Badly Stained Trim from Polishing

jkk7479

jkk7479

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Hello Everyone!

So this is kind of embarrassing but I was working on a Friend's car about a month ago and she has a 2008 Silver Lexus RX350. I did a one step using XMT360 on a white polishing pad on my Flex 3401 at about speed 5-6. Unfortunately, it was getting late and dark, so my visibility was very poor. We never taped down the trim at the bottom of the vehicle and now we have these horrible chalky white spots that look like they might have some scratches in it!

Can anyone recommend how I can first clean these spots and then repair them. By repair, I mean if I have to dress them to get them looking better. I didn't think XMT360 would stain the trim.....but I guess you learn something new everyday. Below are the pictures she gave me with her cell phone. All comments and suggestions are welcome!

Thank you,

Ken

2011-07-10_17_00_41.jpg


2011-07-10_17_01_14.jpg


2011-07-10_17_01_23.jpg
 
I've never used Pre-Wow, but some APC and some careful scrubbing (like with a MF or terry towel) ought to take that off.
 
Any APC and a terry towel should take care of that. It will most likely take multiple applications and quite a bit of elbow grease, but it all should come off. Then dress it with a quality dressing.
 
Thanks guys! I was thinking APC! That means I am starting to get the hang of this stuff! Should I hit it with straight APC? I also have a little brush from Mother's that works great on interior trim.....I think it will work great on this exterior trim. Looking forward to brightening this up. The dressing I have is VRT from Chemical Guys....pretty descent stuff!
 
jkk7479 said:
Thanks guys! I was thinking APC! That means I am starting to get the hang of this stuff! Should I hit it with straight APC? I also have a little brush from Mother's that works great on interior trim.....I think it will work great on this exterior trim. Looking forward to brightening this up. The dressing I have is VRT from Chemical Guys....pretty descent stuff!
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a brush would help, as long as it isn't too stiff and won't mar the plastic. What kind of APC do you have? I doubt you have to use it straight. I have had good results with OPC at 3:1 or Megs APC+ at the same dillution.
 
jkk7479 said:
Thanks guys! I was thinking APC! That means I am starting to get the hang of this stuff! Should I hit it with straight APC? I also have a little brush from Mother's that works great on interior trim.....I think it will work great on this exterior trim. Looking forward to brightening this up. The dressing I have is VRT from Chemical Guys....pretty descent stuff!
Click to expand...

Start 10:1, then 4:1 (straight is very strong).

A good trim dressing will help those look awesome again.
 
Flannigan said:
a brush would help, as long as it isn't too stiff and won't mar the plastic. What kind of APC do you have? I doubt you have to use it straight. I have had good results with OPC at 3:1 or Megs APC+ at the same dillution.
Click to expand...

LegacyGT said:
Start 10:1, then 4:1 (straight is very strong).

A good trim dressing will help those look awesome again.
Click to expand...


I have PoorBoys APC. I will start 10:1 and see what happens. The brush isn't too stiff. I have used in on every interior I have done, including my own. Never had any issues. It's sold here on Autogeek as a 2 pack and designed for cracks and crevices for paint and trim. I should be good. I will do a small spot just to be sure though! I will take some after pics when I am done with the APC and apply the VRT dressing from CG. You guys are awesome as usual! :xyxthumbs:
 
I wonder if you should mask off the door/fender paint before scrubbing with the APC & brush?
 
Some all purpose cleaner, a scrub brush, then some Mineral Spirits should do the trick. Wipe and when completely dry add your favorite plastic protectant...:props:
 
Dubbin1 said:
And this my friends is why you should use tape ;)
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LOL....Definitely noted Sir! This was a quick late night job and she rushed me. This won't happen again and it's a good learning experience!
 
jkk7479 said:
LOL....Definitely noted Sir! This was a quick late night job and she rushed me. This won't happen again and it's a good learning experience!
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:props: One of those things in life we do once.
 
Alternately if you're ever stuck without the Chemicals some good old Peanut butter will remove that as well but then you'd need to clean off that with some dish soap. My dad used to grill me over stained trim back inthe 70's when all we had was Turtle wax hard shell, he used to pay me to wash and wax his land yacht's back then for $2 a car and then be so picky it wasn't funny but I learned to be thorough in everything I did because of that.
 
Pink school eraser.. Rubs right off.. Done! Now go grab a margarita.
 
bobble said:
Alternately if you're ever stuck without the Chemicals some good old Peanut butter will remove that as well but then you'd need to clean off that with some dish soap. My dad used to grill me over stained trim back inthe 70's when all we had was Turtle wax hard shell, he used to pay me to wash and wax his land yacht's back then for $2 a car and then be so picky it wasn't funny but I learned to be thorough in everything I did because of that.
Click to expand...

catfish07 said:
Pink school eraser.. Rubs right off.. Done! Now go grab a margarita.
Click to expand...


I've never heard of either of these ideas.....but I am definitely going to give them a try. Peanut Butter seems to be the answer for everything these days! I wonder if it hides swirls and provides a deep wet gloss?
 
Try a magic eraser. You'd be surprised but they work extremely well dry on plastic trim for stuff like that.
 
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