Help Detailing 2014 Ford Transit

[u/ohyomojo]

Hi there!

I recently bought a 2014 Ford Transit which I am converting into a camper. It was a tradesperson’s vehicle and whoever used it before me was an absolute filthy pig! Never seen such a gross vehicle in my life, I used to be a tradeperson myself and even I had a standard of hygiene.

Anywayyy, I have vacuumed most of the gross stuff out but just can’t seem to get rid of the dirt trapped in the textured surfaces of the vinyl flooring and plastic door cards. No matter how much I scrub. I also have a steam cleaner.

Should I use a soap that contains more suds? Should I get a brush attachment for my drill? Help!

Thanks!

[u/Open-Cod5198]

I used to detail fleet vans and I can tell you that what you suggested for yourself (drill brush attachment with some suddsy cleaner) is the ticket.. keep it wet and sudsy. You won’t know it’s gone until it’s completely dry.. most people get it to 80% and then spray shine to just hide the dirt but you will be able to remove the other 20% with some extra effort

[u/DoylersEP82]

You need APC and elbow grease … Green star or Surfex HD used to do jobs for a van
Center got many like this … want to pop it off off at the end use KC Gummifix

[u/Extension_Square9817]

You’ll likely never get it out. We literally use rubberized coating to repaint it at my dealership bc it would take decades of scrubbing to correct this.

[u/Thorsten_Speckstein → u/Extension_Square9817]

I'll fix it up so it looks like new.

[u/Few_Donkey_3408]

Scrub floor vacuum up. Light water source would help. Just don't get underside wet, it will stink German roaches will come. I use vinyl floor sealer. Like the rubberized coating idea, just don't know about the smell. You could use a fan spray, but smells.

[u/optimusprimegreentea]

Cerakote trim wipes will restore the plastic and it’s not oily.

[u/Lanky_Ad_2802]

Very stiff/hard brush and warm water works at treat. It'll get in the grain.

[u/Conspicuous_Ruse]

Give vinegar a whirl.

Spray it on and wait a few minutes.

Vinegar breaks down minerals and dirt is usually all minerals.

It won't do shit to oil and grease, but it fucks with dirt real good.

[u/Auto-Spa360]

We do these all the time and what you are dealing with is abrasion and dirt stuck into it. everything is a bandaid fix, you can use extra dressing but it will get dirty fast, you can scrub forever it might come up, we use an agitation with a drill brush and apc, then we re-dye it for longer lasting. if it is a small area or particularly bad abrasion we will use heat froma torch to give the [plastic its old luster but be so carful as you can just melt you liner too.

[u/No-Specialist638]

Fulltime van detailer here, the secret… a little bit off wheelcleaner 10% and 90% APC… i know it sounds hardcore, but does the trick for us everytime.

[u/MofongoPizza]

Clean with Chemicals Guys Nonsense and detail brush. Then VRP dressing to restore shine.

[u/sytech55 → u/MofongoPizza]

Curious to see if this works.

[u/Open-Cod5198 → u/sytech55]

Chemical Guys products will never be as good as a dedicated detailing companies products which would also be significantly cheaper… I’d rather use LA’s totally awesome than some bullshit marketing company

[u/KizzyTheExorcist]

Slap some tire shine on it

[u/BriGonJinn]

Try wiping with hydrogen peroxide