Modern Buddy

I have no idea how to get the dirt out of my matte plastic parts... The shiny bits still look brand new, but the interior/floor parts (the ones that are now black on all the new non-international Buddies) are a disaster. They're practically off white from fading in the sun (it's my only vehicle, so it sits out all day, everyday, and I have -- had, anyway -- that orange color of the first run release rather than the tan that most of the sunset Buddies ended up with). And they are flecked, streaked, and spotted with dirt/grime that seems to now be part of the plastic itself.

Yesterday, I did a fair bit of scrubbing using some Orange product made for car/marine/vinyl etc. No difference. I then resorted to dish soap (I know, I know it will ruin the wax and clear coat ... wait, what wax? what clear coat? I just want the grease/dirt out! Still no difference.)

So is there any way to get this clean (one that doesn't involve hours with a toothbrush to fade the dirt 10%) or do I just resort to painting those pieces?

Can you post some photos of what your matte plastics look like? It's sounds like you're dealing with several different issues: stains, dirt, and fading/discoloration. I think photos would allow us to better help you out.

There's this stuff you can get at the 99¢ Store called "L.A.'s Totally Awesome". I swear by it. I've yet to see the slime or dirt it can't take off. Best of all, it cost.... 99¢

i also use "L.A.'s Totally Awesome" make sure you dilute it with water,,, about 50/50... far as what i use on matte finish i use "Original Bike Spirits" its the only thing i can find to clean and shine the plastic matte finish to showroom look again... Bike Spirits can be found at most bike shops... formaly know as "Honda Wax"

Major Redneck wrote:i also use "L.A.'s Totally Awesome" make sure you dilute it with water,,, about 50/50... far as what i use on matte finish i use "Original Bike Spirits" its the only thing i can find to clean and shine the plastic matte finish to showroom look again... Bike Spirits can be found at most bike shops... formaly know as "Honda Wax"

I use Honda polish, it that the same stuff? comes in an aresol can, needs no water.

jasondavis48108 wrote:

Major Redneck wrote:i also use "L.A.'s Totally Awesome" make sure you dilute it with water,,, about 50/50... far as what i use on matte finish i use "Original Bike Spirits" its the only thing i can find to clean and shine the plastic matte finish to showroom look again... Bike Spirits can be found at most bike shops... formaly know as "Honda Wax"

I use Honda polish, it that the same stuff? comes in an aresol can, needs no water.

Original Bike Spirits:

This is the same product and formula as the discontinued Honda Spray Cleaner Polish. This product, which is and was produced by Amrep (the manufacturer and patent holder) was distributed by Honda and had Honda Logos on the can. Honda was the sole distributor of the product but held only the patent for the scent. The only difference between the Next Dimension product and the Honda Product is the that the lemon scent has been removed.

Spray Cleaner & Polish - Next Dimension quickly cleans, polishes & protects your entire vehicle. Formulated exclusively by Amrep, Spray Cleaner & Polish is the ultimate "Detailer in a can" for all Honda vehicles and motorcycles.

* "Roadside Detailer" - cleans road grime, grease, and bugs without water.
* Polishes paint, chrome, glass, and clear plastic.
* Protects vinyl, plastic, and rubber
* Blocks U.V. rays - reduces fading and cracking.
* Repels water - beads up like wax.
* Anti-static properties reduce dust build up.
* Great cleaner for motorcycles.

I love the Honda polish cause it eliminates the need for water. Its kinda hard for me to get to a hose where i live unless my neighbor has thiers out. Works great too!

If it's only on the rough matte plastic, Get a bristle brush and some Simple Green (they make a degreaser version which might work better for your problem).

The Simple green won't hurt the painted parts, but the bristle brush will.

jasondavis48108 wrote:I love the Honda polish cause it eliminates the need for water. Its kinda hard for me to get to a hose where i live unless my neighbor has thiers out. Works great too!

go to walmart or other place a get you a pump sprayer it works great for washing bikes... i can was a bike with 2gal. of water...

Major Redneck wrote:

jasondavis48108 wrote:I love the Honda polish cause it eliminates the need for water. Its kinda hard for me to get to a hose where i live unless my neighbor has thiers out. Works great too!

go to walmart or other place a get you a pump sprayer it works great for washing bikes... i can was a bike with 2gal. of water...

That is an excellent idea! I'd never thought about using a pump sprayer. I'll have to go get one next time I get paid

My Sunset Buddy is also very faded/discolored from the sun on the orange parts and the tan parts.

I doubt that cleaning is going to do it, mine is from the sun taking the color away and cleaning is not going to bring the color back.

I am considering trying to look into painting it but I am afraid of messing it up and making it look worse, I also would love to change the color of the interior (I hate this wierd orange that does not match the beautiful orange of the body panels).

Does anyone know of a dye or colorant of some sort that I can apply by wiping it onto the matte plastic?

-v

I wouldn't try to put any dye based restorers on the interior panels, it'll just end up on your pants.

There might be something that will restore the original texture/hue/luster of plastic (like those bumper color restorers) but you'd have to make sure that it's not dye based, which I'm not even sure if such a thing exists.

Just paint it when the time comes. Works better, looks better, last longer.

I googled "plastic color restorer" and there are lots of products out there that make the claim. I think the best thing poeple can do is make sure they use some type of protectant on their scoots if they know that they will be leaving outside, uncovered. May not help you out, but people with newer scoots now know that the body panels fade when exposed.

I've used the Honda Spray polish for years now, good product. I also like Meguiar's ULTIMATE QUIK WAX. And looking over their site, they're coming out with a product this year called; Natural Shine Protectant:
RESTORE NATURAL COLOR AND SHINE TO VINYL, RUBBER & PLASTIC.
Also, the Meguirs site has tutorials on how to clean, wax, protect, etc. almost any finish. I'm not shilling for these guys, I just know that their products work.

And now Autoglym products are available in the USA. On the Triumph boards I'm on, the Brits swear by this stuff, for all their vehicles. I'm going to try some out when I run low on the product I have now.

Magic Eraser: It kicks butt and takes names. It will also clean your matte panels.

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but did you end up finding a solution for this? I just bought a used buddy with tan interior plastics in the condition you described, and was wondering how to approach it to get it looking new again

Meguiar's Back to Black. It doesn't need to be black, it brings back shine to any dull plastic parts.