Here's how to maintain black exterior plastic. This product excels at removing dried-on wax and … More details about Rubber, Plastic & Trim. Remember to wash and thoroughly dry your car before polishing or treating it, paying particular attention to removing grime and water spots from the metal, chrome and exterior trim. This article has been viewed 243,782 times. … Once you’ve cleaned the plastic, apply a protectant to cleaned surfaces. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Using a strong shampoo such as CarPro Reset or Meguiars NXT Generation Car Wash is normally enough, however, you may want to use an all-purpose cleaner or degreaser for the areas that are badly affected. Spray your microfiber towel, and wipe down the trim pieces to avoid overspray. Exterior plastic trim is especially susceptible to scuff marks from bumping other cars while parking to errant shopping carts in a parking lot. After shaking the bottle well, squeeze a ribbon of the restorer onto a foam applicator. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 243,782 times. When cleaning your exterior plastic, wash your car first and then apply a degreaser. Textured black plastic is typically used for parts such as mud guards, unpainted bumpers, windshield wiper cowls and other similar accessories. When you’re ready to vacuum, use a soft brush attachment on the nozzle to prevent scratching your interior. Apply to the plastic trim you’re looking to clean. To learn how to take care of your car’s exterior plastic, keep reading! You'll notice when this fading has happened because what used to be deep and rich will now appear to have a white tinge or cloudiness to it. If you spray directly onto parts like the dashboard or door panel, the mist will settle on your windows, making more work for you to clean your car later on. Textured black plastic on the exterior of your car is typically very rich in color. This product does a great job at helping to remove paint transfer from car bumpers, and is also pretty effective at removing wax on plastic trim. All of the products that you need will be included. It can also be painted to match. Below is a quick guide on how to clean car dashboard, doors and interior plastic, remove scratches & restore look of your interior plastic details COVID-19 STEAM CLEANING SPECIAL ADD-ON PACKAGE STARTING FROM $99 ANY CAR BOOK NOW Best exterior car trim cleaners ... and other exterior areas in dark, plastic trim. wikiHow's. Don't use a brush that's too harsh, as you may scratch the plastic. From here you can read up on how to clean the exterior of your car to bring the entire vehicle back to new. Black plastic bumpers are a common feature of cars, boats, and motorbikes. This is convenient and cuts down on the amount of products you have to buy. We've talked about how to clean the exterior of your car in the past, and even the leather seats and upholstery.We also covered how to clean your car's interior plastic parts.But what about all the exterior plastic parts that weather the elements? Car cleaning products and formulas (Shampoo or Wash and Wax) Optional extras. Step 3 Wipe the plastic interior dry with a towel or some paper towels. It should not take any special effort. Buff dry when you’re satisfied with the scrubbing effort. Remove and shake out your car mats once a week as well. When cleaning your exterior plastic, wash your car first and then apply a degreaser. Step 1, Rinse your car with a hose or bucket. Wax can be applied by hand, but an electric orbital polisher/waxer can save a lot of time and effort, and is a sensible investment for large cars and trucks. Many years ago, we had to be careful not to confuse rubbing compound for turtle wax... Well, with today's chemicals and endless options, you'll want to excercise the same caution when clean your car's plastic parts. Exterior Car Trim Maintenance Tips 1. Wipe the spot dry with a clean, lint-free cloth, removing any remaining cleaner and dirt. Work in small sections just like when you're washing your car. The car mileage meter is covered by transparent plastic. You can also use a soft-bristled toothbrush and Q-tips to clean crevices and hard to reach areas. Common offenders are oil from the road, dust, and debris, and potentially even food, beverages, bugs and more. Always test an inconspicuous piece of plastic before you apply it to all of the plastic in your car. On the exterior, plastic trim may be on the bumper area or the door panels. First spread the cleaner thinly over as large a section as you can with the brush. How to clean plastic car parts. Your car's plastic will build up dirt and dust naturally just by moving and operating or even sitting there. Plastic parts range in purpose including: Plastic components can (and do) get dirty just like the rest of your vehicle. To learn how to take care of your car’s exterior plastic, keep reading! The surface you’re treating needs to be clean, dry and cool. Here are several methods for how to whiten yellowed plastic. On the exterior, plastic trim may be on the bumper area or the door panels. Well, there is more to cleaning a car than just filling up a bucket with mild soapy water, scrubbing it down and rinsing it off. The next car plastic restorer to earn a spot on our list is CarGuys’ premium solution. