old vinyl care

[batmanSC]

Apologies if this has been covered before:

Are there products that people trust to clean interior vinyl in older cars (70s and 80s)? I've been told about 303 Protectant and Lexol Vinylex. Any recommendations? I've got an old 911 with a pristine dashboard and don't want to do anything to mess it up.

Thanks in advance!

[D911SC]

303 Protectant. No doubt about it

[Halm]

You don't mention age or color, but in general try cleaning with P21S Total Auto Wash (citrus based product) diluted 8-1 on a small, inconspicuous place and make sure it doesn't take all the color off. Then clean the rest of the vinyl. To finish it up, seal/protect the cleaned areas with either 303 Protectant or Vinylex.

[don gilbert]

This might sound crazy, but we have been doing this to old mustang dashes for 30 years. An old restorers trick on plastic and vinal parts is to coat them (thick) in pet.jelly (vasoline) fo a day or to. The plastic and vinal parts absorb the oils and will look like new and feel like new.

[t6dpilot]

Don, thanks for the tip. Question for you... Does the final product look shiny as if you put Armour All on it or does it have more of a satin sheen? I don't much like the shiny finish and would love to restore some of my 71 vinyl and plastic to a satin finish. How does that work on the hard plastic pieces that have faded such as the door release handles inside? Thanks.

[Evans, Marv]

Scott,

Not for the dash, but for the hard plastics, in the past I've been really happy with the results of painting those parts. I've cleaned them up and spray painted them with a color and finish I've wanted - mostly satin black. Now there are paints that supposedly "bond" to the plastic. I figure you can't look at them & tell they've been painted as opposed to applying some kind of chemical restoring agent. Plus the stuff you put on them to make them look good again dulls & fades after awhile and needs to be redone.

[Racerbvd]

Murphy's soap..

[Hotwatermusic]

Originally Posted by don gilbert

This might sound crazy, but we have been doing this to old mustang dashes for 30 years. An old restorers trick on plastic and vinal parts is to coat them (thick) in pet.jelly (vasoline) fo a day or to. The plastic and vinal parts absorb the oils and will look like new and feel like new.

Do you then simply wipe off the excess after the oils have soaked in, or is there anything specific that must be done after it's sat for the day to remove the petroleum jelly?

[don gilbert]

Just coat it on, let it sit for a few days if you can, wipe off. This will even bring back colored plastic parts to new condition. (no painting). My favorite thing to do this to is your old faded motorcycle switch housing. (i like old 75-78 goldwings to) Make them look factory new, and it lasts. the plastic actually absorbs the oils and it stays a factory look black (or color) for a long time. try with confidence, we have been doing this for years, and it works great.

[don gilbert]

How does that work on the hard plastic pieces that have faded such as the door release handles inside? Thanks.


You will want to send me money after you are done.

[dshepp806]

I can say (with ease) that the Petroleum Jelly/Vasolene (sp?) works great. Tried it this past weekend,...hand rubbing it into the rubber part of the whaletail, as well as the tires. Really didn't hit any plastic parts with it,..only rubber,..UN-FRIKIN-BELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!! Wiped all excess off with clean rag (rendered a unformity to coverage),..applied another treatment on the following day,..same wipe off after it sits for a while...results were the best I've ever had yet (of any products ever tried),..nice clean flat (non-shiny) look.......I'm a believer now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best,

Doyle

[don gilbert]

If possible Doyle, let it sit on there for a few days, no need to reapply