The directions for my kit advised the use of a product called "3M Prep Solvent 70" and not alcohol for the following reasons:
"You recommend using 3M Prep Solvent 70 to clean the dash before installation. Why can't I use alcohol?
Alcohol, soap and water, and other general cleaners are not recommended for installation of our kits. 3M Prep Solvent 70 cuts through the silicon based protectants and cleaners such as Armour-All. This is especially important if you recently purchased your car from a dealership that has detailed it for sale. By not using 3M Prep Solvent 70 for installation, you are risking fouling out the adhesive tape on the back of the kit (making the adhesive no longer sticky). If a dash is cleaned thoroughly with 3M Prep Solvent 70, your kit pieces will adhere to the dash far longer than your car will actually run.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I can't find 3M Prepsolvent 70 anywhere. Can I use an alternative, or can I buy it from you?
While we don't recommend another product specifically by name for cleaning your dash, you can use a chemical equivalent cleaner recommended by your local auto paint store. So long as the cleaner is a chemical equivalent, meaning the same active chemicals in the alternative are found in 3M Prep Solvent 70.
Superior Dash does not sell 3M Prep Solvent 70 directly, however, you can purchase the cleaner at 3M's online web site at
http://www.3m.com/US/auto_marine_aero/index.jhtml , click on Online Store, then type Solvent 70 in the Search box. You will be taken to a page where you can select the cleaners to purchase."
http://www.superiordash.com/faq.html#Quest2Imho, it might take a little longer to get and cost a few bucks for the 3M stuff but to me it was worth it to not the run the risk and mess of an install gone bad.