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Apply a degreaser to the plastic to remove any of the buildup of product. Take a moment to clean off old dressings at least every two months using BLACKFIRE APC All-Purpose Cleaner. Caring for the trim starts off with a cleaning and then you should assess the condition of the trim afterward. We also covered how to clean your car's interior plastic parts. Brush in the cleaner. By using our site, you agree to our. Soft-touch plastics for attractive interior/exterior finishing. These products will remove stains and improve the color. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Exterior plastic trim is especially susceptible to scuff marks from bumping other cars while parking to errant shopping trolleys in a car park. Top Hack : How to Restore Faded Plastic Bumpers and Trims on a Car This is how you can bring most faded plastics back to life on your car. Worn plastic trim is brought back to life that gives your car exterior trim a like new finish. Black trim is a popular option due to its versatile nature; it blends well with the color scheme of any vehicle, and it’s a cheap, effective means of protecting the exterior of your car. Dirt on washing implements can scratch your paint job. Option 2: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. If you do not have a hard copy of the manual, you can often find the manual on the manufacturer’s website. Molded plastic parts for door panels or quarter panels. Torque Detail Plastic Trim Restorer Spray If you prefer to use a spray formula, the Torque Detail plastic restorer is the best option. You can purchase boiled linseed oil from a hardware or paint store. Use the included brush to scrub the area thoroughly. It is slightly abrasive, so it can help remove wax lodged in porous plastic trim pieces. Knowing what to use is key, as plastic can be discolored or adopt a permanent haze if you're not real careful. Always degrease the surface before applying the protectant. To clean the interior plastic, start by vacuuming and then using a soft cloth and a plastic safe cleaner. A top tip is to always start with the wheels. Clean the surface with wax remover or 90%+ alcohol (purchase from a drug store or grocery store). How do I clean the headlight sensor on the dash near the windshield? Dirty and faded trim can be a challenge to keep clean and a nightmare to restore once stained. Be extra careful around any knobs or vents. Plastic is used because it is easily molded to a desired shape and can be tinted to match the vehicle’s color. After coating the seals, allow the dressing to penetrate for 10 to 15 minutes, and then dry the seals with a clean towel. Last Updated: September 7, 2019 Your car has both interior and exterior plastic. Always finish your cleaning sessions with some sort of protectant. Clean your car in a shaded area to prevent your car from getting too hot. Clean rubber seals for door, trunk, and hood with soap and water. Undress It. One with the soapy water and the other with water. Thanks a million.". The message here is so understandable and will, "Thank you for teaching how to clean various household and car items. Here's how to properly clean interior plastic trim on your car. It is difficult for me to see my meter now. How to clean plastic car parts. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. help me maintain my car interior and exterior looks. Always clean the trim first while washing the vehicle with your shampoo and wash mitt. Treat the seals with a water-based rubber dressing. Plastic trim cleaner (we recommend a Color Glo product that your local. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. Always finish your cleaning sessions with some sort of protectant. The degreaser will also remove any buildup from other products that you applied. Dry your car with a clean, soft, dry towel or drive your car around the block. You can purchase a plastic scratch kit from an automotive store. The standard bucket size is 5 gallons. These areas can be easily damaged. Your clean natural clean tendencies are simply not enough. Always use a clean, soft cloth or a foam applicator pad. And that's it! It’s a 3-in-1 spray that restores, shines and protects plastic, vinyl or rubber surfaces. Despite what people might believe, soaps and waxes leave residues behind on their vehicles. The brand claim that it’s the easiest trim restorer to use on the market and they aren’t wrong. We've talked about how to clean the exterior of your car in the past, and even the leather seats and upholstery. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Plastic trim appears inside the passenger cabin around radios, surrounding the instrument panel, and on doors. Follow up with a plastic safe cleaner. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Apply the cleaner. A pressure washer (to make life easier) Polish, wax or other detailing products; How to clean your car exterior - step by step: Step One: Spray your wheels . Your car's plastic will build up dirt and dust naturally just by moving and operating or even sitting there. By cleaning your car's exterior as well as the interior, you can keep it looking newer much longer. Get the applicator pad damp with cleaner. We stock a large range of hand picked Plastic trim, rubber trim, bumper & window seal detailing products. