Get Wax Out of Plastic?

[Belo]

I started novice detailing with my new porter a few years ago on a car without any plastic trim. This year I used poorboy's world polish with sealant on my wife's explorer that was about 6 months old. I was sloppy around the bottom where it transitions from metal silver body to plastic black bump/trim. I've washed the car a few times since and tried some back to black but it still looks like crap. I'm sure the wax is embedded within the plastic. I for sure will be using painters tape next time around.

Are there any tips/tricks/products to remove the was from the black plastic?

 

[Hammer77]

McKee's 37 Wax Remover for Plastic. The stuff is magic!

 

[Setec Astronomy]

APC with a soft brush (like a toothbrush), or try this:

McKee's 37 Wax Remover for Plastic removes dried on wax from plastic rubber vinyl trim

PS When the people come in suggesting peanut butter, don't listen to them.

 

[OCDetails]

APC with a soft brush (like a toothbrush)

This. 100 times THIS. People tend to think that solutions come in a bottle that just wipe on and wipe off. Nope. If you are seeing wax or polish stained trim then it is because that trim is porous. If that is the case then you need bristles to dig whatever is trapped in there out. I highly doubt the microfiber towel you use to wipe down trim is quite bristly enough for that. Retire a toothbrush from the bathroom and just lightly scrub and it comes out pretty easy with simple APC. Then put some trim protectant on it like Wolfgang Trim Sealant and you are good to go.

 

[AZpolisher15]

Here are a couple reviews about the McKee's wax remover.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/105072-mckees-37-wax-remover-plastic.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/105118-mckees-37-wax-remover-plastic-review.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/104821-review-mckees-37-wax-remover-plastic.html

 

[shadwell]

use a power tooth brush.. the fine agitation is unsurprisingly good in this application....

Oh and use eithr a didicated or old brush head (or the wifes...).. i imagine it won't taste great afterwards....

 

[The Guz]

Don't forget about Mothers. Works good as well.

Mothers Back to Black Heavy Duty Trim Cleaner, best car wax remover plastic trim

 

[metheguy]

I have used Armor All vinyl cleaner and/or a good tire dressing to clean up the dreaded wax ooops on plastic. It's not easy to get off.
Once clean, Maguires makes a black plastic trim restorer/protector that makes the black plastic look like new and it lasts several weeks.

 

[dmayer]

Don't forget about Mothers. Works good as well.

Mothers Back to Black Heavy Duty Trim Cleaner, best car wax remover plastic trim

+1 Worked well for me this year.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Another vote for the Mothers Heavy Duty Trim Cleaner. Works outstanding.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Don't forget about Mothers. Works good as well.

Yeah, that's basically a gel APC. I recommend rinsing it off even though the instructions don't.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Yeah, that's basically a gel APC. I recommend rinsing it off even though the instructions don't.

I've never seen an APC come anywhere near close to how good it works..

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I've never seen an APC come anywhere near close to how good it works..

Try rinsing it off afterwards.

 

[The Guz]

Yeah, that's basically a gel APC. I recommend rinsing it off even though the instructions don't.

True. A simple wipe with some D114 or any waterless wash works just fine at removing it.

 

[Belo]

This. 100 times THIS. People tend to think that solutions come in a bottle that just wipe on and wipe off. Nope. If you are seeing wax or polish stained trim then it is because that trim is porous. If that is the case then you need bristles to dig whatever is trapped in there out. I highly doubt the microfiber towel you use to wipe down trim is quite bristly enough for that. Retire a toothbrush from the bathroom and just lightly scrub and it comes out pretty easy with simple APC. Then put some trim protectant on it like Wolfgang Trim Sealant and you are good to go.

The pours is exactly what I was thinking. Sorry for the dumb question but what is APC? Is it an acronym for something?

I have used Armor All vinyl cleaner and/or a good tire dressing to clean up the dreaded wax ooops on plastic. It's not easy to get off.
Once clean, Maguires makes a black plastic trim restorer/protector that makes the black plastic look like new and it lasts several weeks.

I did use the meguires black plastic trim. Looked good for a few weeks and then the white was reappears. Again I believe it's the pours, so I'll try the toothbrush idea.
http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g15812-ultimate-black/#RDW4zMLz06CzbJrA.97

 

[Setec Astronomy]

All-Purpose Cleaner.

 

[WaxMaster1]

APC with a soft brush (like a toothbrush), or try this:

McKee's 37 Wax Remover for Plastic removes dried on wax from plastic rubber vinyl trim

PS When the people come in suggesting peanut butter, don't listen to them.

Are you suggesting JIF, Skippy or Peter Pan???? :laughing:

 

[Belo]

All-Purpose Cleaner.

ha thanks. :doh:

Looks like it's between mothers and McKee's. I like having products on my shelf. I might just go with mothers because it's half the price and includes a brush.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

My only warning is to rinse off the Mother's after--IME it leaves a surfactant film behind that masks the true condition of the surface, rinse it off to see what you really have.

 

[Desertnate]

PS When the people come in suggesting peanut butter, don't listen to them.

I resemble that remark!

I've actually had good results removing carnauba waxes from textured plastic using only peanut butter and a toothbrush, but it doesn't work real well for sealants or polishes. I will admit it was a greasy mess that required extra clean-up when I was done.

These days APC and a toothbrush works are my primary tools.