Restoring Faded Interior Plastics and Trims

Empty every single thing out of the centre console, glovebox, and door pockets. You can't clean what you can't reach. Chuck the old servo receipts and those 5-cent coins in a jar.

Before you touch a liquid, vacuum everything. Use a soft brush attachment. If you've been out west and there's red dust, blowing it out with compressed air first is even better. If you go straight in with wet cleaner, you'll just create a red mud that stains everything.

Always, and I mean always, test your cleaner on a hidden spot. I once worked on a customer's older Merc where the 'soft touch' coating just melted off when I touched it with a mild APC. Better to find out in a corner than in the middle of the dash.

Spray your APC onto your brush, not directly onto the dash (this prevents overspray on the glass). Work in small sections using circular motions. You'll see the foam turn brown or grey, that's years of sweat, skin oils, and Aussie dust coming out.

Before the cleaner dries, wipe it off with a clean microfibre. Flip the towel often. If the towel comes away dirty, repeat the scrub. You want that plastic perfectly matte and clean.

These are usually the grossest part. If there's dried coffee or soda, let some APC sit for a minute, or use a steam cleaner. Use a cotton bud for the tiny crevices. Trust me, the missus will notice this more than anything else.

For those kick marks on the door cards, try a damp microfibre first. If they won't budge, use a Magic Eraser very gently. Don't scrub hard or you'll sand away the factory texture and leave a shiny bald spot.

If the trim feels greasy even after cleaning, it's likely old silicone dressing. Give it a quick wipe with a diluted IPA solution (15-20%). This ensures your new protectant actually bonds to the plastic.

Put a small amount of your chosen dressing (like Gtechniq C6) onto an applicator. Work it into the plastic evenly. I prefer a matte finish, it looks factory and doesn't reflect the sun into your eyes while driving on the highway.

After letting the dressing sit for about 5-10 minutes, go over it with a clean, dry microfibre. This 'levels' the product, removing any high spots or streaks and leaving a uniform look.

Use a dry brush to clear any white residue from the edges of buttons. There's nothing that screams 'amateur job' more than white wax stuck in the window switches.

Pull the car out into the sun (or use a high-powered torch). You'll see streaks you missed in the garage. Touch them up now before they cure.