taking off wax and compound from plastic trimming

after buffing out some scratches of my truck and some much needed waxing i cant seem to wash off the compound and wax residue off the plastic trimming. unless i scrape it off but leaves a scrath on the trimming. is there an easier way to take the residue off without messing up the paint or wax around the trimming or leaving the plastic messed up?


heres a pic of what im talking about.

 

Just get the majority of it off manually, with your hand, and a damp rag. From there, you'll still have a white residue. There are a few companies that make a product for removing this residue. Mothers makes a product called "final inspection" (I'm pretty sure that's the name) works great. There's also "back to black" which should work for ya.

Just go to any auto parts store that stocks paint shop supplies, and ask the clerk, they'll have something for ya.

Then next time you wax/polish, just make sure to mask off the rubbers.

 

X2 on the final inspection spray, or any detailing spray for that matter. It takes off wax and polish residue and leaves the paint nice and shiny!

 

thanks!

 

Soft toothbrush will get it from the cracks.

 

I have the same problem. I think on mine its clay from a clay bar, and its turned black, and is under the clear plastic trim, like dirt under fingernails. I haven't tried to tackle it yet because I had my hands full during the detailing, but I will try during my nexts wash and wax, which shouled be this week sometime.

 

careful use of a toothpick might help.

 

Armor all or similar works.

 

soft tooth brush or a specialty detail brush will do the trick. Also after your done doing that you can use an aerosol dressing to shine it up. it can be found from a company called automagis or P&S auto care. If your going to use these products apply them before you wax due to overspray. Good luck. Any questions let me know.

 

mothers back to black

 

I have a white 2001 TRD PreRunner with the black plastic wheel well trim (none painted) and they're fading out. They look like they have a white milky film on them. Is this from all the years of detergent and waxing, or from the weather and sun or both? If not from the weather, can this build up be cleaned off to get them back to black? I also asked an auto body place if they could be painted white and he said no, that paint will not take to them. Do I just need to by new ones?

 

they make plastic paint and I have used it with good luck.. just clean and sand it well to make sure to remove all the old dried out plastic rubber stuff.. then paint it should work

 

Thanks Coastie. Not sure I want to attempt to paint them myself. Trying to keep it looking factory and clean. Guess I should check with other body shops.

 

the picture looks like plastic trim, but its color matched plastic. back to black wont help anything that is painted.

 

Hi all.

I use Meguires Ultimate Liquid Wax and it doesn't leave a mark on my trim.

For my twice yearly 3 step (Clay, Sealer/Glaze, and Wax) I used Mothers Sealer / Glaze for step 2. It did leave some white marks on my black plastic trim - none on the rubber trim. Nothing seemed to take it off until I used a pencil eraser - worked great. I read a Mr Clean Magic Eraser will work even better.

I use the sealer / glaze as step 2 because using a polish takes some clear off each time. I will substitute a non- agressive polish (such as Meguires Color-X) when swirl removal is needed.

Cheers

 

I did this method since the wife had a few lying around: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/detailing/54035-tip-removing-wax-trim.html

 

Just switch to Turtle Wax Ice synthetic paste. You can polish all the trim and plastic with it and it will never leave white residue and protects everything. As far as getting yours cleaned back up, good luck!