Professional Door Panel Deep Cleaning and UV Protection

Never attempt deep cleaning when door panels are hot to the touch. In 40°C heat, cleaners will flash-dry instantly, causing chemical spotting. Park in a garage or under a high-quality shade sail. Allow the interior to cool for at least 30 minutes with doors open to equalise temperature.

Remove all items from door pockets. Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to remove loose red dust and sand from the bottom of pockets and speaker mesh. This prevents the dust from becoming 'mud' once you introduce liquid cleaners.

Dilute your APC with deionised water according to the level of soiling (1:10 for general use). Always perform a 'spot test' on an inconspicuous area, such as the very bottom of the door card, to ensure the cleaner doesn't lift dye or damage specialized coatings.

Identify all electronic components: window switches, mirror toggles, and speaker drivers. If you are using a heavy spray or steam, lightly mask these areas with low-tack painters tape to prevent moisture ingress into the PCB components.

Using a dry, clean boar's hair brush, agitate the seams, stitching, and speaker grilles while holding a vacuum nozzle nearby. This captures the fine Australian red dust that settles deep in the texture, which would otherwise turn into a staining slurry when wet.

Divide the door panel into four zones: Top roll (near window), Middle trim/handle, Armrest, and Lower pocket. Work one zone at a time to prevent the cleaner from drying on the surface. Focus on the armrest first as it typically holds the most body oil.

Spray your diluted cleaner onto the brush or scrub pad—not directly onto the panel—to avoid 'run lines' which can permanently mark dry plastic. Agitate in small, circular motions. You should see the white foam turn brown or orange as it lifts contaminants.

Sunscreen is notoriously difficult to remove. If a standard APC fails, use a dedicated interior scrub pad with slightly more pressure. The mechanical action of the nylon mesh helps break the bond of the oils without the need for aggressive solvents.

For heavily soiled armrests or sticky residues, wrap a microfibre towel over a steam cleaner nozzle. Pass it slowly over the surface. The heat opens the 'pores' of the vinyl, allowing the towel to wick away deeply embedded dirt that chemicals alone cannot reach.

Use a damp detailing brush to clean the intricate holes of the speaker grilles. Do not spray liquid here. Use compressed air to blow out any trapped moisture or cleaner immediately to protect the speaker cone behind the plastic.

Use a clean, damp (with deionised water) microfibre towel to wipe away the lifted dirt and chemical residue. This 'rinsing' step is critical; leaving dried APC on the surface will attract more dust and can lead to a 'white-out' effect on plastics.

Thoroughly dry the panel with a fresh, dry microfibre. Use a high-intensity inspection light or a headlamp to check for missed spots, especially in the door pull handle and around the window switches. The surface should look uniform and matte.

Apply a pea-sized amount of UV protectant (e.g., 303 Aerospace) to a microfibre applicator pad. Wipe onto the panel in even, overlapping passes. This creates a sacrificial barrier against UV-A and UV-B rays, which are significantly stronger in the Australian summer.

Allow the protectant to bond for 5-10 minutes. If the surface looks 'patchy,' it means the plastic was extremely dry and absorbed the product unevenly. Apply a second light coat. Finally, buff the entire panel with a clean microfibre to remove any excess gloss, leaving a factory matte finish.