Re-conditioning your scuff plates....when all else fails.

**gigondaz** · 01-05-2011, 07:24 AM

On most cars, dirty and stained "plastic scuff plates" (bottom of door entrance) are easily cleaned with any suitable chemicals. But sometimes, no matter what you do, that scuff plate still looks old, scratched and worn out.

This 1st-generation Lexus Harrier was roughly used for more than 10yrs, and it`s scuff plates and cream leather seats were horrible. Dogs getting in and out too. Now, it`ll be transformed into an audio demonstrator car, and the owner wants to re-condition the interior as best as possible.

Even if the crappy leather seats can be made to look great (tough luck!) these scuff plates (pic below) were an eyesore. Heavily scratched and stained.

The usual MPC, Meg`s products, Optimum products, cleaner waxes, slightly abrasive stuff, toothpaste (!!)....all the way to acetone, mineral spirits......no effect at all:mad1::mad1::mad1: That`s when I took this pic. At this juncture, the owner even saw it and checked the price of new scuff plates....too expensive.

An interior restoration specialist friend suggested I try Autosol Leather Cleaner

With a bit of elbow grease .....Presto!

After 15mins.....it looked fabulous! Roughly 95% of the problems were removed.

**Accumulator** · 01-05-2011, 12:19 PM

Gigondaz- Huh, good discovery! I never even heard of that stuff....

**jmsc** · 01-05-2011, 04:47 PM

Been looking for a great scuff remover for many a year. Never found one. Was asked by many customers for such a product. So, I ordered a tube from an antique restoration store in MA. Thanks for the recommendation.

**gigondaz** · 01-07-2011, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Gigondaz- Huh, good discovery! I never even heard of that stuff....

LOL!!! I`ve bought 9 tubes for my shop!

**gigondaz** · 01-07-2011, 07:33 AM

jmsc...there`s lots of "undiscovered great products" out there!!!

zz:

**David Fermani** · 01-09-2011, 08:02 PM

Good stuff.

**Accumulator** · 01-10-2011, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by gigondaz

jmsc...there`s lots of "undiscovered great products" out there!!!

zz:

Heh heh, yeah...lots of new ways to spend money, just what I`m looking for

**Hey, Moe!** · 01-12-2011, 11:37 PM

Hmmm...another product to try.

I`ll let you know in the spring, after the winter Focus gets some rest, and TLC, and I work on the daughter`s car, though I did get two coats of IW on it before winter.

If you ever want to try out a product--try it out on your kids` vehicles. IMHO, there`s no better test. If it works there, it`ll work anywhere.

Though, my daughter is starting to figure this out....she now understands what a "two-bucket wash" is, and is ready to do it herself come spring.