i agree with the cleaning of the plastic with laquer thinner but b4 that scrub everywhere your going to paint with the green side of a dish sponge ( or get that stuff, i cant remember the name of it but its like sandpaper but not made of grit) to ruff it up more, you should also spray lightly on the first few coats, and try the vinyl dye, it actually absorbs into the plastic (get it at the auto store the paint for your dashboard), I sprayed mine this weekend, but I'm hunt for a new lid because this one is warped from the store and hasnt flattened out, leaky bitch!! think i'm going to have to get the 18gal and try to put 26 holes in it, as those are at every store and the 25gal was only at target.