I'm just wondering if other people have the same problem I do, or have found an answer to it:

It concerns keeping the black plastic bumpers, side strips, and sill sections clean (or at least looking black). I have a preparation I bought in the UK (Mer "Bumper and External Vinyl Cleaning Gel") which has worked exceptionally well on two other cars but doesn't seem to with the Yeti. Any tips?

Simoniz 'Back to Black'

Used it for years on various plastic bumpers and trim; excellent stuff.

I'm just wondering if other people have the same problem I do, or have found an answer to it:

It concerns keeping the black plastic bumpers, side strips, and sill sections clean (or at least looking black). I have a preparation I bought in the UK (Mer "Bumper and External Vinyl Cleaning Gel") which has worked exceptionally well on two other cars but doesn't seem to with the Yeti. Any tips?

Not cheap and gives a natural finish (not overly glossy):- http://www.cleanyour...t/prod_366.html

Will use this once the SM arrives in the distant future.

Edited 7 January, 201115 yr by Bassa

Sounds daft but to get it clean and shiney.........peanut butter works wonders

Sounds daft but to get it clean and shiney.........peanut butter works wonders

Smooth or crunchy?

Smooth or crunchy?

to be honest I have only used smooth....but it gets all the dirt out of the plastic

Sounds daft but to get it clean and shiney.........peanut butter works wonders

OK; so if we are going down the 'Organic' route I'd suggest ...............

KIWI Parade Gloss Black shoe polish.

Sounds daft but to get it clean and shiney.........peanut butter works wonders

That could be a good idea to get the dog (or possibly kids!) involved in car cleaning.

OK; so if we are going down the 'Organic' route I'd suggest ...............

KIWI Parade Gloss Black shoe polish.

don't forget the spit.

seriously... i use the simoniz plastics/dashboard cleaner. it's in a small white and orangey spray bottle (too lazy to go and look and it's raining)

apply with a clean dry piece of sponge.

spray cleaner sparingly on sponge and just work in.

WD40 works too. same method

Edited 7 January, 201115 yr by YetiClive

Sounds daft but to get it clean and shiney.........peanut butter works wonders

Dont you just end up with a car covered in squirrels ??

Believed it or not dashboard wipes seem to do a good job.

Sounds daft but to get it clean and shiney.........peanut butter works wonders

...that'll be the secret badgers then ...they love peanuts and after dark lick your Yeti bumpers to a shine...maybe be beat not to try it in the US...what with bears and all

Lady Penelope

I use Showroom Shine from the Ideal World channel.

That works in paintwork, glass AND the vinyl trim as well as your alloy wheels. does a GREAT job on Ivor :yes:

Thanks for the tips, folks.

Lady Penelope beat me to the remark about animals licking off the peanut butter. Haven't seen any badgers around here, but the wild boar could do some real damage getting at the peanut butter with their tusks!

On a serious note, an elderly French friend (now, sadly, departed) gave me a tip to remove road tar from bodywork: you can use an old pair of tights or a stocking dipped in a little butter. I use that method and it really is effective.

Having used the back lane to the signal box this evening I think I can presume that the underside of the Yeti has now been power washed of all it's salt, as have both sides and the roof!!

Nearly half a mile of about 6" deep water is wonderful, but I think the wipers needed to be a bit quicker!!

after washing and drying mine, i polish the lot with good ol MR SHEEN( lavendar smells nice)..this is an old showroom trick to keep em shiny( cars and bikes)..ive used same thing for last 20+ yrs to keep all my cars and bikes looking great..and it works a treat and is cheap

I think the wipers needed to be a bit quicker!!

Drive slower

Mike

Will no one trust me :-) if you want to get dirt off of plastic peanut butter will do the trick ....wash normally first then wipe some over the bumper with a cloth or if the plastic is the one with a "grain" use a small brush then wash it off...not only will it clean but when finished it leaves a small ammount of oil that makes them shiney as well ......just do a search on briskoda for peanut butter and see how many times it comes up.....trouble is with some things all they do is cover the dirt not remove it and it builds up and looks terrible the more you use it

Edited 9 January, 201115 yr by Octygone

Octy, I believe you, because I used it on the Freelander before it was sold.

Octy, I believe you, because I used it on the Freelander before it was sold.

so that will be the one at the safari park that all the monkeys are chasin?

I use Autoglm tyre shine on a dry sponge( put surgical gloves on first ) works a treat

I got so fet up trying to clean the rear bumper that I spent a happy afternoon with a scrubbing brush & soapy water, and scrubbed all the Autoglym stuff off it, plus the various substances that I'd used trying to keep it black.

Worked a treat! I just wash it with luke warm water now (occasionally adding Autoglym Car Shampoo) & it looks great.

Sills havent come up quite so well, but the side protection strips are pretty good now too.

I have told my dealer that they ought to mask off the black plastic bits when applying Autoglym Life Shine to the paintwork on new cars in future!

Edited 9 January, 201115 yr by speedsport

Is it just me or do your back doors get very filthy on the inside?

It is very hard to clean without a brush.

Mike

Is it just me or do your back doors get very filthy on the inside?

It is very hard to clean without a brush.

Mike

OOps ... too fast on the keys there!

Mine also gets filthy round the rear door (Mine's Candy white also so it shows up) but it's the engine bay that gets me annoyed.The slam panel , under side of the bonnet and the plastic rocker cover are always grubby- as mentioned before it really needs a seal across the panel - 2012 wish list?