My daughter, in her efforts to help clean my MINi, used tire shine on the new MINI S floor mats! Now, I "slide" into the car and nearly injure myself, plus the heel of my shoes slides all over the floor mat! It's actually dangerous trying to drive a manual with my shoes sliding all over!
Does anyone know how to remove silicone-based tire shine (It was either Black Magic or Armour-All Extreme Tire Shine)? I've just tried rubbing alcohol and denatured alcohol and they seemed to help, but is there one sure-fire chemical that will remove the tire shine?
Thanks to all the MINI chemists out there...
Terry

 

I don't see any reason why a good washing (Washing machine) wouldn't remove it. You could also try scrubbing them with Dawn, that seems to cut through just about anything and won't damage them.

 

My apologies for not being more clear. These are the MINI Rubber S floormats, not the carpet mats. Although, Dawn might just as well do the trick!

 

Terry, I had the same issue and used a small brush (to get into the pores) with a vinyl cleaner and it worked well. Anything that cuts the petroleum/silicone base will help. I have also used aerosol brake cleaner spray, upholstery cleaner, Dawn, Comet powdered cleanser, etc.

I'm actually surprised the denatured alcohol failed. Try the brush and do it again.

 

Yep, that's what they use to clean up birds that have be caught up in oil spills.

 

dawn or joy should do the trick.

 

Try Simple Green if the above soaps do not work.

 

An orange-fortified degreaser has always worked for me.

Funny enough, I used to deliberately apply the silicone tire dressing to my rubber mats. The slippery mats were actually conducive to heel-toe shifting. I stopped doing that, though, because the tire dressing wore out too quickly, and attracted dust. Now it's 303 Aerospace Protectant, which keeps the mats looking dark longer.

 

Thanks everyone, for your advice, that's what I love about this site and the MINI community. I'll definitely try the suggestions you all have offered this weekend.
Terry

 

If you spray the foam wheel/alloy wheel cleaner on the mats it will cut through the shine, just like it does on the tires

 

I would try it straight from the tap, not diluted with water.

 

I hope you get them clean...lots of good suggestions above.

In the future perhaps all MINI cleaning should be left to someone other than the daughter!

 

cleaning inside and out WITH daughter would be a bonding experience defnitely