Cleaning Plastic Exterior Trim

B

bswombaugh

New member
I have been having some durability problems with my trim protectants that I have been using on hard plastic trim. I have been using both Duragloss 253 and 271. They go on looking great but seem to wash off after the first rain. I know that there are more durable products out there but I have seen numerous post from people using these products that are getting a good amount of durability. I scrub the trim well with my car shampoo when I wash but was wandering if thats enough. Should I be using an APC or something else additional to clean the trim before applying the protectant ? Any input or recommendations would be appreciated.
 
I have never used those products but a clean surface will net you longer durability. I would recommend either APC or Mothers Back to Black Heavy Duty Trim Cleaner. Both work great for cleaning and prepping the surface. I like Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant. Lasts months. Another good one is Turtle Wax Jet Black Black Endura Shine Trim Coating. It's a black dye coating that lasts months. Gives WETS a run for it's money.

What kind of car do you have?

Here's a good article by Mike Phillips from AGO.

Is there some way to rejuvenate the rubber? - Auto Geek Online Auto Detailing Forum
 
I too like a Trim Sealant (I use Sonus), but I also do very well with ValuGard's FastFinish. It's just a leaves-stuff-behind QD, but it give the *exact* right satiny look for my taste and it lasts a whole lot longer/better than I'd ever expected. Repeated applications (I use it after each wash) seem to build up well enough that it lasts longer and longer the more I use it. It's even holding up to my winter-rinsing regimen, which is more than I can say for my tire dressings.

EDIT: Gee, the thread is about *cleaning* it.... I usually do regular cleaning with sorta-strong shampoo mix, but for intensive work I use Griot's Rubber Prep, a [freakin'] miracle product IME. Others here simply *rave* about the 1Z deep cleaner for plastics (forget the proper name).
 
Accumulator ---

It's Einszett 1Z Deep Plastic Cleaner as you said and it really works great to clean plastic.. I use this all the time.. Works really great inside the vehicle, and follow up if you want with Einszett 1Z Cockpit Premium mild cleaner and dressing..

Want to get longevity on your tire dressing ? Have you tried Tuff Shine ??

You get their Cleaner to prep the tires, clean each one until there is no more brown stuff coming out when you scrub them, and a couple coats or so of Tuff Shine and it lasts longer for me than anything else I have ever used.

It's like putting a clear coat that wont crack or break off on your tires... It builds up but is not greasy, or comes off on your tire brush, etc.. It dries clear..

Since I've been using it I have cut wheel and tire maintenance to nothing but just scrub lightly with the car wash soap to knock off a little brake dust that doesn't stick since I OptiCoat Pro'd the wheels years ago..

If you decide to try this, be sure to get a couple or more of their excellent little rectangular application foam pads.. They are great !

Had a man next to me in traffic the other day call me ( My business name is on the side of my Jeep), to ask me what I put on my tires because it looked so great..

Dan F
 
If it's a cleaning issue - the best stuff that exists to clean plastic or rubber IMHO is Tuff Shine Tire Cleaner. The Mothers and 1Z stuff ore also pretty good. I have done several comparative tests with TS TC vrs APCs and there is no comparison. Whatever is in TS TC is meant to remove old dressing period.
 
Stokdgs- Thanks for the recommendation. It'll be a good long time before I try anything new as I have literally *gallons* of stuff to use up first. And I'm one picky SOB when it comes to how the tires look, gotta be a matte/satin look with basically zero shine.

That *is* really cool about the guy calling you to ask about your tires!
 
Accumulator said:
Stokdgs- Thanks for the recommendation. It'll be a good long time before I try anything new as I have literally *gallons* of stuff to use up first. And I'm one picky SOB when it comes to how the tires look, gotta be a matte/satin look with basically zero shine.

That *is* really cool about the guy calling you to ask about your tires!
Click to expand...

Accumulator --

Yeah, I know, when you have lots of other product, its hard to just throw it out and start over again..

I only have a couple other products for tires, Zaino, and a Detailer in Canada who set up a store and sold his own "House Brand"..
Both products were great - nice rich clean non greasy formulas..

But neither had the longevity of the TuffShine product, and that is what I was looking for - for my 5 vehicles back then, and my Client's vehicles as well..

How about when I get moved and settled again and get my dang PODS containers delivered and unloaded, I will PM you and send you a bottle to try ?
There is absolutely nothing in it for me - I dont work for Tuff Shine, etc., I just like finding great products and perhaps sharing them from time to time..
Dan F
 
Stokdgs- Thanks, but no...I'm turning down *every* offfer of free samples because I simply never get around to using them and then I feel bad about it. Please don't take that the wrong way, I do appreciate the offer.

