Honda Element: What`s the Seat?

**Brenton** · 05-30-2006, 06:00 AM

Hey, have a Honda Element in today. Has the plastic floor, and a strange material on the seats. What is it? How do I clean it?
thanx brenton

**vwgtivw** · 05-30-2006, 11:21 AM

Do they feel like foam rubber, maybe they are neoprene like a wet suit? I know some aftermarket companies make them for Jeeps.

P.S. If it feel like a mouse pad its neoprene

**vwgtivw** · 05-30-2006, 11:25 AM

Just looked it up on honda and it said it`s a Waterproof FXC fabric

.
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/...elName=Element

**Brenton** · 05-30-2006, 08:32 PM

^Yeah, that`s part of the seat. But there`s a polyester type, tight woven fabric that is quiet tin (a nylon bristle brush will scratch it).
But the cloth is not waterproof, exactly. It des repel water, but once it goes in, it stays in. I used AM EZ-Upholstery Shampooo (1:30), but it wasn`t going even. So I tried Zep Dry Foam Shampoo. It worked well, but I`m having trouble getting stains out.
Nasty vehicle. All rubber floor, so I pressure washed it and vacced up the excess. The dressing is taking forever.

**Sludge** · 05-30-2006, 09:51 PM

Might want to check this out: They have a wax subforum.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/for...ad.php?t=20087

Sludge

**Brenton** · 05-31-2006, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by Sludge

Might want to check this out: They have a wax subforum.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/for...ad.php?t=20087

Sludge

Thank you for the link. I`m hitting it again in half hour. The online forum recommends just dish soap & water.

**pt91** · 05-31-2006, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by PEI Detail

^Yeah, that`s part of the seat. But there`s a polyester type, tight woven fabric that is quiet tin (a nylon bristle brush will scratch it).
But the cloth is not waterproof, exactly. It des repel water, but once it goes in, it stays in. I used AM EZ-Upholstery Shampooo (1:30), but it wasn`t going even. So I tried Zep Dry Foam Shampoo. It worked well, but I`m having trouble getting stains out.
Nasty vehicle. All rubber floor, so I pressure washed it and vacced up the excess. The dressing is taking forever.

Be careful with the floor. It was not meant to be hosed out. That is sort of an urban legend. Water can get under the floor and cause problems.

I have those seats and don`t know what should be used on them but I am interested in what you find.

In the DX model, the back seats are a different fabric than the fronts I think.

Good luck.

**vwgtivw** · 05-31-2006, 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by PEI Detail

Thank you for the link. I`m hitting it again in half hour. The online forum recommends just dish soap & water.

Sounds like its wet suit material check out your local dive or surf shop.

**DFTowel** · 05-31-2006, 09:45 AM

Read about the material here http://www.autofieldguide.com/columns/0802mat.html

**vwgtivw** · 05-31-2006, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by DFTowel

Read about the material here http://www.autofieldguide.com/columns/0802mat.html

Sounds like a cool material. PEI let us know how the stains turn out.

**Brenton** · 05-31-2006, 06:48 PM

So they came out okay, basically sprayed on detergent and extracted. I used a soft cloth to massage a couple of stains.
The owner (Honda dealer) was pleased. I probably used 2oz of PB`s Trim Restorer on the outside, huge flat panels. Lots of dressing inside, looked good.