Terrific41

Hello

Hoping someone can help me or reach out to detailers who can help me, at my wits end...

2018 Lexus ES 350, had dashboard scuff, mistakenly used isopropyl alcohol...scuff still there and now a shiny area.

Tried Meguires APC (diluted), vinegar and water,
still there. Tried pencil eraser, still there.

Was thinking maybe damp magic eraser to "dull it down" then apply Mothers VLR on entire dash?

Was thinking of Meguires Scratch-X 2.0 on the area and then Mothers VLR??

Acetone?

Sonechave said the alcohol removed oils from the vinyl? but why is the area around where the scuff is shiny, and the scuff remains???

Dont know,what else to do or try...thinking this might be a very expensive lesson if a new dashboard is my only alternative.

Thank you so much.

LeX2K

Don't use IPA and 100% DON'T use acetone. Vinegar is acid and eats some plastics. Other people have seen good luck using 303 Protectant. I would clean the area with water and a few drops of Sunlight dish soap then apply 303.

703

I don’t think you can get it to look normal. Plastic has been dissolved. Using protectant over it as suggested is only a temporary fix. That protectant don’t last forever and is at the end of the day, volatile.

bc6152

Have to agree with 703. Believe that the surface is permanently damaged. Nothing goes onto my dash except H20. One alternative is a custom dash cover that is made to eliminate sun damage to your dashboard. Would cover the damage but doesn't look great... GOOD LUCK...

ptthere

Whoa. As others have stated, DO NOT use vinegar (it is acidic) and certainly never use acetone to "restore or repair" vinyl/plastic/rubber/paint etc. Acetone will literally dissolve it and/or "dry it out." Not sure what kind of damage you have done without seeing it, but if money is no option I would suggest looking for a replacement in a junkyard, or finding someone really skilled who can re-cover it somehow without looking cheesey. Or maybe just slather the entire dash cover with Armor-All to blend the shine and pray that the reflection of the Sun doesn't prevent you from premature blindness.

Seriously, don't use vinegar or especially acetone anywhere on your car. That's not an absolute but 99.99% of your car will hate you for it. I would suggest you do some research on these things. Not trying to be harsh here, just being blunt, from your post it sounds like you are naive to what you have mentioned. If I were you I'd look to professionals and pay them to do it, or research the issue a lot more before you attack the dash again. I suspect the damage you've done already is not repairable as-is.

jsullykc

I just got a 2018 ES350 and it has some scuffs on the dashboard and i've been trying also to get them out. I've come to the conclusion it needs to be painted by one of those airbrush detailer guys who can match the paint.