\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. If you have a Magic Eraser on hand definitely give this a shot. Let the ice sit until the wax is brittle enough to crumble off. We won’t ask how you got it there, but we will help you save your hair. Copyright © 2021 Montford Design | All Rights Reserved. Getting the wax out of the pores of the plastic is the only solution that will permanently solve the problem. If you want something a little larger for dealing with larger problem areas you can pick up a. Continue reading to learn more about how to remove wax from plastic trim on cars and trucks. After it has dried you can see how well the all purpose cleaner has worked. Mothers is a very well-known company that produces high quality products and Mothers trim cleaner is no exception. Make sure the area being cleaned is dry and cool. Rub the brush in calculated circles, being careful not to move the wax to unaffected areas of the trim. This article has been viewed 1,327 times. If it’s on the tips … This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. If you sprayed the trim with all-purpose cleaner, dry it off with a soft cloth once you finish using the toothbrush. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Take care not to scratch the surface. Gently swipe at the stain until the color is lifted. Plastic in the freezer, then chip off with plastic spoon. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Soap and water won’t remove waxes and paint sealants. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,327 times. Put the ice in a paper towel if the direct moisture could damage the silk fabric. If the wax is in a thin layer, you can skip this step. Polish, wax, glazes and even quick detailers can contain oils.Some of these oils dry up with slight white haze. Did you find this article helpful? Repeat as needed to remove excess wax. A good runner up for more difficult situations is Mothers Back-to-Black Heavy Duty Trim Cleaner. I’d recently applied a fresh coat of paint sealant and got some on the rear lower valence. If there are other solutions that you’re aware of that have worked well for you personally let me know. An old toothbrush is a great choice. Work carefully when you scrub with the stiff brush so you don't scratch the paint. Unfortunately, rubbing alcohol isn't effective since it leaves a white, cloudy residue when it dries. If you have one of those available that should work similarly well. By using our site, you agree to our. Instead, fill a plastic bag with ice cubes, then lay the bag over the wax. I haven’t personally tried that trick but I suspect it’ll work pretty good though. One final note to keep in mind no matter which solution you try, always test on an inconspicuous area to ensure that there won’t be any adverse reactions. It can feel like waxing your car takes forever, so it's easy to rush and get wax on the trim. The proper way to handle this is fix the source problem and not just treat the symptom. Discussion Starter • #1 • Mar 28, 2003. Plus, it surprised me and COMPLETELY removed the wax. They are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water which is why soap and water won’t do much to help remedy the situation. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. Heat guns may discolor or fade the plastic material, but white pencil erasers never do that. From Small items: The easiest way to remove candle wax from small items, like candle holder, is to place them in the freezer. Wax removers are also made specifically to remove white wax stains from plastic trim. You are SO right, guess I didn't "see" the metal part..sorry! I’d love to include them on the list and give them a try myself. Some more effective than others. If you only have a minor spot or two that you’re looking to touch up on your trim you may want to go with a generic all purpose cleaner so you can use it for tasks other than cleaning plastic trim. An old toothbrush is a great choice. This sounds pretty far out there and ultimately it won’t remedy the problem. Fill the plastic bag with ice and set that on the waxy area. The problem with wax on rubber or plastic trim, especially textured plastic trim, is that the wax can embed itself into the pores of the plastic and cause it to discolor and look old and faded. Wipe with a sponge dipped in a solution of washing soda or detergent and water. Final Tip. Buff dry when you’re satisfied with the scrubbing effort. If you want something a little larger for dealing with larger problem areas you can pick up a detailing brush for only a few bucks. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Some people will attempt to cover up the problem by applying a product such as rubber or trim restorer. Blackfire All-In-One All Purpose Cleaner is another product well-suited to removing dried wax residue, particularly if it has been on your car for a long period of time. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, or similar product, is also an effective way to remove dried wax residue. If the wax has sealed in hard to reach places, a toothbrush can work quickly to disrupt its components. After a few washes, you’ll see the wax … Blackfire All-In-One All Purpose Cleaner is another product well-suited to removing dried wax residue, particularly if it has been on your car for a long period of time. Mothers Back-to-Black Heavy Duty Trim Cleaner, Meguiar’s M39 Mirror Glaze Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner, Removing A License Plate Sticker (Without Damage), How To Clean Jeep Soft Top Windows (Properly), How To Remove Moisture From Car Headlight (Without Opening), How To Permanently Restore Black Plastic Trim. The best way to remove car wax from plastic trim is to have an auto body trained professional treat it with attention and care. If you accidentally get the remover on your car's paint, wipe the product off with a wet cloth. Help Us & Share it. Tested. What needs to be done is to actually remove the wax that is embedded in the plastic or rubber. Peanut butter is a popular home remedy, but don't spread peanut butter on your plastic trim! As with most things, preventing melted wax from spilling is the first step to stoping … Conclusion. But don’t rub it in! Wax removers come in many varieties. If you’ve just discovered a mess of wax and it’s … Method 2 of 2: Using detail clay to remove wax Freeze the Candle Wax. More modern waxes and paint sealants these days tend to not dry white