Updated 2/21: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

[Nick McKees37]

My car is eleven years old and I've owned it for almost four years now. With exception to couple nights it has spent in a bay at my local shop for repairs, it has never been garaged. Judging by the shape it was in when I bought it nearly four years ago, I'll go ahead and assume the previous owners didn't keep it in a garage either.

I've always taken really good care of the car since I got it, but I've never payed too much attention to the exterior trim. Last weekend I decided to try out one of the more well known trim care products out there - Mothers Back to Black.

Mothers™ Back-To-Black is ideal for a variety of exterior hardware. It’s called Back-To-Black, but it works great on all colors of exterior trim. If it’s made of plastic or vinyl Back-To-Black will breath new life into it. Use Back-To-Black on molding, louvers, bumpers, window trim, skirts, seals, door handles, wiper arms and any exterior vinyl or plastic surfaces.

Most trim care products instruct you to apply the product thin, thin, thin! Mothers Back to Black differs from the rest because they instruct you to; "Apply Liberally to surface. Massage product thoroughly into surface".

The piece of rubber trim I applied Back to Black to has a texture to it and it's not hard. Most trim care products are designed to be used on rubber/plastic surfaces that have a grain/texture to them.

Products used:

-Mothers Back to Black Bumper and Trim Care
-Foam Wax Applicator
-Mango Breeze Microfiber Towel
-Black Nitrile Gloves
-3M Automotive Masking Tape

As you can see, the Florida sun has really taken a toll on this particular piece of trim.

I went ahead and taped off the surrounding area with 3M Automotive Masking Tape to ensure that no extra product would accidentally get on my freshly waxed car.

To do the entire length of the trim I applied about a nickel sized amount. I did this twice on the first application before allowing the product to dry.

Here is what the applicator looked like after the first application.

I allowed the product to dry for about 20 minutes before moving on. Then it was time to buff off any extra using a microfiber towel.

Here are the results after the first application...

There is a noticeable improvement, but it's not where I wanted it to be for the first application. I went ahead and followed Mothers' instructions on the back of the bottle that states; "Heavy stained or soiled areas may require an additional application". The piece of trim I was working on was so neglected that it required an additional application, per the instructions on the bottle.

This time I applied noticeably more product than the first application. I applied about a 2" long strip to the applicator twice and worked it in to the trim, with no drying or buffing time in between.

I thoroughly massed the product in to the trim this time around.

Applicator after working the product in to the trim for several minutes.

I let it sit for about 25 minutes before buffing off any extra.

Microfiber towel is still clean after buffing the 2nd time. The trim absorbed all the product I put on it.

Time to pull off the tape and inspect my newly restored trim...

It's definitely a huge improvement over how it looked before. I applied the Back to Black 5 days ago and it still looks good. I will take some pictures this weekend and report my findings on how well it is holding up so far.

Mothers Back to Black Bumper and Trim Care

 

[mchant]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

I was hoping to see a review on this rops:. The trim on my car is faded also, and I was looking for a product to correct it.

 

[Nick McKees37]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

I was hoping to see a review on this rops:. The trim on my car is faded also, and I was looking for a product to correct it.

It definitely worked as advertised and restored the faded trim. It was very easy to use and the instructions on the back of the bottle are very clear and easy to understand. :xyxthumbs:

 

[galaxy]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

Once again...another very underestimated product from Mother's! I use Back to Black occasionally on the trim pieces that need it, which usually occurs after extended periods without Mother's Protectant...another overlooked product.

 

[Spicy McHaggis]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

This just goes to show that if you use a product properly it generally yield good results. All the people in the "B2B is the Worst Ever" thread should take a look at this.

I'm not saying it's the end all be all trim product, but it isn't the worst ever as some would have you believe.

 

[forrest@mothers]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

As a suggestion, on badly oxidized trim, go with a terry cloth applicator - it'll do a better job with the cleaners in the product of removing oxidation.