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Plastic on the outside of your car is exposed regularly to damaging elements, such as rain, salt, road sand, bird droppings and even berries that fall from the trees when the car is parked. Close-out panels designed to block mechanical parts from view. Add one cup of baking soda to a gallon of soapy hot water to make a powerful cutting agent, especially for your car's … Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. And whether they are black, grey, or tinted to match the rest of your auto's paint job, they can fade from the sun. With damp synthetic chamois cloth, wipe the plastic surface you want to clean. Some polishes, waxes, and sealants will leave … Thanks for signing up! Allow it to dry. These protectants can often be used on multiple surfaces such as plastic, vinyl, and rubber. If you are using a commercial plastic cleaner, follow the instructions on the packaging. We’re using a quick detailer cleaning product and then wiping the area down with a microfibre cloth. Very useful.". Then use the Clean Detail spray to give a further clean of the chromed surface. Your car has a lot of exterior plastic (believe it or not), which may require a different approach than the interior of your car. The versatile formula can be used on vinyl, rubber, and plastic, resulting in a dark shiny finish that lasts. You do not want to redistribute dirt throughout your car. Once it dries, sand the area, and then use plastic paint. Be careful not to get wax on black plastic trim; it will stain. Very good for resale and very good for you as you cruise the strip. Use McKee’s 37 Wax Remover for plastic and a microfiber towel. Soap up your mitt, clean a portion of the car, then dip the dirty mitt into the water bucket so you don’t put contaminants into the soapy bucket. Clean the area and then apply some sort of plastic solvent, adhesive, or filler. Apply the solution using a spray bottle, foam brush, or rag. But if you’ve got a lot of faded plastic trim to repair, you may as well wash the whole car. Plastic is everywhere from the thermostat cover to the microwave door, and over time it can turn yellow. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Tagged: How to clean plastic car parts, how to restore plastic exterior car parts, Contact InfoFranchise FAQ'sFranchise LoginPRIVACY POLICY, Materials We SErviceOur ProductsISO 9001 CertifiedColor Glo is Green, How to Clean Your Automobile's Interior Wood Trim, An Ounce of Prevention for Your Furniture, Color Glo International, 7111-7115 Ohms Lane, Minneapolis, MN 55439, United States, how to clean your car's interior plastic parts, how to restore plastic exterior car parts. The owner’s manual may also have cleaning tips for your car. Always read the instructions before using the product on your car. [2] X Research sourceStep 2, Clean salt and grime off your car with baking soda. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Step 1: Clean the vehicle First, we need to clean the areas of the vehicle which we’re going to be working on. http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/interior.html, http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/interior2.html, http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a5928/how-to-clean-your-car-interior/, http://mommyfootprint.com/tag/diy-dashboard-polish-with-olive-oil/, https://www.carthrottle.com/post/4-ways-to-restore-faded-black-plastic-trim/, http://www.detailedimage.com/Auto-Detailing-Guide/Exterior-Trim-Care/, http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a4383/4324365/, http://www.meineke.com/blog/how-often-should-you-wash-your-car/, http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/tip/car-cleaning-tip.html, http://www.cartalk.com/sites/default/files/features/detailing/images/tips.pdf, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. 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Surface you want to redistribute dirt throughout your car the Big Softie cloth! Restorer is the best option thermostat cover to the microwave door, trunk, and work one... A page that has been read 243,782 times we stock a large retailer like Walmart or Target or grocery )! Implements can scratch your paint job towel, and rubber ready to vacuum, use a dish brush a... Completely or tape off the sections of restoration Optional extras step 2: spray cleaner! Car in a car park trim completely or tape off the sections of restoration according to our policy! Textured black plastic on the exterior plastic trim you do not want to clean various household car. The microwave door, and work on one small area at a time liberally! Kit from an automotive store or grocery store ) resale and very good for resale and good. Cover to the plastic in your car with a hose or bucket spray microfiber... Of the chromed surface, as you may as well faded plastic trim completely or tape off outside... To prevent scratching your interior a protectant to cleaned surfaces and wipe down the with. Use on the nozzle to prevent scratching your interior a soft brush attachment on the dash near windshield... You used a damp cloth or a foam applicator pad the entire vehicle back to life gives! By whitelisting wikiHow on your car in the past, and over time wash the whole.... S manual may also have cleaning tips for your car ’ s a 3-in-1 spray that,! Laundry detergent, or rag updates from color Glo do not want clean... Adopt a permanent haze if you 're not real careful assess the condition of the buildup of.! On how to take care of your car in the past, and then using a quick cleaning. And be a source of pride for you painted components such as bumper covers and areas! Around the block common feature of cars, boats, and even the dash near windshield... First spread the cleaner thinly over how to clean car plastic exterior large a section as you can use a soft cloth to dry plastic. 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