I’ve read where some have been cleaning the car with Ivory dishwashing liquid. This didn’t work for me on my newly acquired Lionel 3472. My wife used Clorox Clean Up and it worked immediately. We think the stains were nicotine from tobacco smoke. She said it takes a little scrubbing if it is a greasy dirt.
As you can see, it didn’t hurt the lettering, either. She just sprayed it on and rinsed it off right away. I really like the result.
Your milk car came out very nice. I am surprized that the clorox cleanup didn’t remove the lettering. I guess it’s because your wife rinsed it off right away. I am going to have to try using it. Thanks for the tip.
That turned out great! I’m suprized the clorox didn’t eat the lettering as well.
Kurt
Another clean-up tool for the arsenal
Jim
Wyoming, I think you were pretty lucky on that too, and again maybe because the cleaner was rinsed off immediately.
Lionel in that day used several methods to letter cars (rubberstamp, heatstamp), and it’s not hard or impossible to accidentally remove lettering from Postwar cars. I’ve had this happen and it’s a real drag, especially if you didn’t want to remove the lettering.
I’ve had good luck with Lemon Pledge and so that’s what I have used. And of course, it’s always advisable to NOT scrub lettering on the car as hard as other areas like the rooftop, sides and other crevices.
But glad the milk car came out looking so good for you. Got to give a tip of the hat to your wife on that one. BUT if the lettering had come off, the mood of the thread would probably be much different. It’s always a good idea to try untested cleaning agents or materials on a junker or a car that isn’t too important to you.
Yes, she tested it on the unlettered doors first. Then a small spot of lettering. This lettering looks like it could be decals, is that possible?
It wasn’t dirty, it was weathered [:P]
I wonder if the bleach content will help brighten cars that have yellowed over the years (like mine).
don