joser

While washing my car this weekend, I noticed a couple of white lines on the top that looked like bird "shot". That was until I tried to wash it off with water. It sort of smeared a little and actually rubbed into the texture of the vinyl. It didn't resemble gum at all when I started but now it looks like it was. I tried a little mild detergent - nothing. Simple Green - nothing. Now I just have these two spots where I seem to have rubbed this into my top.

Anyone ever gotten anything like this off of their vinyl top? Suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Joser
Silver/Red

WireGuy

Try ice and a toothbrush.

joser

Thanks Wire Guy, I heard of the freezing trick for getting gum out of clothes, just couldn't figure how to get my top in the freezer .

Ill try the ice and toothbrush suggestion, but by the looks of it it looks pretty smeared. The volume of this gum was very little and it looked about like a thick thread. Sure wish I would have done the freeze routine first but I had no idea what I was dealing with.

I'll be back here with the results.

Joser
Silver/Red

wanabe

xenit will get it out...

StwoK

Zippo lighter fluid will desolve most chewing gums. Don't smoke when using it

boiler

Don't forget that some of these solvents MAY dissolve the vinyl top material as well as the gum. I ruined a sun visor this way. I would try bug and tar remover, but read the label first.

Good luck,
Bob

LakeLaPlante

Sounds really silly, but it works on hair....rub it with peanut butter. The oils in the peanut butter penetrate the gum and it releases....now the next thread will be, "why are so many squirrells hanging around my car......

Good Luck !

StwoK

Lighter fluid is naptha (sp?) based and is like dry cleaning fluid, it evaporates very fast. I've used it on carpeting and viynl seats without any problems or color deterioration.

boiler what did you use on your sun visor ??

joser

Thanks guys for all the ideas. Looks like I'll be bringing a smorgasbord of things to try this weekend. I'll probably start with the least volitile (ice cubes, then peanut butter) before getting up to the Naptha compounds.

Wanabe, what is the product "xenit"? Never heard of it.

Thanks again,

Joser
Silver/Red

boiler

[QUOTE]Originally posted by StwoK
[B]

Lighter fluid is naptha (sp?) based and is like dry cleaning fluid, it evaporates very fast.