Cleaning plastics, leather upholstery and door panels

[Reverend]

Title says it all. There must be dozens of similar threads but i'll start this anyway.

I recently bought 72 240Z from California and it was dirty as hell from inside.

Door panels are ok but there is some primer stains and LOTS of other dirt i need to get rid of. I tried Turle Wax leather cleaner, well it cleaned a bit but not all. Also, are they even real leather?

Also the plastics are faded, need to bring them back to original glory, suggestions taken!

Seats are almost in mint condition, except for stitchings. Are they real leather?

Thank you!!

[hls30.com]

No leather in the upholstery in an original 240Z.

I usually wipe the dirt off with plain old soap and water-rinsing well at the end.

then I try Rubbing alcohol, if it doesn't touch the overspray, I'll go to laquer thinner very carefully.

For faded(not sunburned)try back to black. If it is sunburned-but not crumbly, wipe it down with laquer thinner and shoot it with SEM Landau Black if the interior is black-if it is any other color visit SEMs website and request a free color chart, then buy the appropriate color. Several thin coats, flashed between works the best.

Will

[ajmcforester]

Mix one gallon hot/warm water and one cup vinegar and some elbow grease will do wonders. On the over spray try some Eco-tech you can find it at a bike store, you can mix it very lightly and clean the areas that are really dirty. For the plastic get a Mothers buffball and plastic polish after you clean it by had it will do wonders on the plastic. If you have any stress impacts on the plastic try a heat gun and slowly heat the area to recolor it it works wonders, it also works on faded areas.

[draztik280]

i bought a 280z a month ago and came with an origianl tan interior. The plastic panels are very dirty and was very difficult to remove the old dirt. What I did is I bought a Vinyl/Plastic Paint made by Duplicolor and painted all the tan plastic with the spray paint. so as the door panels and the back vinyl. Now, my interior look like brand new, except for the seat which is need for re upholster.

[ajmcforester]

i bought a 280z a month ago and came with an origianl tan interior. The plastic panels are very dirty and was very difficult to remove the old dirt. What I did is I bought a Vinyl/Plastic Paint made by Duplicolor and painted all the tan plastic with the spray paint. so as the door panels and the back vinyl. Now, my interior look like brand new, except for the seat which is need for re upholster.

Duplicolor needs the panels very clean to have good adhesion you might be stripping the paint. Beside I can tell when people paint the panels, but it don't look bad if you get good adhesion.

If you want them looking new try what I posted earlier. When I bought my first Z I thought I had the wrong color since it looked like a really dirty butterscotch interior, but it was white. These results took time and some over nicotine exposure, but they are all original panels. See below

PS use a good vinyl protectant after it is clean. I like Mothers because it leaves a more natural look and does not have much cleaners which can dry out the vinyl. With Mothers you need to wash the panels before using unlike other brands

[Reverend]

I bought VHT vinyl spray and it does wonders to old vinyls! I havent yet tested it to door panels but thats next.

[mlc240z]

along the same lines, how about the marks from mildew and the mildew itself?

car is garaged now (don't know about the PO), but wanted to make sure it won't reoccur.

with a black interior, i used a very mild bleach solution and simple green to clean/kill the mildew (seemed to work well) but wanted to know if anyone has a better idea.

[ajmcforester]

Keep it clean, and put some moisture absorption packs inside the car. Milldew does not like to grow on plastic, more than what is on the plastic like dust and other tings.

[ZCurves]

I have used a product named LEXOL(See the attached pic). This stuff is available at ACE or Kroger. It is glycerin based and contains lanolin. You rub this stuff on and then go back and wipe it off with a wet warm towel. Cleans like a genie! Leaves the leather/vinyl smooth and clean with a moisturizer like hand cream. No funky odor.

[rtaylor]

I also use Lexol. Excellent product. I use it on my newer cars as well as the z. Seems to last quite awhile after application. No oily residue.

[AZ-240z]

I would, also, recommend Lexol Vinylex in a blue bottle for all plastic materials. I did a little research on-line of products recommended by detailer experts and a popularly recommended product for plastics was Vinylex.

I use it on my NOS dash and all new interior vinyl. The results are a low gloss finish that is not as slippery as Armorall and it doesn't seem to attract as much dust as other products I have used.

Dan

[bob m]

If you choose to paint the vinyl upholstery, clean with rubbing alcohol, spray vinyl adhesive, and before it drys spray the color. When this drys spray with SEM clear semi gloss for fabric. The interior will look like new and hold up.

Bob M