[haisaikat]

I have 7D floor mats from Autoform in my Innova Crysta for last 5 years. The pictures can be found here (Toyota Innova Crysta : Official Review) on my 5 year old post regarding the installation of these mats. The mats have lasted well and still going strong. However, the smell coming from these mats have not subsided. Not a problem for me as it continues to give me new car feeling . However wife and kid keeps complaining. I thought the smell might go away over time but it has not.

Moreover, the observation is if the car is not accessed for use even for a day, the smell build up is stronger (as per family standard) and once in use it starts to wear off gradually.

Alternatively, I have tried considering change of mats, Autotech was recommended to me by the accessory shop. However, on calling their customer support they were honest in stating that some PVC smell with continue to remain and will never go away completely.

The convenience of 7D mats is hard to overlook more so when you have kids around.

So the options for me now are either to try keeping the car doors open on starting up after 1-2 idle days to dissipate the initial smell build up or keep strong car perfumes or both. Any other suggestions anyone?

[condor]

Originally Posted by haisaikat

The convenience of 7D mats is hard to overlook more so when you have kids around.

Neither PVC matting nor 7D's - but I got 5D mats for two cars this week. The mats fit in snug, and all dust etc will remain within this - even if I need to clean it in-place. Brands I got - GFX & QPo.

If you want 7D's - also check Elegant Auto mats

[haisaikat]

Subsequent to the previous post (Full Floor PVC Matting. Boon or bane?), I am also eyeing several DIY methods online like sprinkling baking soda, or rubbing using vinegar, lime water, exposing to sunlights, etc as means to get rid of smells coming from floor mats. I wanted to check if anyone has been facing similar issue with their Leatherette 7D mats and what they did to get rid of the same.

Originally Posted by condor

Brands I got - GFX & QPo.

If you want 7D's - also check Elegant Auto mats

Thanks, but what about the smell? Are these branded as odorless?

[condor]

Originally Posted by haisaikat

Thanks, but what about the smell? Are these branded as odorless?

Brand new, but no smell with either brand. Hope this helps

Originally Posted by haisaikat

Thanks, but what about the smell? Are these branded as odorless?

Sorry - I think you asked about the smell in 7D mats, specifically with those from Elegant Auto. Instead I have responded with pics of the 5D mats I have got.

Just in case it helps: the first pic above is from GFX, and I would prefer these over QPo (second pic).

[rajathv8]

Originally Posted by condor

Brand new, but no smell with either brand. Hope this helps

Is that rusting in the door drain hole of the first image?

[condor]

Originally Posted by rajathv8

Is that rusting in the door drain hole of the first image?

No !

It;s a brand new car, and we had applied cavity wax inside the door to prevent rust inside the door frame in future. That is excess wax flowing out through the drain holes that are present in the doors.

[wooka]

I will advise strongly to get rid of the material altogether. The smell is VOCs... Highly toxic and a known carcinogen.

Please have a look at this link - https://automotive-transportation.ba...-new-car-smell

And this - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_car_smell

In fact, Ford is pre-processing cars to reduce end user risk. - https://www.tampabay.com/news/breaki...f-it-20181120/

In a nutshell,
1. Vent out a new car by parking it in the sun with the windows slightly open.
2. Blast the aircon with external ventilation on for the first ten minutes. Some cars now come with a press and hold unlock function that opens the windows and sunroof, or can be added as a module (RD overseas sells one)
3. Do so for all such aftermarket mats esp those made of PU and PVC. Avoid those service time polishes and use only top tier products if you absolutely must. Use the policy of 'less is more'.

My text above is probably misplaced since I haven't solved your problem, but instead, you'd be avoiding exposing people you care about to needless risk. There is no culpability of OEs in India, so it behooves us to be better informed about such health hazards.

And about the cavity protection, I am aware that Wurth sells such a spray as well. I've seen it in use at the Mahindra service center. It's more of a coating than it is wax.

[thomahawk]

I think you should be removing those mats as others suggested. Why don't you consider Nomad mats from 3M? They are cut to size so you can customize it for your requirement (coverage). Traps dirt rather well and is relatively easy to clean too.

[rajathv8]

Agree with wooka on discarding mats.
There is less awareness about the implications of VOCs in our midst.
It is of significant concern in USofA, primarily around VOC emissions during natural gas well drilling, subsequent gas extraction and from non-producing/defunct oil wells. Unaware to many, VOCs are emitted from many common household products.

