It’s easy to tell which cars have been cared for and a clear give-away is the condition of the carpeting. In northern climates, especially those with snow and road salt, unprotected or poorly protected carpets quickly get worn down, caked and rock hard, especially on the driver’s side. Some people remove the mats in nicer weather, but even in summer this can lead to damage: you might transfer mud from your shoes, or gravel or spot wear just from resting your shoe heels on the carpet (especially high-heeled shoes).
Whether you plan to trade in your car or to sell it privately, cars show much better with almost-like new carpets. A small investment when the carpets are new, or after your car has been detailed and the carpets are fairly well restored, will pay future dividends. Even if you’re keeping the car, it just feels better to be driving a car with pristine carpets.
As you might have guessed by now, it’s a good idea to use mats in the summer. You might use a thinner, rubber type mat, a good idea if you’re going camping or fishing, for example. But if you want to recapture the luxury of the carpeting that you’re protecting, then buy a set of carpet mats which will feel plushy as well as look good. You can colour coordinate with your original carpet and interior, or you can decide to “jazz it up,” and buy a contrasting colour.
To protect against snow, most people replace the summer carpet with a rubber-type product. In the last few years there’s been an increase in those with deep grids to capture the water and to protect pants from the snow and salt as your car’s heater melts the snow from your shoes and boots. You can purchase generic, one-size fits all mats, but much better are custom mats such as those made by Weather Tech for Apple Auto Glass customers. These fit your specific make and model perfectly to help ensure that your car’s carpets are protected. A word of advice: if that melted snow and ice water accumulates, eventually you’ll have a small lake at your feet, so from time to time, empty them. They’re easily removed and replaced. At a carwash, or if you have a winter hose handy, you might occasionally clean them as well.
So, invest in summer mats (rubber or carpet) and winter mats and your car’s carpeting will thank you. Well, maybe not, but you’ll definitely thank yourself! Come in to Apple Auto Glass, talk to us and let us show you the many choices available. Call 519-650-1500 or 1-866-44-APPLE (27753) for additional information.