As I have posted in numerous discussions about floor mats, I bought myself a set of Weathertech Digital Floor Liners. I like them, they are of good quality, they do all they are advertised to do. Protect...not slip...fit perfectly. Unfortunately I bought the light gray color. And I don't like that they show every bit of dirt or water or stain...almost immediately. Which means they almost never look clean. To keep them looking decent, I have to clean them...well almost all the time. So the other day, I was thinking.... Why couldn't I just spray paint them black? As long as I use a quality paint, and let it dry...why wouldn't that work? Or am I looking at ruining the set? Or a unforeseen curse of problems such as the paint never sticking, and getting it over everything? Or horrible durability from the paint? Any opinions as to whether this would be a good idea...or one that should be avoided. I don't know "exactly" what the digital floor liners are made out of...seems like a plastic/vinyl like product...it's very durable but it seems like the color is actually in the substance itself. Which makes me worry about the idea of trying to "paint" over it. Come on...talk me into this...or out of it.
Just my opinion, but even if you use that 'new' krylon stuff made for plastics and the like, I cannot imagine that would hold up covering a floor mat. I've used it for touching up a vinyl plastic white fence in my yard and while it does cover and stick well on the vinyl fence, IMO it would never hold up to what a floor liner 'goes through' on a daily basis. I'd live with it or sell them and get the color you want/are happy with. In the end, you'll do what you want to do and I guess our opinions won't matter for much though.
Well, I wouldn't ask, if I didn't value the opinions of others. Your concern about durability is my concern about the whole idea. Kind of afraid the paint just wouldn't stick or be durable enough. Afraid that the paint would be coming off on my shoes and be tracked elsewhere. But was kind of hoping somebody that perhaps works with paint...and plastic..might have a suggestion or just complete knowledge. Yeah, I can live with it. I really do like the product. Just wish I had gone with black. I pull these out at least once a week to clean them. And they start showing dirt...almost immediately.
Why agonize about the color? If you paint them, you'll be disappointed! (paint will crack, flake, and look lousy) cheaper to buy a set in Prussian-blue or whatever you prefer!! DROID4 ?
My 2 cents would be to either buy a set of black ones or do something that would increase their durability and change the color, cerakote. I'd probably have it professionally done and it would likely cost between 85 and 200usd but you'd get hundreds of color options and increase the durability 100 fold. I would not paint them or try to paint them, I'd rather clean them up a bit find another prius owner to sell them too at a discount and use the proceeds to fund a new set for myself.
This is the stuff for plastic that I have used and am willing to bet dollars to donuts will not hold up in this scenario: Fusion for Plastic® - | Krylon It is great for certain projects, really it is, but having used it I just don't see it or anything holding up being used for floor mats/liners. Live with it or again, sell them, get something for them and then get the color you want are the best two options.
Well I'm not agonizing about the color. Infact, I bought the light gray, because I thought it looked great. I just did not think it out all the way or foresee this reality. And when the liners are clean? They do look great. I'm agonizing over the lack of the light gray to absorb or hide any water, dirt or stain. In Oregon where it rains a lot...I literally can't get in or out of the vehicle once, before the floor liner is showing something. I've had other vehicles, with other type of mats, and even though you can't stop dirt or water, a dark color, or a more rubber like substance seemed to at least absorb an amount of dirt visually. Oh well...I spent so much on the set, that I hate to really make a change. But I guess for the short term it's live with it. Summers coming so perhaps it will get better. I can revisit the idea of buying new mats before NEXT winter. PS. Thanks Everyone. You've talked me out of this momentary madness. I will NOT be taking a can of spray paint to my floor liners.
Glad you decided against spraying or even attempting to 'mod' them in some other way but if you want to try it you could throw em' up in private sales as a trade for the heck of it. Shipping is a killer so try a trade with someone in your state/area if they have black and want your color... Long shot but hey, while you are testing em out maybe a trade offer will in fact come along. Ya' never know...
If these are the ones that fit exact and are larger than the simple carpet ones. then I would think about seeing if the carpet ones fit inside of the grey ones for winter, or get some carpet that you can cut to fit tuck it in and let it absorb the water and mud. they are easy to hose off and the plastic will still prevent anything from getting on the cars carpet. I would not paint the plastic. you can but you would be better off puting the $ on the new mats a different color. and sell the grey ones.
I would dissuade you from trying anything, and spraypaint will definitely not hold up. That being said, when I did the headliner in my xB, I used duplicolor Vinyl & Fabric spray. It's not paint, it's actually a dye that will permanently tint vinyl. I'm not certain what those mats are made from, but if anything will get in there, this stuff would. The sun visors in the xB were vinyl and this spray covered exceptionally well and since it's dye rather than paint, there was nothing to flake off. If you really want to try it, I'd recommend that stuff and test it on the underside of the mat first.
I have a full set of the same in black, also the cargo liner . This winter was tuff on the liners , they performed great, they do need to be cleaned though.
Would anything ever work to hide mud, dirt and grime on top of any surface or color? Paint them to look like nasty muck. Then when they get covered in mere dirt, things will look better and cleaning them will be avoided. Seriously, if you tromp dirt and muck into the car and the mats keep it all off the carpet, I would consider that a great set of mats. There is no solid color that will not look dirty when actually dirty. Only dirt looks unchanged when covered in dirt.
Well I lived in the Northwest my entire life. And I've had various cars with various types of floor mats...from Carpet to All Weather Rubber Mats and now these digital liners. They are a great product, as far as durability and function. But the light gray "instantly" shows anything and everything. I have had Rubber or Rubber Like all weather mats in past vehicles, and they really seemed to simply hide or absorb the dirt for a much longer time. So in my opinion and experience there IS a significant difference. I'm thinking if I got these in black? I'd not have the same feeling or experience. Yes, I know you can't stop, moisture, dirt from entering. That's why we buy mats. But I have learned that light gray? Not the best color choice, unless your vehicle is going to be in a showroom.
Well the choice comes down to either changing to a different color floor mat or changing the color of dirt in the Pacific Northwest to light gray.
LOL! I tried that...but the neighbors got nervous when I approached their garden with a spray can of light gray paint.
Heh. I bought the gray (there's only black, gray, and tan), thinking it would actually look lighter than it ended up looking, which is the exact same shade of dark gray as the interior trim. Seems the ones for the Prius Plug-In are slightly different than the ones for the non-plug-in according to what I remember of the model code #s.
