Cleaning Your Car - Hints, Tips & Tricks

[KrisMoyse]

Reviving Plastic Trim

'The Old Sunflower Oil Trick'

Had an hour for my lunch so decided to give her a once over with a sponge and a bit of detailing round the edges (believe me I've never moved so quick! lol)

Read on here about a tip used to bring life back to those faded black trim bits like the MR2 grill on the back and the vents on the rear quarters.

• Simple get yourself a dry, cotton cloth
  Dab it in some sunflower/olive oil (sunflower's cheaper lol)
  Then simply apply to the desired surface (be careful not to get it on the paintwork, leaves nasty smears)

Like I said, heard about this tip on here and tried it for the first time today and I've gotta say, it's 10 times better than any products on the market!

Believe me I've been through SO many trim restorers trying to find one that'll bring the black bits up nice and who'd have known that it was a 29p bottle of sunflower oil that was the best! Not only that but you don't need to use hardly any!

I'm posting this to let you all know what a great trick it is (incase, like me you didn't already).

Now get outside and get them 2's gleamin!

[Harry]

Right another Mc Donald's; Idea: Clear Refined Vinegar: What about under 50 p? Perfect to clean Rims: Dilute say 50/50 with Autoglym car shampoo; diluted or with what ever shampoo car wash soap you have place in spray bottle say an empty old other car bottle product. Spray the rims,wipe off with sponge,dry. finish with what ever else sealer rim product.Last's as many washes as the £4-6 wheel cleaners!!! Obviously use your silicone to complete the tyres back to black! Obviously "Avoid The brakes" as Vinegar Is Acidic and Removes Grease In The Same Action As Citric;So Is A Grease Type Remover!

I use this method on the run around car not the MR 2!....

[KrisMoyse]

-example-

Why don't we have this as a car cleaning thread?

I know that sounds a bit 'Kim and Aggy' but all those great methods for cleaning parts of your car with very little expense.

'Blue Peter' it as they say.

Simply put what you're cleaning at the top of your post (see -example-).

Be a good reference point for those who want a 'showroom finish' at little cost

[Harry]

[KrisMoyse]

Cleaning Windows

A great tip for cleaning your windows.

Grab yourself some clear vinegar (not the brown, chip worthy stuff) and mix it 50/50 with water in a spray bottle.

Then simple use that to give your windows a mirror shine.

If you HAVE to buy anything for cleaning you glass, a GREAT product to use is 'AutoGlym Glass Cleaner/Protector', just used it, great stuff works as a whip on/whip off cream.

[Greddy-Matt]

Refreshing Tired Engine Parts
Can't quite get those manifolds and other cast engine parts clean enough?
Are they looking a bit shabby? Easy fix, take a can of silver spray paint, spay onto a rag and rub into the metal, will leave it looking brand new and no worries on chipping / blistering paint...

[KrisMoyse]

Cheers lads keep em comin!

[mrfil13]

any tips on getting rainx off?

[jimGTS]

if you did the interior with this oil, and it gets to summer, whats the interior gona smell like?
chips?

[cantfindausername]

give you engine bay a clean with WD 40. Just spray it pretty much anywhere. Makes black pipes look fresh, doesn't harm electricals and generally makes the thing smell nice too

[peterc]

the trick with the vinegar and water is to add some washing up liquid and give a good shake you want just a touch of froth.wipe it on you should get a slight milky look .Then quickly before it dries wipe with clean kitchen towel the bounty stuff will do .do not use cloth again.now tell me your glass has no smears and is sooo clear lkie new!
ps you want your black bits black in and out of car go to halfords and buy BLACK IN A FLASH you wont be dissapointed ive tried everything this is brill.

[Hellboy]

i just sprayed my trim with some satin lacquer

[KrisMoyse]

if you did the interior with this oil, and it gets to summer, whats the interior gona smell like?
chips?

Lol, mobile chippy!

It's just for the exterior. Use dash shine, or back-to-black for the dash, interior trim etc

[cantfindausername]

Might be worth a disclaimer that you shouldn't use it on steering wheels, or the oil on your tyres etc. Some numpty will probaly try it.

[DONUT69]

As if the mr2 is not already a handful lol.

[ChrisW]

What's the best thing for cleaning the steering wheel without leaving it slippery?

[KrisMoyse]

What's the best thing for cleaning the steering wheel without leaving it slippery?

If it's leather use leather shampoo and leather conditioner.

It'll clean it, feed and revive the leather and leaves it grippy.

[KrisMoyse]

How to clean the dash and console and in your car without dust flying everywhere and give it a nice clean shine

First of all put a little baby oil on your rag and wipe down the dash of your car (as you can see its getting clean and shiny already)

Turn your rag over and get a little more baby oil if needed and wipe down untill you see no more dirt

Take your clean rag and wipe the dash and areas down until the shine is dull , cleaning all the dirt away

If you want extra shine get another rag and apply baby oil and wipe until you have the shine that you want, as well as making your dash shiny this also moisturizes your cars interior and help keep it protected from the sun

[cantfindausername]

How to clean the dash and console and in your car without dust flying everywhere and give it a nice clean shine

First of all put a little baby oil on your rag and wipe down the dash of your car (as you can see its getting clean and shiny already)

Turn your rag over and get a little more baby oil if needed and wipe down untill you see no more dirt

Take your clean rag and wipe the dash and areas down until the shine is dull , cleaning all the dirt away

If you want extra shine get another rag and apply baby oil and wipe until you have the shine that you want, as well as making your dash shiny this also moisturizes your cars interior and help keep it protected from the sun

And that one day when the sun does shine you'll burn your eyes out

[KrisMoyse]

lol ^^^^