Bringing Tired Interior Plastics and Trim Back to Life

Chuck everything in the glovebox or a bucket. You can't clean a console if you're working around loose change and old servo receipts. Trust me, I've lost count of the number of times I've sucked up a stray earring with the shop vac.

Before you get anything wet, vacuum everywhere. Use a soft brush to flick dust out of the vents and buttons while holding the vacuum nozzle nearby. If you add liquid to red dust before removing it, you just create mud that stains the grain.

Wipe a clean, dry finger across the dash. If it leaves a smear or feels greasy, someone has previously used a cheap silicone dressing. You'll need to strip that off first.

Spray your interior cleaner onto your brush, not the dash (prevents overspray on the glass). Work in small sections, agitating in circular motions. You'll see the foam turn brown as it pulls out sweat, skin oils, and dust.

Wipe away the spent cleaner with a damp microfibre. If the plastic still looks patchy when it dries, go again. I learned this the hard way on a black Commodore, if you don't get it perfectly clean, the protectant will look blotchy.

If the surface is still 'shiny' but dirty, use your weak IPA mix. This kills that nasty 90s-style grease and gives you a fresh canvas. Honestly, I wouldn't bother with anything else if the surface feels tacky.

For those kick marks on the door sills or lower console, try a damp magic eraser. Be gentle! It's basically ultra-fine sandpaper. Don't use it on 'piano black' or clear plastics or you'll ruin them.

Modern cars love this shiny black plastic that scratches if you look at it wrong. Use a very fine polish (like Meguiar's PlastX) and a clean microfibre to gently buff out light scratches. It takes time, but it's worth it.

Make sure everything is 100% dry. If you're in a humid spot like Brissie or Cairns, give it an extra 20 minutes with the doors open.

Apply your chosen restorer (like 303) to an applicator pad. Work it into the surface. You're looking for even coverage, not a thick layer. It's like putting moisturiser on sunburnt skin.

Let the product sit for about 5 minutes. Then, and this is the bit most people skip, go back over it with a clean, dry microfibre. This levels the finish and removes any excess so it doesn't attract dust later.

Use a cotton bud or a wrapped toothpick to get the protectant out of the seams and around buttons. Nothing looks more 'amateur' than white residue dried in the cracks.

Lastly, clean your windscreen and instrument cluster. You've likely got a bit of 'product fog' on them now. A fresh glass towel is your best mate here.