Clean black leather car floor mats with diamond stitching and gas pedals and brakes in the workshop for the detailing vehicle after dry cleaning
People frequently use the terms “car mats” and “car liners” synonymously because most people aren’t even aware that there is a significant distinction between the two. While it might not seem like it, the advantages of each can make one more appropriate for your specific vehicle and the purposes you use it for. It’s crucial to have all the information before selecting the best carpet protection.
This post aims to give you the inside information you’ve been looking for, ensure you receive what you need, and prevent you from wasting money on unnecessary items.
How Do Floor Mats Work?
A floor mat’s function is to protect your car’s original flooring, which is vulnerable to spills, dirt, and debris. The floor mats must shield your vehicle’s floor to maintain its resale value.
Types of Floor Mats
Floor mats have three materials- Carpet, rubber, and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), which also goes as thermoplastic rubber.
Consider carpet floor mats if you want your car’s floor to match your interior decor and prefer a floor mat that is a little more aesthetically pleasing and cosy than practical. They can be challenging to clean because they do get soiled more quickly. Additionally, they are more likely to stain. You should probably avoid purchasing carpet floor mats if you have children.
The majority of the time, rubber floor mats do not stain and are much simpler to clean. Additionally, they are typically more affordable than carpets. Rubber floor mats naturally fit every vehicle without modification. For adequate protection from spills and dirt, this is a less-than-desirable quality. Rubber floor mats are not a particularly wide range of options. You essentially have two choices: brown and black.
Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) floor mats feature a plastic and rubber blend. They, therefore, share benefits with both flexible rubbery materials and plastic materials, which are easy to clean, stain-resistant, and mouldable. Thermoplastic elastomers are excellent at regaining their original shape if you stretch them.
As a result, they often have a longer lifespan when put to use in the interior of a car, which is subject to a wide range of temperatures and usage.
Car Liners: What Are They?
Car liners (thermoplastic elastomer) feature plastic or TPE, a plastic/rubber compound. To keep spills from landing on your car’s floor, car liners have a lip around the edges. Every automobile’s interior is different, and car liners serve the purpose of fitting perfectly.
Types of Cars Liners
All car liners have one thing in common: they feature a plastic/rubber hybrid that allows them to be custom-fit to your vehicle type, provide complete coverage, and be completely waterproof. In addition, they maintain their shape in both high and low temperatures.
TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) car liners feature a blend of rubber and plastic. As a result, they possess benefits common to both flexible rubbery materials and plastic materials, such as ease of cleaning, stain resistance, and adaptability to any shape.
When you stretch them during use, thermoplastic elastomers are excellent at returning to their original shape. When put to use in a vehicle’s interior, which is experiencing a wide range of temperatures and damage, this tends to offer a longer lifespan.
Thermoplastic Olefin also goes as TPO, is a polymer/filler mixture typically featuring a combination of thermoplastic, an elastomer, and typically a filler. TPO is ideal for interior accessories like car liners since it does not break down in the presence of solar UV light.
A thermoplastic polymer is a polypropylene (PP), sometimes popular as polypropene. Though slightly more substantial and heat resistant, it is comparable to polyethene. Polyethene is the second most common plastic produced and is a rigid material. Chemical solvents are exceedingly challenging to damage it.
Polypropylene floor liners often have a more slippery surface, which might make cleaning them easier but may be a drawback when they get wet. Additionally, it is more prone to oxidation and fading, which could cause it to age with a white powdery appearance.
The most popular plastic is polyethene (PE), an amalgam of several related ethylene polymers. Thermoplastic is available in polyethene. It is exceedingly robust and highly impact-resistant. Although polyethene is the least expensive material in car liners, it is in no way the least high-quality substance.
Consequently, Which Interior Protector Should You Pick?
The purpose of both floor mats and car liners is to shield the carpets in your car from stains and spills. Although the distinctions between the two are minor, it is essential to be aware of them. A decent car liner is your best bet for adequate protection from work boots. Alternatively, if you require numerous spill-catching channels, a rubber floor mat can be one of the best car accessories in India. You can find out more by visiting Carorbis online today.
