make-up removal, and plastic gouges

[flat-top]

I have a 2010 Range Rover with make-up all over the sun visors, and interior. Can I just use one of those pre lubricated lysol pull out cloths? (or the generic cleaning cloths)

also, what can you do for heavy scratches or gouges in plastic?
perhaps heat?

[Mike.Phillips@Autogeek]

Since this is your first post to our forum,

Welcome to Autogeek Online!

Originally Posted by flat-top

I have a 2010 Range Rover with make-up all over the sun visors, and interior. Can I just use one of those pre lubricated Lysol pull out cloths? (or the generic cleaning cloths)

You can certainly try and it should remove some, if not all, of the offending make-up.

Most make-up has some type of oils or waxy substance to make them long lasting and water-proof or perspiration proof. In these cases, a Lysol disinfectant wipe might not offer enough cleaning ability to dissolve any waxy/oil smudges. If it doesn't maybe try an APC or All Purpose Cleaner. Spray some onto a microfiber towel and then use the towel to scrub the surface.

Originally Posted by flat-top

also, what can you do for heavy scratches or gouges in plastic?
perhaps heat?

Do you mean like the plastic on the gauges?


Careful with heat, you don't want to warp anything...

[swanicyouth]

Originally Posted by flat-top

also, what can you do for heavy scratches or gouges in plastic?
perhaps heat?

Probable nothing depending how bad it is, other than replace the offending part. They do make plastic polish, but it wont work for deep scratches. If it's in clear plastic, you likely will have to replace the part. If it's painted plastic, it may be able to be sanded and re-painted, but it may be tough to get a matching factory finish with the same texture. If it's a trim piece, you may consider getting it wrapped with some 3M Di Noc wrap.

[Mike.Phillips@Autogeek]

The problem with trying to remove scratches "out" of clear plastic gagues is that you have to abrade the surface until the surface is level with the lowest depths of the defects you're trying to remove.

The problem with that is you normaly can't get a machine polisher to the plastic gage an you can't move your hand fast enough to create an abrading/polishing action that doesn't just make things works.


I'm pretty sure I go into this topic in detail in this thread,

How to Remove Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?



The above is a very good thread if you read through it and not simply scan it. It also demonstrates what can be done to the plastic you can get to...


Like this quote by WestEnd, I took the liberty to place his pictures in our gallery so they wouldn't turn into red x's into the future, (like now).

Originally Posted by WestEnd

I was hesitant at first myself. Try a test spot and it will give you the confidence to go for it.

Obviously my pics were visible initially since there are comments. Seems a forum update or something happened to take them out of the thread.

Here are the pics in my album. I don't know why they disappeared from the thread. They are obviously not in the text but for now, at least something to see.

Burled Walnut after Scratch X 2.0:



After M205 50/50



reflection



Second type of wood trim, simulated wood.

Before



After Scratch X 2.0



After M205 and M21

Here's a place where "Mini Polishers" would be handy to have...

[Mike.Phillips@Autogeek]

Of course, if you own a classic truck like mine you can easily and simply remove the plastic over the gauges and polish till your hearts content...


Before - Current gages














One little crack in the plastic cover



Process - PlastX Applied by Hand





After

[vet]

Welcome!

[flat-top]

great replies, thank you!

I was referring to a gouge in the plastic interior pieces. Like when you scrape your shoes getting in and out. Or deep scrapes into plastic.

[Mike.Phillips@Autogeek]

Originally Posted by flat-top

great replies, thank you!

I was referring to a gouge in the plastic interior pieces. Like when you scrape your shoes getting in and out. Or deep scrapes into plastic.

So like the plastic door sills?

Here's the deal...

"Some materials don't lend themselves to being abraded with the end results looking good or original"


That would describe things like the plastic gouges in your plastic door sills.


The way you remove a scratch or gouge in a "material" is to either fill it in with a similar material or abrade the surface till you level the upper most surface with the lowest depths of the defect you're trying to remove.

Filling in - Complicated
When you're talking about this type of plastic it can be done but it's a lot more complicated than most people want to tackle. But I've done a type of plastic welding and the fumes alone are toxic and it will still never look like "nothing" happened in that area which is what most people wanting to fix a gouge have set their expectations too...

Abrading
Plastic, like the kind used on car interiors doesn't lend itself well to being abraded with the end result looking,

• Good
• Original

Might be easier to order replacement door sills and then after replacing them get in and out of the car carefully.


Great questions, tough "detailing" problem. Might be best to simply clean these areas with an APC and then apply a dressing and this will help improve how they look.

[Mike.Phillips@Autogeek]

Here's an article I wrote on this topic back in 2005, incredible that it's been up for 7 years and has 43,884 Views but zero replies.... I'm going to guess it answers any questions a person might have...


What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...

[flat-top]

awesome...that's what I was looking for. Thank you.

I used some OxyClean on a micro-fiber along with PurePower wipes. Most of the make-up, coffee stains, hair, lipstick, and what ever else was removed last night.