Cleaning and polishing Tips for the chrome plastic

J

JustinN1_C5

New member
Does anyone have any tips for cleaning the chrome plastic.

Specifically I am referring to the grill and trim of a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Do I treat it just like i would normal metal? Any product recommendations that have worked in the past



Thanks!

Justin
 
No you can't treat it like it was metal chrome like a muffler tip or anything you'll ruin it. Muffler tips you take glass cleaner and steel wool and polish it up to a brilliant shine. You need to treat it like it was the plastic in the interior. Best results I've gotten is taking some diluted APC and a soft bristel toothbrush and gently aggitate it until clean. Rinse, check, repeat if needed.
 
Jakerooni said:
No you can't treat it like it was metal chrome like a muffler tip or anything you'll ruin it. Muffler tips you take glass cleaner and steel wool and polish it up to a brilliant shine. You need to treat it like it was the plastic in the interior. Best results I've gotten is taking some diluted APC and a soft bristel toothbrush and gently aggitate it until clean. Rinse, check, repeat if needed.
Click to expand...



I agree...anything else, and you will start to get a "copperish" color discoloration to your silver plastic. I just use regular car wash soap, my wash mit and dry with mf towel. I will, however, use a light spray wax just to add some protection to it.
 
poli-seal and a 4" finishing pad or do it by hand. I also just worked on a Jetta and used DG105 with a MF pad.



not the best pic but.



IMG_6224.jpg
 
Great thanks for the tips. I will give those a try, it never occured to me to put wax on the grill before, not sure why.

Thanks!
 
dublifecrisis said:
poli-seal and a 4" finishing pad or do it by hand. I also just worked on a Jetta and used DG105 with a MF pad.



not the best pic but.



IMG_6224.jpg
Click to expand...



That looks great!!!

I certainly do not have that shine or reflection in mine.

Hopefully I can get it looking good again, that really looks nice.
 
Yeah, the process of putting that "chrome-like" surface on plastic is called Vacuum Metallizing.



You actually have to me MORE careful with that than with uncoated plastic, because certain chemicals and processes will make it start to peel around the edges. Todays vac-metallized plastics are much better than those of the past, but I've still seen damage by those who tried to use a cutting polish with a PC...



Wax or sealant is definitely a good idea... although, depending on the grille you're dealing with, the pattern of the "checks" could make it very difficult to wax.



I will normally just use car wash soap and water with a very soft brush that can get down in the cracks...



If just doing a QD, I'll use my normal QD spray and do the best I can with a soft MF.



:)
 
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