How not to scratch interior plastics and nav screen, does that exist?

TrustJesus

TrustJesus

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Hey guys, this is a detail forum but I find it’s the little things that really matter. I want to talk about how not to scratch interior cheap plastics, including instrument panel, nav screen? Ok, my wife has a 2018 Dodge Durango GT, it has chrome

cheap plastic around where you put truck in drive and park. I try so hard not to scratch it, I normally spray apc, and wipe down with a cheap microfiber towel, but man that is scratched.

Question 1. So that got me thinking, other than maybe air compressing those cheap parts, won’t it streak? I know I’m putting on my plate, this and that but I’m trying to really wow myself and clients.

Question 2. how does one clean plastic instrument cluster that goes speed and radio plastic again without scratching. Sorry for long post, but hey I’m curious to learn from the pros,

thanks AG
 
Instead of using APC use a QID such as:

Meguiars Quik Interior Detailer

McKee’s Fast Interior Detailer

Renny Doyle P&S Interior Detailer

I personally use Mothers Revision Glass & Surface Cleaner

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Don’t use the cheapest microfiber towel if you want to avoid scratching the surface.

Spray onto the towel and wipe clean.
 
Eldorado2K is quick to my post , thanks my man.

So basically use better towels for delicate stuff as chrome plastics.

Oh man I’m upset but hey can’t learn unless you fail.

Experience is your best teacher, but I’ll keep at it.
 
TrustJesus said:
Eldorado2K is quick to my post , thanks my man.

So basically use better towels for delicate stuff as chrome plastics.

Oh man I’m upset but hey can’t learn unless you fail.

Experience is your best teacher, but I’ll keep at it.
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I use Costco Kirklands.. Just make sure they’re not the same stained crusty ones you also do your doorjambs withlol.
 
Hey man , I feel stupid. I thought as long as it said microfiber it wouldn’t scratch but that’s the way it goes. I’m place order for the mothers you said and a soft Gyeon wipe down towel.
 
TrustJesus said:
Hey man , I feel stupid. I thought as long as it said microfiber it wouldn’t scratch but that’s the way it goes. I’m place order for the mothers you said and a soft Gyeon wipe down towel.
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They say that the lower the blend the worse the towel is... It’s kind of hard to find a microfiber towel that’s less than a 20/80 blend but they do exist.. The ones that I wouldn’t trust to do this job and certainly not on paint would be the ones you find @ the 99 cent store.

There’s some at Oreillys that suck too, mainly because they don’t absorb liquids very well. [they’re the ones labeled for wax, polish removal] I’ve never tried the ones from Wally World or Sams, but that’s because I’m happy with the Kirklands for most of my general use including waterless washing and interior wipedowns. They don’t scratch a thing. I just picked up a new batch.

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I have lots of towels including some real expensive ones, but for most general purposes those Kirklands serve me justice.
 
Hmmm well see told you I was new lol, all kidding aside man thanks bro. Luckily it’s our truck and not a clients or something. But no really I didn’t know cheaper towels scratched I thought just being microfiber towels meant they’re safe. Guess I was wrong, really wrong .
 
TrustJesus said:
Hmmm well see told you I was new lol, all kidding aside man thanks bro. Luckily it’s our truck and not a clients or something. But no really I didn’t know cheaper towels scratched I thought just being microfiber towels meant they’re safe. Guess I was wrong, really wrong .
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I’ve actually never experienced a microfiber towel that has scratched.. Just sayin those super cheapo ones I wouldn’t wanna chance it because they’re really thin and don’t feel soft.
 
Yes well I made that mistake and man it’s not worth it trust me, thanks bro I appreciate your help. You just saved my butt, because I was detailing wrong.

So basically is it ok to use this cheap microfiber towels on door panels and dashboard? Just don’t use them on delicate areas correct?
 
TrustJesus said:
So basically is it ok to use this cheap microfiber towels on door panels and dashboard? Just don’t use them on delicate areas correct?
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You’re welcome.

And which exact kind of microfibers are you talking about?
 
Well due to forum rules, I can’t say but there cheap and thin. But I’m change for better ones. I’ll just keep the ones I have for engine bays.
 
Eldorado has covered all the pertinent things very well in terms of MF and process. Use high quality MF for delicate surfaces such as gauge cluster and some of the interior plastics and your interior detailer/cleaner directly on the MF, not the surface to be cleaned. He also states that the really cheap ones likely do not absorb much and that's also true, they do not.

I'll add that I've use Sams MF for door jambs, engine bay, exhaust tips, wheels and things of that nature in the past. They never scratched anything. As my collection of MF expanded I moved the better quality MF towels that were getting stained, etc down to those tasks and used the new(er) quality MF to the interior.

As has been stated in this forum countless times the interior is where your customer or you will spend the vast majority of their time so while it's not the glamorous part of detailing to me it is maybe more critical than the exterior.
 
Yes I agree with you guys, as always thanks for your time and help
 
TrustJesus said:
Well due to forum rules, I can’t say but there cheap and thin. But I’m change for better ones. I’ll just keep the ones I have for engine bays.
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You can mention the towels you bought. You might save the next guy from buying them, and AG only sells top-notch MF.

The rules are for those who are recommending/touting a rival product that AG does not sell.
 
Walmart auto drive microfiber pack. I thought any any “microfiber” was safe, but these are thin and they scratched my Durango interior fake chrome trim. So there good for engine bays only but do not use them interior, I learned the hard way.
 
TrustJesus said:
Walmart auto drive microfiber pack. I thought any any “microfiber” was safe, but these are thin and they scratched my Durango interior fake chrome trim. So there good for engine bays only but do not use them interior, I learned the hard way.
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Engine bays, door jambs, wheel wells, and removing bird bombs off of glass in a pinch when you are on the road.

Other than that, those Wally World "rags" are pretty useless for Auto Geeks. :)
 
Yes, I’m pretty mad at myself clearly need to slow down and pay attention. But like I keep saying it’s the small details that make a big difference. Either way, I appreciate you all.
 
Another factor to prevent scrathes is to make sure you wash your MF towels in such a way that you keep them soft. Specifically, make sure you dry them on an ultra low heat setting and never use any kind of fabric softener. FS, despite the name, actually causes the ends of the MF thread to get hard. So incorrectly washed MF towels can actually cause scratches. Hope that helps.
 
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