Depends on what made it dirty. Is it greasy, dusty, muddy, dried food, coffee? ALWAYS start with the mildest cleaners you can (Simple Green, etc.), and if you need more cleaning power test an incon****uous area first.
A friend of mine cleaned up a 30 year old White Vinyl interior using Simple Green and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I swear it looks as good as it did when it was new. Amazing stuff! I've used KrudKutter too but it IS a little more harsh than Simple Green. I'd advise you to go easy with it, especially if you're using it full-strength.
Try a Magic Eraser. It works wonders on wide whites and about everything else. I would imagine it would work great on any vinyl.
Just be careful not to let the **** wash into the s***ching. Don't saturate the area, just do it as dry as you can.
A buddy of mine use to use Westleys whitewall cleaner, always looked great. Hit a test spot just to be sure, but I use it on my white sneakers as well with no problem
3M Leather and Vinyl Restorer .. part #39040. Cleaned the vinyl interior in a '62 Pontiac that I hauled home. It had been sitting for years in a dirt floor garage on a farm and the upholstery was absolutely grungy. Did a small section at a time using a soft brush and lots of towels. Actually wound up going over it a couple of times in spots to get the ground-in dirt out but it came out looking like new. That's the "after" pic... wish I had a "before" pic, you could barely tell what color it was. I love the stuff.
all previous suggestions are perfect, and most times get the job done. krudkutter? never heard of it. if its anything like goop gone (whatever its called) its an expensive mix of xylene and acetone. ive used acetone on tons of old vinyl (whites, golds, reds, but no tops yet)..small areas at a time, using a rag not totally soaked to the core(just tip the can holding the rag over the spout)...it gives ya a headache and makes your hands tingly, but WOW it takes it to brand new as well, also doesnt ruin stiching. you cannot however clean two or more colors at the same time. it does smear a bit of color dye from the vinyl around. not to mention acetone is 20 bucks a gallon while them goof offs, goop off, whatevers are 7 bucks a small pint can. i liken it to buyin pre mixed antifreeze. always test a small spot first of course. if you have to use acetone, just make sure you clean the vinyl after its cleaned. soapy warm water and a nice protectant afterwards.
x2 on the Westley's White Sidewall Cleaner, but only if it is FILTHY! That is some harsh stuff, but we used it to clean the pearl vinyl seats in a covertible that had been sitting for years with a bad top and it made it all look like new. For less harshness, if Simple Green doesn't work try Formula 409. It took soot stains out of a white convertible top that cleaners like Fantastic wouldn't touch.
Use Simple Green, a fingernail brush and some terry towels -- BUT you need to flush the surface with clean water when it's clean. Simple Green is fabulous (been using it successfully for years) but it will leave a sticky film which attracts dirt .... so rinse the area thoroughly with clear water when you're done. If you're trying acetone or lacquer thinner, be EXTREMELY careful!! They can kill your project .... and maybe you, too!!
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