[AulusGabinius]

Originally Posted by haisaikat

So the options for me now are either to try keeping the car doors open on starting up after 1-2 idle days to dissipate the initial smell build up or keep strong car perfumes or both. Any other suggestions anyone?

Hi, as someone who works with rubber and plastics extensively and I've worked on projects for odor control, here's a few things you can try:

1. Leave the mats out in the sun for a couple of days. They may get some sun damage, but the smell will be reduced significantly.
2. Get some vanilla essence and put a few drops on each mat, them leave outside to stabilise. Again, not complete elimination, but it does reduce significantly.
3. Get some silica packets from the food packets and leave them in the door pockets. Take them out once a week, leave them in the hot sun for an hour and put them back.

These should solve most of your problem, but ultimately I'd say you should replace with rubber and not go for PVC at all.

[smsrini]

Try putting 2-3 large bags of Dr.Charcoal available on Amazon along with 2 tubs of absobia descant gel.

The gel will prevent moisture build up and the charcoal is supposed to absorb the bad smells. I use the charcoal bags in a hexa and it's worked for my family. I don't have 7D mats but have autoform noodle mats.

The gel has to be changed every 3 months or so depending on humidity.

The charcoal every 6 months or so.

Hope this helps

Regards
Srini

[haisaikat]

Originally Posted by wooka

I will advise strongly to get rid of the material altogether. The smell is VOCs... Highly toxic and a known carcinogen.

2. Blast the aircon with external ventilation on for the first ten minutes. Some cars now come with a press and hold unlock function that opens the windows and sunroof, or can be added as a module (RD overseas sells one)

Thank you, I am seriously considering the replacement. Taking some time to identify the right alternative. My car hardly stays parked in the sun, but will consider it in near future. Regarding your suggestion on aircon/blower in step 2, this works good, thanks for the suggestion, tried during a recent trip and kid / wife could not identify any smell. What had happened was we used the car for some city errands on the previous day and probably that prevented buildup of that smell inside the cabin on the day of our trip.

Originally Posted by thomahawk

Why don't you consider Nomad mats from 3M? They are cut to size so you can customize it for your requirement (coverage). Traps dirt rather well and is relatively easy to clean too.

Thank You, 3M Nomad looks to be nice, noodle mat category. The autoform 7D has a noodle mat detachable layer presently on top of the base layer. Having only noodle mat would not be bad either. Will keep these in mind along with the 5D / 3D as suggested earlier in this thread. Essentially on longer trips spanning several days where I may not be having time to clean mat daily these noodle layers win over flat 5D / 3D ones as the former traps more dirt.

Originally Posted by rajathv8

Unaware to many, VOCs are emitted from many common household products.

Thank you, I am considering replacing the 7Ds.

Originally Posted by AulusGabinius

1. Leave the mats out in the sun for a couple of days. They may get some sun damage, but the smell will be reduced significantly.
2. Get some vanilla essence and put a few drops on each mat, them leave outside to stabilise. Again, not complete elimination, but it does reduce significantly.
3. Get some silica packets from the food packets and leave them in the door pockets. Take them out once a week, leave them in the hot sun for an hour and put them back.

These should solve most of your problem, but ultimately I'd say you should replace with rubber and not go for PVC at all.

Thank you. Considering the numerous Velcros locked to the floor carpet to hold the 7D mats together especially in the middle row, it is cumbersome to take it out and put back in and good if we only keep that as the last resort. Steps 2 and 3 will keep in mind and try out, great to know.

Originally Posted by smsrini

Try putting 2-3 large bags of Dr.Charcoal available on Amazon along with 2 tubs of absobia descant gel.

The gel will prevent moisture build up and the charcoal is supposed to absorb the bad smells. I use the charcoal bags in a hexa and it's worked for my family. I don't have 7D mats but have autoform noodle mats.

The gel has to be changed every 3 months or so depending on humidity.

The charcoal every 6 months or so.

Thank you. I will add this to the list of possible remedies to try out. Absorbia silica gel I have seen used by many for various applications, they have good reputation.

Additionally, for everyone's benefit, BHPian dip27in has suggested to use methyl salicylate (winter green oil) in 1:10 dilution with Iso Propyl Alcohol to be applied on the mat to control this smell.


Thank you all for the suggestions will start trying these options and keep updating this thread.