Cleaning dirty buttons on AC and radio Topic is solved

Post by **SonicAdventure** » 27 Apr 2017, 13:03

I really can't stand looking at these filthy buttons on my car anymore. However, I can't tell if this is the soft-touch paint rubbing off or if it is caked up grease.

Can I remove the AC dials? I've pulled on them but they don't seem to want to come off. Didn't want to try too hard and break anything.

What is the best way to clean these items up?

Post by **matthew1** » 27 Apr 2017, 14:22

Try the most gentle product first. Armor All takes the white lettering off!

crlande · Post by **crlande** » 27 Apr 2017, 14:37

Used Pledge furniture polish as suggested by older posts with this issue. Spray on rag, gently wipe and repeat. Worked good on my window switches a few years back.

Post by **E Showell** » 27 Apr 2017, 15:37

I posted on this a while back. For the a/c dials, rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or q-tip works wonders. I wouldn't use the same treatment on the radio buttons however, since that is the rubberized paint.

Post by **sleddriver** » 27 Apr 2017, 17:21

Yikes...that is pretty bad! I used an old, soft toothbrush + Lexol leather cleaner as it was close by. It did remove what was left of the 'high-touch' film but it was well past it's prime anyway. Lexol leather cleaner (orange bottle) makes a great interior dash/door/panel cleaner as well as cleans the seats. It's very, very concentrated however. I spray just a bit on a toothbrush, then dip it water. Great stuff. I'm not so fond of their leather conditioner though for use on Volvo seat 'leather'.

Post by **cn90** » 27 Apr 2017, 17:32

1+ on rubbing alcohol.

Post by **SonicAdventure** » 28 Apr 2017, 08:01

Thanks everyone. I used some rubbing alcohol on the AC dials and it worked wonders. I'll try the other solutions for the radio.

Post by **sleddriver** » 29 Apr 2017, 15:08

Did rubbing alcohol remove the lettering?

Post by **oragex** » 29 Apr 2017, 16:15

Sticky icky. I used hand sanitizing to rub the thin rubberized coat, works great. The letters are white plastic, won't wear

Post by **SonicAdventure** » 29 Apr 2017, 16:54

sleddriver wrote: ↑29 Apr 2017, 15:08 Did rubbing alcohol remove the lettering?

So the rubbing alcohol works great on the AC dials. They look brand new now. It didn't affect any of the paint or lettering. I know I was advised not to use the alcohol on the radio buttons, but I was so repulsed by that caked on build-up I figured what the hell..

Well, the alcohol removed the gunk alright...along with whatever was left of the soft touch paint. I actually liked the look of the semi-gloss black buttons with the grey radio frame so I went ahead and removed the old cruddy soft touch on all the radio buttons. The alcohol did not affect any of the lettering or white paint. But it dissolved the grey paint film almost instantly. I will post a pic tomorrow. It actually complements the Uniden CB radio I just installed...grey frame and semi gloss black buttons. I think it looks 100x better than before. But don't touch the radio knobs with alcohol if you do want to keep the soft touch...one drop of it and it will eat it away like nothing!