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Trim & Molding Care
Nearly every vehicle you see on the road has some sort of black plastic or rubber trim on the exterior. As your vehicle ages, this trim fades and dries out if it isn’t protected. The trim is often overlooked because people either don’t know how to properly care for it or they don’t realize what an impact it makes on the overall appearance of the vehicle. This guide will give you some suggestions on how to keep trim and moldings looking like new for the life of your vehicle.
Regular maintenance
Wash the trim and moldings when you wash the rest of the vehicle. On coarse pieces, you may want to use a
Pinnacle Detailing Brush, found in the
Pinnacle Detailing Brush Kit. For larger pieces of trim, you might find it easier to use the
OXO Car Wash Brush. A brush will allow you to pull contaminants out of the pores of the material. These contaminants may be contributing to the discoloration of the rubber or plastic. Avoid using stiff bristle brushes on smooth black plastic; it will scratch.
If you already have a dressing on the trim and molding, clean it off periodically. Layering dressings will eventually result in discoloration because the outermost layers are not curing to the rubber; they are just sitting on top of old layers. Take a moment to clean off old dressings at least every two months using
DP Exterior Surface Cleaner. Spray a microfiber towel and wipe down the trim pieces to avoid overspray.
Once your vehicle is clean and dried, you need to protect the trim pieces with a quality rubber, vinyl, and plastic protectant. This will help prevent future UV degradation, which is the primary cause of fading.
Pinnacle Vinyl & Rubber Protectant and
303 Aerospace Protectant are both exceptional products. They both provide excellent UV protection with a non-greasy, satin finish. Use a
microfiber applicator pad to spread the protectant over the surface. It will provide an even coat without dripping or running. I apply protectant to my vehicles once a month because the sun is intense in Florida, but once every two months is probably sufficient in most climates.
When applying protectant, don’t skip the wiper cowl (the plastic piece at the bottom of the windshield), the mirrors (if applicable), and window and door moldings. Use a detailing swab to apply protectant in tight spaces. Open your doors and apply protectant to the rubber gaskets, too. If they become dry or brittle, they will not effectively keep out air and road noise. Wurth makes an excellent product for this purpose.
Wurth Rubber Care is packaged in a sponge tipped bottle so you can rub it right onto gaskets. It will prevent freezing in winter months and it is silicone-free.
Restoration
If your black trim and molding have already faded, there are options to restore them.
Forever Black is a black dye for coarse rubber and plastic pieces. The dye contains UV protectants to prevent future fading and its polymer formula ensures lasting color. Forever Black is a permanent dye so use care when applying it. In fact, test it out on an inconspicuous area before applying to all the trim. Keep in mind that it will not be able to absorb evenly into smooth plastic.
The
Forever Black Bumper & Trim Dye Kit comes with a cleaner and a bottle of dye. The dye has a sponge-tip right on the bottle for easy application. Turn the bottle upside down and press it against something to get the dye flowing. Spread a thin, even coat over the surface and allow it to dry for 20 minutes. No buffing is required.
If your trim isn’t quite black or you have smooth plastic surfaces, another option is
Black Again. This product is a shiny dressing that significantly darkens the color of the plastic or rubber. The trim will look like its wet. The gloss can be toned down by allowing the dressing to penetrate for a few minutes and then wiping it with a
microfiber towel. Terry cloth towels will leave lint so it’s best to stick with microfiber for this job.
Don’t forget the license plate frame
If you have a black plastic license plate frame, it will benefit from a coat of protectant, too. Use a detailing swab or the corner of your microfiber applicator to apply a thin coat. For frames that contain a clear plastic lens, clean and protect it with Plexus to prevent yellowing.
