*Official* Ask A Detailer Thread

Use an electric leaf blower to blow off the excess water. Then blot dry with a quality drying towel.

You will probably need to polish the truck to remove the stains.

 

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

I live in Alabama where it is hot and humid in the summer months. I'm also in a rural area at a lake with lots of trees around.
Problem: I have this moldy type stuff all around the rear window weather stripping. A regular wash doesn't even begin to touch this stuff. Anyone else have this problem? And, are there any good suggestions for cleaning this stuff without damaging the rubber or surrounding paint? Any help would be appreciated...I cleaned interior/exterior and waxed it for 8.5 hours today.

The mold (or whatever it is) is on the rubber itself.

Thanks

 

303 Aerospace protectant

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...pace+protectant&sprefix=303+Aerospace,aps,205

I am assuming that the mold is gone from the window trim after the detail today.

 

No it's still there. That is the problem. It's the only thing dirty on the truck at the moment. If I ever get it off, I'll definitely start using the protectant you recommended. Thanks for the reply.

 

You might try a little bit of cleaner wax rubbed in with a cloth and your fingers to try and remove the mold without a lot of damage to the rubber.



Go over to the Autogeek on line forums and search on "Mold on trim"

http://autogeekonline.net/

Very interesting reading.

 

^Thanks 95SLE, I'll definitely give it a try.

 

What I gleened is that mold is a living organism that has worked its way into the rubber. You will need to kill and remove the organism which will require an abrasive to be worked into the rubber. The megs cleaner wax, or another type if you already have one, will be the lease abrasive cleaner you can use on the rubber surface.

 

Thank you for your response Tom. Yeah, that stuff has been there for a good while now but it never bothered me that much until after I spent all that time and effort on cleaning the taco so well. Sounds like that stuff may do the trick with a little elbow grease. I know if it returns afterward, I'll probably have to find some kind of fungicide or something to get rid of it permanently. Anyway, once I do get rid of it, I plan on using that protectant you mentioned before.

Thanks again.

 

I live on the coast as well. I always try to park in a semi protected spot especially when it's windy. You could try clay to get the sap off but be gentle. I agree with 95sle though, sometimes a complete polish job is the best bet. Make sure you follow whatever you do with a hight quality sealant. It is important to have that sacraficial barrier, expecially on the coast.

 

Some waxes could stain the rubber so do a test spot. Maybe try a all purpose cleaner.

 

^ Yes, thank you, I'm aware of that possibility. A guy I work with has used that product before and he says that although it may seep into the rubber, it's pretty easy to work out if it does, and it doesn't leave the whitish residue afterwards.

 

For cleaning plastic/vinyl/rubber, try out 1z Plastic Deep Cleaner.

 

1z makes a lot of quality products. I still have some of the iz polishes in my detail cabinet. Real easy to work with and just does a decent job.

 

Listen to your co worker.

 

There are some decent OTC products out there. Meguair's and Duragloss make some nice products. It would be wise for you to do your "homework" though. www.autogeekonline.net is packed full of useful information and helpful people. It has been a great resource for me since I bought my first new truck. The detailing bug has bit me very hard!

 

What about using a pressure washer on your paint, not just tires?

 

Perfectly fine, I do it all the time. Just keep the stream a safe distance from the paint.

 

I always use a pressure washer when she is especially dirty. (like road salt) I use the yellow or green tip. 15 or 25 degree maybe?

 

Here in Bama salt is not an issue but bugs are crazy during the spring and summer. I hav the Barcelona Red and it looks awesome shined up, just want to keep it that way. The clear coat seems above average on this color to me, my 02' white never shined like this.