Cleaning bumpers

[MikeHedge]

Anyone know how to get the dirt and sticky grime off bumpers -- other than acetone which seems to compound the problem?

[TRM-MYC]

Try oven cleaner.

[markwesti]

Unfortunately Mike , and this was a hard pill for me to swallow . Get new .

[Suijin]

I've never had a problem getting them clean with just the usual spray cleaners, although letting it sit on them for awhile seems to help.

A few years a ago someone gave me some fender covers as a gift. I'd always considered them sort of stupid but I have to say they have held up really well. They're dark blue so hide the dirt, and once a year they go in the wash.

[rwidman]

Buy fender covers and use them. You can leave the fenders as is or try to clean them. You might try a citrus or lanolin based cream hand cleaner often sold in auto parts stores.

[a64pilot]

Go to a used clothing store, but sweat pants and cut the legs off. Now you have fender covers

[LLizzard]

Try 4U, it's a Simple Green type cleanser/ degreaser, but many times stronger. It can be hard to find, some hardware stores or chandleries have it, but worth the trouble looking and $20+ cost per gallon. There is simply no better cleaner.
Also great for cleaning power cords that get all sticky. Use full strength. Spray on, leave it for a few mins. scrub off.
I like fender covers too.

[Pilou]

Originally Posted by TRM-MYC

Try oven cleaner.

Yes
Then bleach solution

[hellosailor]

Oven cleaner is lye, it tends to yellow, burn, or melt plastics and hulls.

Cleaners like Simple Green work well. Liquid Tide detergent works well. And if the crud is embedded dirt, SoftScrub works well. A paste of BonAmi or other cleansers will work too, use a ScotchBrite pad with any of them.

Acetone is going to soften (attack) the plastic and make if gummy. That's risky for most of us.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Oven cleaner is lye, it tends to yellow, burn, or melt plastics and hulls.............

Yep! Fine for cleaning ovens (except for self cleaning ovens) but not for most other surfaces.

In general, it's best and safest to use products for the purpose that they were intended for.

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Go to a used clothing store, but sweat pants and cut the legs off. Now you have fender covers

And another pair of comfy cutoffs as well !