Advice about cleaning.

[bubanj93]

Hi. As this is my first post here, I will like to apologize upfront if I am repeating someone else's question from before. I've searched the forum a bit and did not find the answer to my question.
I have just acquired second hand Nissan Micra k12 (2004), and so far so good.
The question I have is regarding cleaning the interior. More specifically, that eco leather "attached" to plastic that is attached to door metal frame (or atleast I think it is eco leather, maybe it is some soft plastic?). The ones where switch for rolling down the window is (I really have no idea what to call that, sorry I am kinda new to cars, this is my first one!) I will provide pictures to better illustrate what I mean.
As you can see from the pictures, I had some success of cleaning this deep dirt or whatever, but most of it just wont budge. Is there any special cleaning agent for this type of material? I already tried regular hot water + soap combo, some portable steam cleaner, deep rinsing, you know, the regular stuff.

The model is Nissan Micra k12 (2004)
My location is Serbia, don't know if it is important.

 

[Mika The Finn]

I'm cleaning mine with mild warm soap/water mix by using soft brush or sponge.
Wipe dry after wash!

 

[bubanj93]

Thanks for your reply. I guess I can try this again with different brush/sponge, but I don't have high hopes. I am glad that it worked for you though.

I'm cleaning mine with mild warm soap/water mix by using soft brush or sponge.
Wipe dry after wash!

 

[MattInARedMicra]

Some sort of stiffer rotation brush might work for that, it seems like it's very textured

If you had an old electric toothbrush you might even be able to clean it with that, I've never tried it but I've seen them do similar on youtube car detailing videos. Perhaps there is a video of someone cleaning it on youtube?

welcome to the forum

 

[plmval]

Thanks for your reply. I guess I can try this again with different brush/sponge, but I don't have high hopes. I am glad that it worked for you though.

Looks like mostly dirty finger grease on handles & door card easily cleaned with a little washing up liquid, hot water, scrubbing brush & elbow grease.

Elbow grease vigorously applied could be part of your lockdown daily exercise schedule?

Finish off with de-odorant perfumed clothes washing machine detergent with hot water & rags wipe dry.

A little hard work can pay off & fix it with domestic cleaning materials ready to hand with no on-going unpleasant cleaning chemical odour problems.

Reference; https://www.micra.org.uk/threads/need-bit-of-help-spilled-oil-in-boot.71421/#

 

[bubanj93]

Some sort of stiffer rotation brush might work for that, it seems like it's very textured

If you had an old electric toothbrush you might even be able to clean it with that, I've never tried it but I've seen them do similar on youtube car detailing videos. Perhaps there is a video of someone cleaning it on youtube?

welcome to the forum

Thanks for your suggestions. I was indeed searching youtube videos, but couldn't figure out the name of the damned material. Is it vinyl, rubber or something else entirely, I don't know. Also, in some cases I found relative videos, but products used there aren't available here in Serbia, so I was kinda looking for some household solution so to speak.
Electric toothbrush sounds good, I will just have to wait a bit more, don't want to waste it just yet

 

[bubanj93]

Looks like mostly dirty finger grease on handles & door card easily cleaned with a little washing up liquid, hot water, scrubbing brush & elbow grease.

Elbow grease vigorously applied could be part of your lockdown daily exercise schedule?

Finish off with de-odorant perfumed clothes washing machine detergent with hot water & rags wipe dry.

A little hard work can pay off & fix it with domestic cleaning materials ready to hand with no on-going unpleasant cleaning chemical odour problems.

Reference; https://www.micra.org.uk/threads/need-bit-of-help-spilled-oil-in-boot.71421/#

Indeed, I was on multiple occasions trying to clean that door panel, but with little luck. Honestly, I just don't care about it that much to make it a daily habit, as for quarantine, there are books to be read and workouts to be done .
Anyhow, I did apply a fair amount of pressure with microfiber cloth, sponge, soap and hot water mixture etc. I even tried using sanding paper (for dry sanding), and honestly that worked up until some limit.
It is like the bottom part of the panel is hardcore dirt immune to regular methods of cleaning.
Thanks for reference and for your reply.

