the make and model of your car in order to ensure complete protection.
Mould on your car mats
As well as being a general cosmetic maintenance issue, mould can be detrimental to health, especially if the driver or passenger has respiratory issues such as asthma that could be made worse by the presence of mould in the air.
While it is possible to treat and clean car mats to remove mould, it may well be a recurring issue, meaning it is time to replace the car mat.
Customer-facing vehicle
There are many jobs that involve customers interfacing with your vehicle, taxi or Uber drivers for example, or couriers in some cases. In order to maintain good customer relationships, and present professionally, it is important to make sure your car is well maintained.
One of the easiest and quickest methods to improve the freshness and overall look of your vehicle is to replace your car mats.
Further cosmetic reasons to replace your car mats:
- Planning to sell your car – it goes without saying that if you are intending to sell or part-exchange your car, it needs to be in its best possible condition, and having fresh car mats is no exception.
- Embedded smells – one of the more unfortunate aspects of soft furnishings is the potential for certain smells to become embedded to the point that even regular or deep cleaning is unable to remove them, at which point replacement is the best option.
- Stains or watermarks – similar to embedded smells, there is also the potential for unpleasant, irremovable stains or watermarks to develop as part of your vehicle’s day-to-day usage.
Tips for replacing your car mats:
As with any significant purchase, it’s important to be informed in order to ensure that you’re making the best choice to suit your budget and situation, so here are some brief tips as a guide.
- Pick tailored car mats
Often the simplest thing to do is to take care that your car mats are providing optimal protection by paying attention to the fit, in which case buying mats tailored to the make and model of your car is the best place to start.
- Match the mat quality to your lifestyle
There are several options available when it comes to car mats, so make sure to take your own lifestyle, and the regular uses of your vehicle into account.
- Regularly clean your new car mats
As with most things in life, maintaining things regularly over time will help to ensure a longer life span and better overall performance, we recommend regularly scheduled wipe downs/hoovering to keep your new mats fresh.
- Buy from a trusted car mats manufacturer
Again, advice that can be commonly applied, it’s always worth being discerning in choosing your manufacturer in order to ensure that you’re getting a quality product for your money.
Looking for new car mats?
If you recognise any of the signs detailed in this blog that you need to change your car mats then you can buy online today through Click Car Mats. Browse our range of tailored car mats on our site today, or search by make and model of your car to find the perfect fit.
If you have any further questions about our car mats or need help choosing the right product for your needs, get in touch with us today by calling 0151 531 9887 or Email us info@click-carmats.co.uk. Our friendly experts are more than happy to help and offer advice when needed.
