THREE-DIMENSIONAL VEHICLE MAT WASHER AND RELATED METHOD OF USE

An apparatus for cleaning a semi-rigid, three-dimensional vehicle mat can include a first set of compliant rollers spaced from one another and a second set of compliant rollers spaced from one another that cooperatively grab and advance the mat toward one or more brushes that scrub debris from above and/or below the mat. One or more of the compliant rollers can deform a distance radially toward an axis of rotation when contacting the mat to accommodate the contours of the mat and still grab the mat for advancing. The apparatus can include a holding pan that supports the mat so it is accessible through a second opening below the brushes and a first opening of a frame that supports the rollers and brushes. A deflector can be included to reroute the mat downstream of the brushes along a pathway toward the pan. A related method of use also is provided.