 

[MattInARedMicra]

Thanks for your suggestions. I was indeed searching youtube videos, but couldn't figure out the name of the damned material. Is it vinyl, rubber or something else entirely, I don't know. Also, in some cases I found relative videos, but products used there aren't available here in Serbia, so I was kinda looking for some household solution so to speak.
Electric toothbrush sounds good, I will just have to wait a bit more, don't want to waste it just yet

no idea what it's made of, it'll be some sort of softer plastic probably, a mix of a lot of different materials

Makes it very difficult to clean as a lot of the solutions strong enough to clean it will also probably damage it - depending where it is you could always paint over it save yourself the arm ache lol

 

[bubanj93]

no idea what it's made of, it'll be some sort of softer plastic probably, a mix of a lot of different materials

Makes it very difficult to clean as a lot of the solutions strong enough to clean it will also probably damage it - depending where it is you could always paint over it save yourself the arm ache lol

Yeah, I spoke a lot with my father about it, and he suggested painting it as well. I guess it doesn't sound too bad, I just have to protect everything else nicely. Thanks for +1 on that idea

 

[MattInARedMicra]

Yeah, I spoke a lot with my father about it, and he suggested painting it as well. I guess it doesn't sound too bad, I just have to protect everything else nicely. Thanks for +1 on that idea

Yeah, a tip is to use spray paint and spray it into the lid, then smear/dab it on with a sponge so it gets into everywhere evenly

You can get spray paint especially made for plastics which is probably the best bet, the brand we have here is 'Plasti kote' - they're designed to evaporate quicker than the thinners in regular paint so you don't see brush marks

Not sure what it will be like with rubbing off after it drys if it's an area that see's a lot of use, clear coat is an option to seal it but it may make it too glossy/tacky


Saying that with the quarantine lockdown you could get carried away and have it looking like a nissan juke

 

[bubanj93]

Yeah, a tip is to use spray paint and spray it into the lid, then smear/dab it on with a sponge so it gets into everywhere evenly

You can get spray paint especially made for plastics which is probably the best bet, the brand we have here is 'Plasti kote' - they're designed to evaporate quicker than the thinners in regular paint so you don't see brush marks

Not sure what it will be like with rubbing off after it drys if it's an area that see's a lot of use, clear coat is an option to seal it but it may make it too glossy/tacky


Saying that with the quarantine lockdown you could get carried away and have it looking like a nissan juke

That is a nice looking interior . Although, a bit to bright for my taste, I would use darker shade of that orange. Anyway, thanks for the help, I think I'll go with the paint

 

[plmval]

That is a nice looking interior . Although, a bit to bright for my taste, I would use darker shade of that orange. Anyway, thanks for the help, I think I'll go with the paint

Quote: “Although, a bit to bright for my taste”

The Joke interior looks like a five year old splashed gaudy orange paint around as someone pimped their ride all fur coat & no nickers?

 

[MattInARedMicra]

Quote: “Although, a bit to bright for my taste”

The Joke interior looks like a five year old splashed gaudy orange paint around as someone pimped their ride all fur coat & no nickers?

Ah the ladies love it though

Paint your micra interior like that you'll have to drive around with the doors locked and windows up to keep them out or else you'd never get home

 

[bubanj93]

I guess some Dutch girls would love it

 

[plmval]

I guess some Dutch girls would love it

The really nice & thinking ladies are not influenced positively by those who pimp their ride?

 

[Tornado]

Bumpitty bump...
I have a newly acquired (two days ago) '03 K12, and started to give the grubby interior a decent clean. When it came to the door panels exactly like those pictured above, I could not decide was it a pale panel with dirt down in the recesses of the grain, or a dark panel with the colour worn off the tops of the grain. If you see what I mean. So naturally I stopped scrubbing for the moment. Any suggestions much appreciated. Also, should I change my name from Tornado to Cornflower? Hmmm.