Crud on rear window rubber trim

What is this crud growing on the rubber trim all around my rear window??? This is a close-up of just one corner, but it's all over the entire thing (please pardon the crappy cellphone camera quality).



Anybody know how the best way to get it off and how to prevent it from coming back?

 

it looks like some type of mold or some weird shit like that lol. try a cleaner that wont damage your paint and isnt harmful to rubber i.e. no bleach

 

Is it crud or is it from the sun beating down on it ?.........looks kind of bleached......

 

I don't know what it is, but, I've got a dose of it as well. Dishwashing liquid soap and elbow grease will remove it after a few washings.

 

No it's not bleached. That's just the glare of the daylight on it (took the pic late this afternoon) just like the glare reflection on the paint. The rubber is still nice and dark and glossy everywhere the crud isn't. I just bought the truck in Feb '09 - and I park in a garage at work all week - so it doesn't spend a lot of time in the sun. Maybe that's why the mold (or whatever it is) is growing on it.

 

no i have it really really bad and dont have an answer its some type of dry rot i think. i was just thinking that i would eventualy have to replace the seal.

 

OP , I had the same crap on my rear slider rubbers as well , seemed to come off with my regular washing routine though .

 

Good to know. I have the same thing right under the 3rd brake light.

 

Wilson , mine was mostly around the 3rd brake light , but also down the sides of the fixed windows .

 

Use a Mr.Clean Magic eraser on it, and it will come off with some elbow grease.

 

i think the rubber is just getting weathered . i had that on my mazda truck on the door rubber below the window too. however my mazda was 8 yrs old and i noiced it at about 5 or 6 yrs.

 

Mine's an 09 .

 

Yeah, mine too. I wouldn't expect it to be "weathered" after less than two years - especially since it spends most days in a parking garage. I think it's some kind of mold/mildew.

 

Get yourself a good rubber cleaner and follow it with a rubber dressing.
Find on Autogeek.net

 

I am not sure what this stuff is but have tried many cleaners on them with not much luck. At first it looks like I got most of it but it starts to come back through. Don't think it sun damage because the rubber strips on the top of my truck are perfectly fine and those get blasted way more then the back. Have noticed this mostly with Tacomas. My Buddy had an 05 with the same issues but my 94 ranger never had the problem before I sold it. Anyways, I will keep trying different products until someone finds a good recipe. I will try the magic eraser next.

 

Looks like mildew.

 

I've seen it on other vehicles but not on mine. Always use vinyl protectant on trim pieces with every wax job.

 

My Camry gets that on the rubber molding around the window glass and you're right, it looks like mold. I assumed that it was coming from the huge pine tree that I park near.

 

its mold,wetsand with 2000 grit and then hit with some polish.it will look like new

 

Sub