Ashtray cleaning?

[bluntlunchbox]

Anyone ever just pull out the ashtray and try to clean it? Seems very straight forward but while cleaning out the old melted chapstick puddle in mine, I noticed the color changed. The entire trim bezel on my ashtray turned brown and seems "dirty". That's the best way I can describe the condition. I tried using a spray cleaner, dish soap, and even used some armor all to bring back the black look. Nothing worked. I wipe and wipe and get a brown residue but still not black again. I should also add that the ashtray was black until I cleaned it. Did I do something wrong here? I'll post some pics soon...

[Terry Kay]

Wipe it off real quick with a lacquer rag--
Don't get it too wet--or take your time--a quick wipe should bring the black back.
If not--paint it semi gloss balck.
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T.K.

[bluntlunchbox]

Don't have any thinner on hand but would rubbing alcohol work?

[Terry Kay]

Nope--it won't cut the garbage out of the plastic--
Lacquer thinner.

What your trying to do is get a quick melting wipe with the thinner.
Alcohol won't cut it.
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T.K.

[bluntlunchbox]

some pics...

[borninabus]

shoe polish.
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88 Van WBX, A/T - 93 Multivan 5cyl 5M/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T - 2012 Touareg TDI Sport

[bluntlunchbox]

[osprey0]

Mine looks the same as yours. I brought mine into the kitchen and scrubbed it with dish soap. It looked OK for a time, but got brown again pretty quickly.

I would caution against ArmorAll or some other such treatment. In my opinion, that stuff acts as an emulsifier to flash volatiles trapped deeper in the plastic to the surface. It brings a temporary glossy appearance to the surface, but unfortunately also serves to dry out the deeper core of the plastic, causing it to prematurely become brittle and crack.

Currently, I am pursuing my first option, which is to ignore it because it isn't hurting anything.

My second option would be to pull it out and hit it with a good interior trim paint. Go to an automotive paint store for spray can paint, rather than the cheaper paints you might find at Autozone or the like.

[Terry Kay]

Now that Isee the frame of the ash tray--the color is already bleached outa it.
Just paint the frame semi gloss black--be sure to give it scuff first .
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T.K.

[jacklndn]

Looks like a good application for Forever Black. It comes with a pre-cleaner that cuts everything including silicone from the plastic, then actually re-dyes the plastic.

I found mine at a local 4wd or marine shop. Can't remember which. It was about $11. I haven't used it yet because it recommends removing the plastic parts from the body to clean them.

It's also supposed to be good for things like grills, air vents, mirrors and tires.

Maybe some sambanauts with experience with it will chime in.

http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Black-Bumper-Trim-Dy...ever+black
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1986 Westy GL 4 spd

[bluntlunchbox]

I actually purchased a new ashtray to replace a cracked door on my original. When It arrived it was also dirty brown around the trim but the door itself is still black. I guess I get to experiment a little.
First I scuffed the trim of the ashtray with a green scotch brite pad then sprayed with Rustoleum automotive primer. Just being cheap and using what I have in the garage

[73thingsale]

Anyone seen / done any interesting mods by removing the ashtrays and putting something more useful in their places?

My kids have asked why does it have so many ashtrays and no cupholders?

Reckon more people smoked than drank back in the 80's

Not wanting to hijack the thread, but curious.
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Dave
86 GL Hardtop Blue

[RCB]

I bought an extra ash tray and cut a slot in the lid. I filled the cavity of the ash tray full of Bondo and stuck the stalk of the fan into the slot. It dried hard as a rock in about an hour and now I have a three speed fan right on the dash.

[spitsnrovers]

Used the hole in the dash to anchor the home made dash tray and cup holders
http://http://www.griffco.ca/interest/vw/vwmods.htm
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'88 VW Westfalia
'75 Triumph Spitfire 1500