is it safe to use a suede cleaner similar to that used for footwear on the top section of door card?

do I need to remove the door card to get the handle off, not the opening handle, the one to pull the door closed, as pictured...:

[img]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t66/RNR1981/Image167.jpg[/img]

Use a damp cloth- see if that works.

Failing that, try some diluted washing up liquid (or something similiar) to see if you can clean the doorcard.

You don't need to remove the card to get that pull handle off, no. It's the other way around, i.e. you'll need to remove that if you want to get the door card off.

There are guidelines from the manufacturers of Ecsaine (the fabric on the upper part of the door cards if it's not leather) on how to clean the fabric, [url="http://www.ecsaine.com/english/about/care/index.html"]here[/url].

I took the screw out of the handle but I couldn't pull it off, but I was being careful incase it wasn't right, does it just take a little more force to unclip it?

Yep, after taking the screw out it just needs yanking up and out. See the instructions which show the clips (in step 3) [url="http://www.bahamutcars.com/workshop/IS_98-05/rm/rm684e/m_bo_0015.pdf"]here[/url].

cheers for that, they are well grubby, thought i'd use my time to give the car a more detailed clean