Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Rover, Renault, Peugeot, Trabant, Invacar & Sinclair C5
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 6:52 pm
Practical Classics Magazine fansite
http://practically-classics.co.uk/forum/
http://practically-classics.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6681
Just don't use too hot a wash (for plastic items anyway) and avoid aluminium, as the detergent (or rather the rinse aid I believe) will oxidise the surface badly. I've still done it on a few occasions where stuff was bad enough that "clean and tarnished" was preferable. Quite a few things have been through ours without any Ill effects. I always run a thorough cleaning cycle with a proper dishwasher cleaner if it's anything that's been in contact with vehicle fluids that's been in there before it's used for normal duties again. Though given how aggressive a degreaser the usual detergent is it's probably not really necessary.
To be honest beyond helping in a slightly musty wardrobe or the like those things are pretty pointless. They can't remove particularly large volumes of water, and really rely on there being natural airflow to do anything useless. The salt solution which ends up in the tray is quite caustic as well and can make quite a mess of surfaces. I discovered that when one I used in the van as an experiment once leaked. I never did fully get the mark on the work surface off. I'd really not rate them as useful in a car.Dick wrote: ↑Sun Jan 14, 2024 6:52 pmhttps://www.diy.com/departments/blyss-c ... 959_BQ.prd
Is this any good for you?
Realistically the whole thing could ideally do with painting. There are scratches right down into the plastic on every panel I think. Not really unsurprising for a 39 year old car which likely didn't live an easy life in it's early years and has 80K miles on the clock. I'd not expect an unrestored Mini, 2CV or Beetle to be any better.
I think most of our neighbours would rather murder me with dull spoons than rent me driveway space. We get along okay in passing at least with the couple across the road, but most around here pretty much try to make me phase out of existence with the power of their minds whenever they see me. I don't think I fit in with their pairs of 1-2 year old Audi/Mercedes/Tesla view of suburban living. Lockups round here that are available are unheard of, and I've heard of people paying more rent for them than I paid for my first flat.