Notice the black on the foam applicator? The additional bite of terry cloth would break loose much more of the oxidation, making the trim look even better.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

As a suggestion, on badly oxidized trim, go with a terry cloth applicator - it'll do a better job with the cleaners in the product of removing oxidation.

Notice the black on the foam applicator? The additional bite of terry cloth would break loose much more of the oxidation, making the trim look even better.

What about a MF applicator?

 

[SeaJay's]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

Nick,

Since I've personally never tried this did you happen to clean the trim prior to applying this stuff? Just curious as I try to make it a habit to clean all the trim with an APC or IPA prior to applying type of restorer to it. I find that it ensures I'm starting with a clean surface and tends to make whatever product I'm using last longer.

Also I'll be curious to see how it holds up in rain. I've found that a lot of trim products tend to run once it rains.

But for the price ($6!) you really can't go wrong with those results!

Nice job and great review!

 

[forrest@mothers]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

What about a MF applicator?

Microfiber isn't very aggressive either. You need the bite of terry cloth for oxidation on flexible trim.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

This just goes to show that if you use a product properly it generally yield good results. All the people in the "B2B is the Worst Ever" thread should take a look at this.

I'm not saying it's the end all be all trim product, but it isn't the worst ever as some would have you believe.

Durability isn't great with this product, IME.

 

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

Probably a good OTC product, I would use something better professionally.

 

[CleanGene]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

IME the initial results with this product are deceiving. It's looks decent when first applied, but it's durability is awful and it will run if it gets wet. Threw mine away after the first use.

 

[Bunky]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

IME the initial results with this product are deceiving. It's looks decent when first applied, but it's durability is awful and it will run if it gets wet. Threw mine away after the first use.

I have used PB's TR, Black Wow, Mothers, and now Ultima and the only one did not seem run on my difficult plastics (my Dakota mirrors) was Ultima.

In all cases, the key is to use very very little on the applicator and work it in but the above comparison with Ultima is not as valid since I did apply Ultima very sparingly.

What I find that each product works better on some plastics than others so having several is best.

 

[Grizzly]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

I actually prefer the Meguiars offerings.

Their ASD would have handled that in one swipe as it is oily and rich enough.

 

[Meghan]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

I think there are a lot of products that the price points range a lot, when you think of this one in comparison to Black Wow, no its not as good but if you don't want to lay out all the money for Black Wow then this is a good fit for you. Have to remember everyone has a price point they need to work with when picking out a product. So thanks Nick for giving another option to everyone.

 

[sohail99]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

Maybe it'd hold up if topped with a proper protectant like 303 or UTTG!

To me, it looks more like a like a trim restorer than a protectant!

 

[Nick McKees37]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

Here is how the trim is holding up 8 days after application. I took the first two pictures this morning, and the last picture last night.

It's interesting to see how differently water beads on driver's side trim that was NOT treated with Mothers Back to Black compared to the passenger side that was treated.

Driver's Side (No Back to Black applied)

Passenger's Side (Treated with Back to Black 8 days ago)

Here is how it looks a week after being applied.

Holding up pretty well. :dblthumb2:

 

[rwright]

Thanks for the update Nick. I'm doing a little experiment myself after the last B2B thread and this one. Thanks to Forrest providing some great info, I am pleased at this point with the outcome.

What about a MF applicator?

As Forrest stated, mf doesn't have enough bite. I tried this product and another product on my car over the weekend and let me tell you, you really have to work microfiber! :nomore:

Maybe it'd hold up if topped with a proper protectant like 303 or UTTG!

To me, it looks more like a like a trim restorer than a protectant!

Hang in there, as stated above I have a little something up my sleeve right now...

 

[Bunky]

Re: Mothers Back to Black vs. Faded Florida Trim

Maybe it'd hold up if topped with a proper protectant like 303 or UTTG!

To me, it looks more like a like a trim restorer than a protectant!

I use it instead of a protectant for many large plastic parts.

 

[Marc08EX]

Hey Nick,

Is it oily to touch? Does it attract dust?