How to get cigarette gold stain off vinyl upholstery in a KW

Discussion in 'Kenworth Forum' started by trueblue20, May 14, 2011.

  1. trueblue20

    trueblue20 Bobtail Member

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    May 14, 2011
    Harrisburg, NC
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    I just bought a KW T600 with a smoker's years of nicotine gold stain on the vinyl, diamond tuck interior. Anyone know a good product to use that won't take too much elbow grease (I have to do the double bunk sleeper too) and won't harm the upholstery?

    I tried Simple Green but no luck - even full strength.

    I've tried CitraSolv full strength and it takes it off eventually but it seems like it might also be discoloring or taking off the protective coating on the darker (blue ?) flat part of the upholstery. Also left a whitish stain on part of the diamond tuck.

    I bought the TurtleWax ICE and it doesn't clean it off but looks like it puts a protective coating on the vinyl.

    Any ideas?
     
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  3. groundpounder

    groundpounder Road Train Member

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    Armor All Cleaning Wipes is what I used on the last truck I was in that a chain smoker made a mess out of.....
     
  4. trueblue20

    trueblue20 Bobtail Member

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    May 14, 2011
    Harrisburg, NC
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    Groundpounder, did the Armorall Wipes get all the gold nicotine off quick or was it a scrubbing job? What kind of interior was it? I'm not having too much of a problem getting off the hard plastic, it's just the diamond tuck that's a challenge.
     
  5. Strider

    Strider The Info Monster

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    Another product you might try is the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (or the generic ones... which seem to work well too).

    When a friend who rolled his own cigs had tried every liquid cleaner, lacquer thinner, and acetone without success to remove the nicotine stains from between his fingers, I had him try a chunk of Magic Eraser and it worked great with little effort.

    The Original Erasers are soft and crumble easily. The firmer (Extra Power) ones don't crumble near as much. Both work well for many uses. Which to use on vinyl upholstery? I don't know, but it wouldn't cost much to try both.

    Here's a link to a guy who used them on his boat with great success...

    Best of luck..., and let us know what you find to work best.
     
  6. Superhauler

    Superhauler TEACHER OF MEN

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    regular household 409 takes it right off. i smoke cigars i wipe down the inside every two weeks. no stains!
     
  7. groundpounder

    groundpounder Road Train Member

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    it was just a basic diamond tuck in a Peterbilt, a little elbow grease was needed but it wasn't that bad..

    those cleaing wipes looked a nasty brownish yellow when I was done !!
     
  8. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    I always use simple green in my truck. Takes it off every time. Previous owner of your truck must never have cleaned it.
     
  9. xTHANATOPSISx

    xTHANATOPSISx Light Load Member

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    Feb 12, 2010
    Hutchinson, KS
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    Simple Green has been working great for me. 409 would keep up with my own added nicotine but it took the Simple Green to get the previous owners off finally.

    You might try steam cleaning. I don't know if the heat would be any problem, but its really not going to be a soggy mess if you do a little at a time. There are some pretty reasonable-priced, household type steamers that should work fine.
     
  10. Prairie Boy

    Prairie Boy Road Train Member

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    DEEMO Thanks this.
  11. bokals

    bokals Bobtail Member

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