which limits how obvious this problem could potentially be but no wax is likely to be unnoticeable. Mothers Back to Black Heavy Duty Trim Cleaner is a product that should have come out years ago. Use boiling water to loosen the wax, if necessary. After trying hot soapy wash, rubbing alcohol, and other mentioned remedies; the thing I found that worked the best (and did not damage adjacent waxed painted areas) was to use Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover applied with a cloth then brushed in using a toothbrush. Removing residue from trims and plastics – Detailing Wiki, Removing Polish and Wax from Rubber Trim – Detailed Image. It doesn’t contain any oils or glosses that cover up the problem. Finally – an easy way to remove wax stains from plastic trim! This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This means that a simple spray on, wipe off solution simply can not get into the microscopic textures to properly clean. As previously mentioned, peanut butter and peanut oil are not solutions that are going to actually resolve the problem and are not recommended although I suspect they won’t do any damage. Unfortunately, this leaves a cloudy white residue that's especially noticeable if the trim is black. We’ve found two solutions to be the best and most effective to use. The oils in the peanut butter will dissolve the wax contamination and lift it out of the plastic, and the peanut butter is "soft" enough to not scratch or mar the plastic. ­Freeze to harden the wax, then gently scrape the residue from the surface. That being said, waxing your car should be a catch-22! The actual removal of the wax is more difficult however since you’re adding an oil on top of the wax. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. If cleaned within a few days, you can erase wax stains from trim easily and permanently. Use boiling water to loosen the wax, if necessary. I’m not sure how that started but it’s a strange one. Last Updated: May 15, 2020 Rubbing alcohol can remove any stain from colored wax. the mr. clean Magic Eraser, or similar product, is also an effective way to remove dried wax residue. My experience is that Back-to-Black works best but these two are also excellent performers. Instead, look for something that contains a solvent, such as mineral spirits, which will break down the wax. Just take a toothbrush and eraser and rub the wax off! Avoid dressings and rejuvenators since they are only temporary fixes. With a focus on customer service and detailing with a smile, trained auto detailers are the key to the integrity of your ride remaining consistent for months and years. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. 474 Posts . There are several solutions to removing wax from plastic, rubber, or vinyl trim. In some cases, it can even be caused by a combination of oils, even though those oils on their own won’t leave any marks. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Soak the spot with hot water, and wipe away the wax with a dry cloth. It is slightly abrasive, so it can help remove wax lodged in porous plastic trim pieces. Try a pink gummy eraser as it may reach to each corner and does a great job. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Spray wax remover or non-abrasive polish onto the surface of your vehicle in sections, making sure that you do not spray any of the solution onto rubber or plastic areas of your car. Don’t leave it longer than a minute or two or you could end up with water stains in your wood. We’ve found the best way to remove dried on wax on plastic trim with McKee's 37 Wax Remover for Plastic is to spray it directly onto a terry cloth towel and gently rub the surface. Rinse well and wipe dry. These products are specifically designed to breakdown and remove wax and not simply cover it up. Not only was it easy to do but it did so surprisingly quickly. Better safe than sorry as they say. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You’ll need something larger like a large art eraser. Really stubborn or old wax stain will require scrubbing with a stiff nylon brush or scrubbing with a microfiber or terrycloth towel, that's to be expected. Once you feel satisfied that you’ve thoroughly dealt with the areas, rinse the trim and allow it to dry. Apply to the plastic trim you’re looking to clean. Another solution you may come across as a recommendation is using peanut butter or peanut oil. Cold causes wax to harden and shrink, making it easier to remove, … This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, https://detaildiy.com/how-to-remove-wax-from-plastic-trim-on-cars/, https://www.autotrader.co.za/cars/news-and-advice/automotive-news/how-to-remove-wax-from-plastic-trim/4821, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Other solutions that won’t solve the underlying problem are tire dressings and trim rejuvenators. The actual eraser of a pencil won’t get you very far though. Materials Required: Steel Ruler or Knife, Textured Cloth. The Fix: Ice. Hair. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. How to Remove Car Wax Residue From a Plastic Trim. If you’re going to be purchasing a cleaner specifically for tackling this job, this is the one you want. McKee’s 37 Wax Remover and Meguiar’s M39 Mirror Glaze Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner are both great alternatives if you’re unable to find Mothers Back-to-Black. The cleaner helps break down the wax so it's easier to remove with the toothbrush and eraser. Option 2: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Spray all-purpose cleaner on the trim if there's a thick layer of wax. wikiHow's. These aren’t the only solutions you can find but they are the one we stand by for most situations. Step 6: Use a wax remover that is safe on plastic trim. Like you would find on the end of a pencil. 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. Be sure to protect the plastic or rubber trim after cleaning with a trim protectant like Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant or Black WOW. Content on DetailDIY is copyrighted. When I first heard about using a Magic Eraser to remove wax from plastic trim I was skeptical to say the least. 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. The goal of this article is to address the root of the problem and not simply temporarily solve it. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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