I'm just now trying out a shampoo sample that ebpcivicsi gave me nearly a decade ago!

Yeah, the Zaino is one of the products I have, use it on the "good" cars.

What does the TuffShine look like?

What, you're moving? I must've missed/forgotten that...sounds like a big hassle!
 
I've used and like 303 Aerospace Protectant (even on tires), but it doesn't lasts as long as I'd like. I'm thinking of trying Megs Ultimate Black or Mother's Back to Black for the black trim and Turtles Jet Black Endura for tires.
 
PA DETAILER- I'm getting the impression that the Mother's is *really* good stuff, and I bet it's a lot cheaper than the GG Rubber Prep stuff that I like.

I'm about to wash up the Tahoe, and per usual I'll just clean its trim with regular shampoo mix and go over it with FastFinish as a drying aid.
 
Accumulator said:
Stokdgs- Thanks, but no...I'm turning down *every* offfer of free samples because I simply never get around to using them and then I feel bad about it. Please don't take that the wrong way, I do appreciate the offer.

I'm just now trying out a shampoo sample that ebpcivicsi gave me nearly a decade ago!

Yeah, the Zaino is one of the products I have, use it on the "good" cars.

What does the TuffShine look like?

What, you're moving? I must've missed/forgotten that...sounds like a big hassle!
Click to expand...

Accumulator -

Sorry for the long delay in getting back to you on this -

TuffShine is a white colored liquid that goes on easily - especially with their sponge applicator made for it, dries clear and stays on there a lot longer than anything else I have ever tried.. Has no negative after-effects, non greasy, leaves a satin look and more if multiple coats are added..

Yeah, Im moving - again - hate it immensely, but it is now time to go take care of my elderly Mother and fix up her little house...
Dan F
 
Accumulator said:
I too like a Trim Sealant (I use Sonus), but I also do very well with ValuGard's FastFinish. It's just a leaves-stuff-behind QD, but it give the *exact* right satiny look for my taste and it lasts a whole lot longer/better than I'd ever expected. Repeated applications (I use it after each wash) seem to build up well enough that it lasts longer and longer the more I use it. It's even holding up to my winter-rinsing regimen, which is more than I can say for my tire dressings.

EDIT: Gee, the thread is about *cleaning* it.... I usually do regular cleaning with sorta-strong shampoo mix, but for intensive work I use Griot's Rubber Prep, a [freakin'] miracle product IME. Others here simply *rave* about the 1Z deep cleaner for plastics (forget the proper name).
Click to expand...

Accumulator; You have sparked my interest in the Griots Garage Rubber Cleaner - especially with the cost structure at $30 a gallon. Can you expound a little more on your experience with the product and all its uses - such as a tire cleaner etc.
 
bswombaugh- Warning! Don't confuse their Rubber Cleaner with their Rubber *PREP*. The former (the $30/gallon stuff) is an awfully mild cleaner that's probably too mild for most folks (I use it for tires at every wash but it doesn't get 'em all that clean unless I really work at it). The Rubber Prep, which is *awfully* pricey in little bottles, is a whole different product that works miracles for me.

I've always said that IMO everybody oughta have a bottle of Rubber PREP on the shelf, but with people liking some other products I might oughta change that to- Everybody oughta have Rubber Prep unless they already have something they consider as good as it gets.
 
There's a common ingrediant in these plastic cleaners that I'm trying to figure out. I believe Purple Power has the most of it from my experience, but it will lighten dark plastics. Maybe you could try dilluting it.
 
Accumulator said:
bswombaugh- Warning! Don't confuse their Rubber Cleaner with their Rubber *PREP*. The former (the $30/gallon stuff) is an awfully mild cleaner that's probably too mild for most folks (I use it for tires at every wash but it doesn't get 'em all that clean unless I really work at it). The Rubber Prep, which is *awfully* pricey in little bottles, is a whole different product that works miracles for me.

I've always said that IMO everybody oughta have a bottle of Rubber PREP on the shelf, but with people liking some other products I might oughta change that to- Everybody oughta have Rubber Prep unless they already have something they consider as good as it gets.
Click to expand...

Yeah I see what you mean. It looks like the Rubber Prep is going for about $17 for a 16 ounce bottle. I may try some of the Mothers Back to Black Trim cleaner that PA Detailer suggested. It looks like its a little more economical at $11 a bottle.
 
For those of you that are using the Tuff Shine Tire cleaner; I notice that it is offered in gallon form in two formulas. You have the regular and the concentrated which can be diluted 1:1. Is the diluted concentrate as good as the original stuff ? The concentrate would make 2 gallons at a cost structure of about $30 a gallon which is not to bad.
 
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