Getting that F-in Playa dust out of my car

ultraaman · Post by **ultraaman** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:05 pm

No idea where else to open this thread so here it is.

Have cleaned my car almost every weekend since I got home. I'm not so concerned with the dirt in my car per se since I live in Utah - tho if anyone has any good suggestions on how to get it out I'd appreciate it.

My prob is, the dust is caked into the rubber along my windows, doors, and trim on the outside of the car. Soap and scrubbing has no effect tho it seemed my Armor All helped some. Anyone got an idea how to get it out? Special potion? Magic spell? Praying? It's not hurting the car, it just looks ugly and I love my Subaru. I don't want her to look ugly. It makes her feel bad when she's dirty.

Thanks.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:16 pm

I've just about given up on getting the truck clean.

The one thing I hope doesn't go away is the faint Playa smell I get from the vents when I flip on the ac.

I am going to suggest mixing in some vinegar witht he soap and water since that seems to be the universal Playa removal substance.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:26 pm

You might want to try a cleaner with orange in it. It usually cuts the dust. But CapSmashy is right, it never really comes completely out. My old Navajo had a nice Playa patina on her, even as I was trading her in on my current ride. Consider your Subaru baptized.

Board tip: there's a forum called "Tips, Tricks & Questions" under Preparation.

barnz · Post by **barnz** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:40 am

I get my Roo detailed when I get back from BRC, (other than that I hardly remember to wash her during the year.)

When it comes to Playa Dust in my stuff, I'm of the opinion that you gets what you can, and lets go of the rest.

Just like your consciousness, none of your stuff is ever the same after going to Burning Man!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:43 am

Did you swap out your air filter when you came back?
I'm just asking!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:00 am

you have to do this when you first get back.. do not use any thing wet or damp.. just take you home vac and a dry paint brush.. ware ear protection.. or go nut with the noise.. hold the vac tool in one hand the paint brush in the other.. brush the dust into the in take of the vac.. start at one point and go around the inside of the car.. tend to pick a two foot area.. work from top to bottom of the area.. then move to the next area..take a good hour or more for a good job..then wash the outside of the car and detail the inside with a damp/to wet towel.. a little lemon juice in the water with very little soap.. helps keep the streaking down.. let dry and polish with a dry towel..

Post by **actiongrl** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:06 pm

DON'T use vinegar on leather stuff. Might even crack rubber.

The radios we rent for the organization have rubber and plastic and metal parts, and we clean them with Armor All to good effect. A few times over with that ought to help (sounds like you have tried it, but I'd just go with it again over using lemon juice or vinegar..)

and indeed one must accept that it will basically never be gone from your AC vents and the deepest cracks.

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:23 pm

I still rub my hand across my jeep just to get playafied. Why would you want to get rid of the little bits of playa you have left?

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:00 pm

unjonharley is right - water just cements the stuff in there, which you've already done so you'll have a hard time getting the rest out.

Here's my ritual, which leaves my car almost completely dust-free:

1) Run car through carwash with undercarriage spray
2) Wash car again at home after playa dust has had time to drip out from every crevice
3) Open up a package of pledge wipes, use them on the interior, doorjams, under the hood, anywhere not reached by washing the car
4) Dust out hard to reach areas with cheap paintbrush

That pretty much does it. Give the wipes and brush a try.

Hopefully you turned your interior fan off before driving onto the playa. If you have dust in there, you'll be smelling it for a very long time.

Barbie · Post by **Barbie** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:17 am

I miss the DUST...

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 6:12 am

Barbie wrote:I miss the DUST...

I can send you some if you need a fix.

We can even work out a trade. I'll send you a lovely container of playa in exchange for some of that beautiful North Shore beach front and a little mother ocean.

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:26 am

easiest way to get rid of the dust is to trade it in
later

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:14 pm

Haha I borrowed my friend's car this year and I was able to get "most" of the dust off. It still has that playa-smell when you turn on the AC but not too bad.

I took the car to a do-it-yourself wash as soon as I got back to Reno. I didn't dare leave playa caked-on knowing that it would never come off.

Good luck with that shit. You are better off embracing the dust.