The original rubber mats in my ghia are in good shape, but are a bit dry. What is a good product to use here? Kind of like a moisturiser for rubber. (For when your mats have dry, cracked skin........)

Can't tell you what to use but I can tell you what NOT to use (armorall) it looks good at first, but it dose no good to the rubber, it just coats the top with silicone. and after a while it has a slightly brown discolouration. what ever you use be carefull it dosent leave a residue, that can coat the bottom of your shoes, you put your foot on the brake pedal and it will slide strait off, I know from experiance!
I think once rubber has dried out there is not much you can do. I once soaked some rubber grommets in an oil bath for a week, and they were as hard as the day I put them in there, when I got them out.
Rob.....

I think Boot Polish is good for them.

I agree, with you dave
Boot polish, Thats probably the best thing
I remember back in the days of my youth, it was one of my jobs to black the tyres on the family chariot, and my father used to hand me the tin of Kiwi and a brush, and used to say "be quick about it"
Rob........

ive used glycerine after a recommendation from an old bloke once, seems to do the job. i also use it on my window rubbers etc.

I know that glycerine is commonly used as an ingredient in sliced bread. It's hygroscopic, which means it absorbs water from the air, and so it's effect is to stop the bread drying out (=going stale). Maybe it's having the same effect on your window rubbers.

while were on the subject of rubber mats, where can u get them new for a 60's beetle (rhd).

What about Black Rubber Tyre Paint?

Is that any good?

I hadn't even thought about boot polish, but it makes sense. Thanks Dave, robo.

Glycerine I have also used on window rubbers. I had wondered how slippery it would make it, as per robos comment feet slipping off etc.

I have got some old mats, may experiment a bit with those first to let you know what works best. Let you know how it goes.

I definitely won't be using Armorall, have seen some bad things happen with that stuff!

Angus

In WA we have a auto trade supply group called Coventrys. I was in their fastener division, Sweetmans today, and saw lanoline being sold as a lubricant. The package said good as a rubber lubricant, leather dressing and okay if incidental contact with food! I guess for commercial food prep machines. Don't recall the product name, but available as a grease, spray on and liquid, could be worth looking in to.

I've also had glycerine recommended to me. Does the sugar become sticky and attract dust, and ants and flies though?

The Lanolin is called Lanotec

Its bloody great stuff i use it at work and have been spraying it on my cars on every thing that mooves,,, door hinges, locks, window winders, window runners etc etc.

Its make from sheep grease or the stuff thats in there wool as a natural product.

have a look http://www.lanotec.com.au 

I had a funny occurrence once I sprayed my beetle rubber floor mats with Its So Easy tyre stuff - I was opting for the quick and easy solution. Looked great, but boy did my shoes squeak on any shiny surface for weeks after!! The stuff rubbed onto the rubber soles of my shoes...embarrasing in shopping centres.

Dave, do you know if Lanotec is also good for the rubber floor mats? Could regular lanoline be substituted?

from http://www.lanotec.com.au 
(re the grease)
· Non-perishing: Prolongs life of rubber O-rings and seals
· Good resistance to mineral acids: Effective in highly corrosive industrial environments
· Rejuvenation: Rejuvenates leather, vinyls and other plastics

could be good for rubber mats after all, slippery perhaps.