Signs You Need to Paint Your Car’s Dashboard

The dashboard is probably the part of your vehicle that you see the most, and if it has been around for a while, you may notice it starting to lose its luster. Continuous exposure to heat, UV rays, and dust can make it look aged. The color can fade, and in some cases, finishes can start to peel. While a good cleaning certainly can help, it may be necessary to paint your car’s dashboard to make it look its best.

Clean it First

First start off with a good cleaning. Use a soft cloth to wipe off any loose dirt, dust, and debris. Then use a spray cleaner to thoroughly remove any remaining contaminants. Be sure it’s compatible with the materials the dash is made of; For vinyl and plastic, a general cleaner, like 409, works well. The safest bet though, is to use something designed specifically for automotive interiors. Leather can be cleaned with off-the-shelf leather cleaner, or you can make an economical formulation with white vinegar and water in a 50-50 mix. Again, using a cloth to scrub the dash usually works best, however, for stubborn dirt, a soft brush can be used. In many cases cleaning will satisfactorily reinvigorate the appearance of the dashboard. If not, you may want to paint your car’s dashboard.

Paint my Dashboard?

Of course, standard paints shouldn’t be used to refinish the dashboard. To restore the dashboard properly, a paint designed for the material to be painted should be applied. ColorBond LVP is perfect for this purpose and performs equally well whether used on leather, vinyl, or plastic. It looks great, and importantly, will not flake, scratch, or peel with proper surface preparation. ColorBond LVP can be used restore, renew, and restyle dashboards and other leather, vinyl, and plastic interior trim. The paint is used by professionals and do-it-yourself vehicle owners with amazing results. ColorBond LVP offers an economical alternative to replacing interior components and is a perfect way to refurbish a dashboard. ColorBond LVP is offered in OEM certified colors for many automobile makes and models. You can see them here.

How to Repaint a Dashboard

Before painting the dashboard, it’s important to properly prepare the surface. All dirt, dust, grease, oils, and contaminants need to be removed. Often people use isopropyl alcohol, or acetone, however, ColorBond Prep Cleaner will thoroughly clean the surface without fear of damage. Keep in mind, before painting hard plastics, its recommended to apply ColorBond Adhesion Promoter. With care, it is possible to refinish the dashboard without removing it from the vehicle. This can be done by using masking tape and plastic sheeting to mask the areas that you don’t want to paint.

Ford F150 dash painted with ColorBond LVP.

If you decide to paint your car’s dashboard it can look as good as new!