[Agentcdh]

There was a spider in the car – and the windshield was sprayed with Bug spray which dropped to dashboard. Then was told to wipe dash with windex but sprayed instead. May have Worsened the problem. Then cleaned with soap and water, tried leather cleaner, coconut oil and then cleaned with water again. No improvement. Help how can I fix?

 

[Excalibur]

There was a spider in the car – and the windshield was sprayed with Bug spray which dropped to dashboard. Then was told to wipe dash with windex but sprayed instead. May have Worsened the problem. Then cleaned with soap and water, tried leather cleaner, coconut oil and then cleaned with water again. No improvement. Help how can I fix?

A good answer would require telling us what happened to the dash after all that, what is now wrong with it...a good photo would help, if you can post photos.

 

[Agentcdh]

I didn’t realize I could add pictures before. Thanks white spots and blotches appeared after bug spray or winded not sure it was dark and we were looking for spider to see if it died with flashlight when I noticed the spots and then got the soap and water solution realizing the disaster!

 

[Submariner409]

Looks like either the bug spray or Windex leached out some of the plasticizer in the vinyl dash cover.

MAYBE a judicious application/buffing with either ArmorAll or Son Of A Gun will restore the color. You'll need to do the entire dash pad. Don't overdo it - vinyl/rubber preservatives tend to get sticky/glossy when used to excess.

Look through the SEM site - they're long-time specialists in leather and vinyl reconditioning.

sem leather and vinyl repair compound - Google Search

Also, maybe something in the www.autogeek.net site.

 

[Excalibur]

Looks like the colour has been bleached out. Windex is not meant for autos as it has ammonia in it that acts just like bleach. Don't know what the bug spray would have had in it to do that, but possible. Eldorado2k on here is knowledgeable and might see this post (use to be a detailer I think) as well as Sub's post above will hopefully help.

 

[CaptSoloNJ]

Yes. I was also told that Windex is not good to use on the interior of a car. The ammonia is bad for vinyl, leatherette, and leather. Even any overspray or mist can affect surfaces.

Stay with products such as Rain-X or Armor-All.

 

[Mad*Max]

Looks like either the bug spray or Windex leached out some of the plasticizer in the vinyl dash cover.

MAYBE a judicious application/buffing with either ArmorAll or Son Of A Gun will restore the color. You'll need to do the entire dash pad. Don't overdo it - vinyl/rubber preservatives tend to get sticky/glossy when used to excess.

Look through the SEM site - they're long-time specialists in leather and vinyl reconditioning.

sem leather and vinyl repair compound - Google Search

Also, maybe something in the www.autogeek.net site.

My vote was for Armour All as well, try that.

 

[Byrdman]

On a larger and more general issue, why did the spider move you to such drastic action? For future reference, use a vacuum. In most cases, spiders are relatively harmless and help control insects. Many bug sprays contain petroleum distillates not intended for auto interiors.

 

[White]

Not sure this will work but will offer it for review and consideration. I used Goo Gone once to remove warning decal residue from my new black plastic snowmobile side covers. The Goo Gone ended up turning the black side covers a grayish / white in the area where I rubbed taking the oil out of the plastics (was sick to my stomach after that). Googling the issue, I found you-tube videos where people resolved similar discoloration issues by using a 50/50 mix of Linseed Oil and Mineral Spirits (both found a hardware stores). I gave it a try (had nothing to loose) and it turned my snowmobile plastics back to a matching color after a couple of quick applications. For that situation, it worked great. I wiped it on, let it sit a minute or two and then lightly dry it by dabbing with a cloth and not wiping. I did that a couple of times and the white area returned back to black. I now do this once a year on my ATV plastics that makes them look like new again each spring. I am not saying it will resolve your issue, but could be something to investigate online. Obviously, if you were to try it, do a test in a non-visible area first. Last spring after hitting a bear with my ATS, I found and purchased a 2017 ATS to replace it that had only 711 miles on it. It has one small spot like yours on the dash right in front of the drivers seat which I am sure was caused by a cleaner as well. I haven't tried the linseed oil/mineral spirits on it yet as it is smaller than the size of a dime and my interior is tan thus the spot is small and faint. I barely drove it this past summer (still only has 1,000 miles on it) thus I don't see it every day and end up forgetting about it. I might try and fix it in the spring when I get it back out after the winter. Again, just another potential option to investigate. Mark

Before and after pics with new decals.

