A toothbrush works great on textured material (like the kind the door panels are made out of). And no, it won't take forever. Just spray on whatever cleaner you have, and give it a few circular motions. You'll be surprised how quickly it lifts the dirt.

(I used some sort of butyl based cleaner last week. Tuff stuff would work too, as well as most generic automotive cleaners, and stronger stuff like simple green)

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Murphy's Oil Soap with a dash of vinegar (I don't know why the vinegar, but it works good and you can't really smell it). Spray bottle, I nuke it in the microwave and use it pretty warm, it's cheap, use a lot, good scrub brush, ample elbow grease...gitrdone.

The cool thing about MB is you can pull the carpet pads and do a deep outta car clean job. I started on those at the car wash and put some power blast action on that nasty, nappy, crud. They dry fast in the summer sun...this time of year you oughta figure out how to dry them out first. BTW, while they are wet is the perfect time to re-dye (mine were faded, I used Ritz, hot water, and sponged it on, brushed it in, and let it dry...looks really good).

The main thing is a lotta elbow grease. It is just work, hit it hard. It is worth the effort.

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Mark
1983 300TD Wagon
Even a broken watch is right twice a day

[quote=KAdams4458;1707963]Years of funk, eh?

Murphy's Oil Soap works pretty well, and won't harm the finish of anything. Dawn dish soap also works well on parts you can actually saturate with water. Unfortunately, there's not a quick solution if the dirt is really ground in.
quote]
Murphy's is a vegetable oil -based cleaner so it won't harm cloth or synthetics. Simple Green does not have the power needed, I have found.

But here's something that will freak you out regarding dirt in VINYL or LEATHER ONLY. PAM spray cooking oil. Spray the PAM on, the alcohol used to emulsify the oil and provide propellant is just enough to dissolve dirt, then mix it with the oil. This can then be wiped off after sitting and soaking for maybe 2-3 minutes. Then wipe with a paper towel and reclean with Murphy's or Mr Clean or whatever.

If you use this on leather, after cleaning follow it up with Connolly's Hide conditioner or neat's foot oil.

And your whole car can smell like an Italian salad instead of other things
strelnik

[QUOTE=strelnik;1708959]And that is why I dont use that stuff for cooking. Nothing beats good old butter or oil.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

I did a little interior cleaning this morning and used a fairly potent degreaser and it cleaned it up very well. I just sprayed on and wiped with a damp microfiber. Wherever I took the time, it got all of the dirt out of the pores and lines in the tex.

Its a commercial product but similar to the bulk degreasers you get at home depot. Zep 50 and the like.

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1981 300TD
2005 C55
2004 E500
1999 ML430
1992 400E
1998 C43
2001 SL500
1988 300SEL
1986 190E 16V
1991 190E 2.6

seriously.. PAM? I've gotta try this