cleaning and finishing wheel arch liners

[lingus75]

After a few filthy days, I decided to spend a day cleaning my car. The only disappointing bit left was the plastic wheel arch liners. Although free of muck, they are stained and a bit rubbish looking.

What is the best way to clean and finish them, making them black again?

Not sure if it makes any difference but I do have ceramic brakes, so want to make sure anything I use wouldn't potentially damage them?

[domster]

Nothing used to clean the arches should pose a danger to your ceramic, or indeed, any, brakes. Typically, you would clean them with an APC (All Purpose Cleaner) - and for me (bias alert) this would be Dodo Juice Total Wipe Out but others exist. Then you would dress it with a plastics trim dressing (these tend to dress more than they protect, so a sealant could be considered as well, but rarely would wheel arch liners be thus treated!). Due to the staining I would use a product with a black dye, and my choice would be Dodo Juice Tyromania which is a black paste for plastic trim, offering enhanced finish and a modicum of protection. Again, specific products only mentioned to assist and illustrate the care regime; a vast range of products exist on the market.

[Daryl Benfield]

Thorugh degrease with traffic film remover and then try this - http://www.bilthamber.com/cavity-waxes/dynax-uc

[B17NNS]

In the past I've used the Karcher to get rid of the crud. Then Megs Super Degreaser followed by APC on an old paint brush. Tar remover if required, hose clean with Megs Hyper Dressing to finish.

If you're worried about brakes a carrier bag with an elastic bag works.

[V8A*ndy]

Don't use anything with silicone in it as the arches will eventually go brown same goes for your tyres and other rubber/plastic trim items.

Autosmart G101 APC is good stuff and cheap.

[v8250]

OP, this task is the easiest of things to do. Jet wash the wheel arches to get most of the crud off. Wrap your brakes in polythene bags, carefully spay WD40 onto the wheel arch liners and work in with a paper/cotton cloth/old t-shirt; they'll come up like new. Really, there's no need to waste money the so-called 'specialist' products...they're only wheel arch liners and will naturally get dirty again. However, one great thing with WD40 is that it does keep much of the dirt of the liner if done a couple of times a year...it's terribly simple.

[lingus75]

I will try the WD40 option first. I think spraying into the cloth will be safer, may take longer but that's fine with me.

Interestingly, I ordered the G101 , then rang Autosmart direct and mentioned ceramics and they told me not to buy it!

[RichB]

So for the purposes of this thread is APC something like washing-up liquid?

[domster]

No, APC is all purpose cleaner. It is generally a detergent and solvent mixture. Washing up liquid doesn't contain solvents.

[RichB]

domster said:

No, APC is all purpose cleaner. It is generally a detergent and solvent mixture. Washing up liquid doesn't contain solvents.

Ah right, I always wondered what the difference was.