 

[wesnah]

I had some white patches show up on me dash and door panel after I had my interior cleaned. May of been the sanitizer they used. But the car wash detail shop (Delta Sonic) was able to fix the issue with a vinyl repair/dye.

I have a 2005 Ski-Doo MXZ Renegade. Love it, but snow fall has been spotty over the last few yrs and haven't been able to ride.

 

[Hurricane87]

I didn’t realize I could add pictures before. Thanks white spots and blotches appeared after bug spray or winded not sure it was dark and we were looking for spider to see if it died with flashlight when I noticed the spots and then got the soap and water solution realizing the disaster! View attachment 592686 View attachment 592687

Spiders eat mosquitoes, and the venomous ones are unlikely to hang out in cars. Take this as a learning experience, don't do it again, and good luck with the dash. Happy to say I've never had this problem.

 

[rmfats]

Try using some 303 on the dash, it might work and might not. Also, NEVER use tire shine or tire cleaner on anything but the tires. Those two can leave permanent blotches on rubber floor mats or mud flaps. Be careful with Purple Power cleaner, too, as it can cause similar results on anything with clear coat.
Use Sprayway Glass Cleaner on your windshield. I get some on my ATS dash every time I use it with no negative results. Sprayway contains no ammonia and does a good job. You can buy it at any grocery store or Home Depot.

 

[FTSS]

Bug spray = petroleum distillates = bad stuff. I'll give a +1 on 303, but only AFTER having thoroughly cleaned the pad first. Without going over the instructions again I consider it more as a protectant than cleaner. Although not identical to the OP's case, I brought back a badly mottled sun-damaged pad using several different cleaners - each one lightly to take advantage of their individual properties: dish soap, magic eraser, 409, vinyl cleaner...etc. I think the right approach is being used, but more different products used lightly can address the petroleum "bleaching" some more. Or not. Then, it's going the SEM dye repair route as offered earlier above. Mine is 25 years old, so a much newer pad will have dried out less and allow easier leveling of finish. The spotting looks pretty tough, but I've seen worse brought back. After a few hours poured on it, the results will make it "less than the worst" thing anyone notices about the car. As last resort the leather/vinyl cream conditioner and/or current formula Armor-All. Some pics worth a 1k words each - good luck:

Dirty as hell:

Much Better:

With 303 - note matte reflective increase:

Parting thought: a dead spider laid near the defroster will guarantee the stain immediately becomes less noticeable.

 

[tinman]

Stoners Invisible Glass.
Great window cleaner, excellent on tinted windows.

And a great name.

 

[JackofAllTrades03]

Looks like either the bug spray or Windex leached out some of the plasticizer in the vinyl dash cover.

MAYBE a judicious application/buffing with either ArmorAll or Son Of A Gun will restore the color. You'll need to do the entire dash pad. Don't overdo it - vinyl/rubber preservatives tend to get sticky/glossy when used to excess.

Look through the SEM site - they're long-time specialists in leather and vinyl reconditioning.

sem leather and vinyl repair compound - Google Search

Also, maybe something in the www.autogeek.net site.

OMG......Don't ever use Son of a gun or Armor all on anything you care about. That stuff will lead to cracking. Zaino Brother leather products, both the cleaner and conditioner will feed the material both leather and plastic. I used it on a 80's model car with brittle plastic dash and door panels after a couple applications it was as soft and pliable as it was when new.

I used Son-of-a-Gun in the 80's and several years afterward the stuff cracked and wrinkled like a krackle finish

 

[1991ETC]

Most spiders are quite harmless (chemicals are) and in no circumstance deserve a chemical drowning. I use a sheet of paper slipped under them and placed outside without incident. Spiders in my home stay. I have never suffered serious bodily harm or been killed by one.

 

[tinman]

Jeezus, just crush it, don't spray it. Man up!

 

[HoosierCaddy]

The bug spray is what did it. People bash Windex, but I've never seen it actually hurt anything. Think it gets a bad rap mainly due to people using it on computer/phone screens and eyeglasses as it will many times remove coatings. There is no fix for this except replacement. You may be able to use a fabric dye on it, but I don't know how you'd apply it to such a confined area. Live and learn. Costly lesson, but I'll bet you never take bug spray to anything you care about again, eh?

 

[tinman]

But, he didn't care about that confounded bug!

 

[Mad*Max]

Where's the OP?🍟