Best way to clean up a dash pad

[wm69]

Guy had a hardtop and doors (rough) for sale from an 85 CJ7. Was on the other side of the state, BUT!!! in the pic, I noticed what looked to be a honey passenger seat with no tears, and a dash pad that looked good too.

So I negotiated a price for those parts, then asked the guy if he would pull them (told him I would pay him for his trouble if they proved to be difficult to remove) and had a buddy pick them up who lived in that part of the state.

So, got the parts over the weekend. Dash pad has some rust on the back, and is filthy, and WAS perfect but looks like the inner screw going into the dash on the passenger side gave him trouble and he must have torn it loose. Hurt when I saw the break right at the screw hole, but that's what happens when you don't make the drive yourself, so the blame is on me for that.

So, with that in mind, I'd like to clean it up the best I can. I'm sure this 40 year old vinyl is brittle and will crack if I'm not extremely careful, so the question is, is there anything I can put on it to moisten the surface up and make it a little less brittle, and what's the best way to clean it? Has some velcro glued to the top right in the middle, which doesn't look like it will be hard to get off, but again, don't want to mess it up. Not many Honda dashes around in good shape anymore.

 

[wm69]

I'll get some pics this afternoon and post up when I get to work in the morning.

 

[Interceptor]

Vinyl is oil based, so warm water is best, to start.

You do not want to use anything that is designed to removes oil based stains. Dawn etc.. may clean the best, but will remove the remaining oil in vinyl quickly. Leaving the vinyl brittle in future sunlight.

 

[wm69]

Vinyl is oil based, so warm water is best, to start.

You do not want to use anything that is designed to removes oil based stains. Dawn etc.. may clean the best, but will remove the remaining oil in vinyl quickly. Leaving the vinyl brittle in future sunlight.

Great point. I ALMOST cleaned it last night with some Dawn and water too! Has some bird poop on it, a little bit of double sided tape that came off easily with light scratching from my fingernail, and then that velcro on top. The velcro glue seems dried out, so I'm hoping it won't be hard to come off, but not sure what to do to get the residue off, and I'm a little scared to start pulling on it incase it pulls a chunk of the vinyl up with it.

 

[wm69]

And here's the seat. I have some RMR mold stain remover I thought I might try on this one. Any other suggestions? No tears, just filthy/ nasty.

 

[Interceptor]

Do you have a hand steamer?

 

[John N]

I haven’t used it myself, but some people use vaseline.

 

[FLCJ8]

What's on your Work Bench?

Mrs. CJ8 wanted a barn door going to the basement so snap to it. Got to put some color on the wall and done.

www.cj-8.com

#1314 Craig shows his procedure, response further down listing what he uses.
He does a lot of this so may have insight on latest options.

 

[wm69]

Do you have a hand steamer?

I do! You're referring to a clothes steamer and not a steam pressure thingy right?

 

[wm69]

I haven’t used it myself, but some people use vaseline.

On the dash? That actually kinda makes sense to moisturize, but looks like dust would stick to it something fierce.

 

[Interceptor]

I have a small steamer that I use to clean car seats, parts, upholstery. A clothes steamer may work, never used one. Has long as the steam can reach soiled area. Steam then wipe with cloth

 

[gr8dain]

I haven’t used it myself, but some people use vaseline.

I came to say Lupo’s vaseline technique

 

[wm69]

I have a small steamer that I use to clean car seats, parts, upholstery. A clothes steamer may work, never used one. Has long as the steam can reach soiled area. Steam then wipe with cloth

No cleaner of any kind? I guess I can try just steam first, and if it doesn't work, try some sort of cleaner.

 

[Jeeperdd]

I came to say Lupo’s vaseline technique

Who do you think taught Lupo

 

[gr8dain]

Who do you think taught Lupo

Now I know