How much does this hurt the plastic/rubber? And, is there a product out there that can protect the rubber and plastic on the outside of the vehicle like wax does on paint?

I washed, polished, and waxed today and it looks great except around the windows. The rubber looks dull and faded except the spots where I slipped (going to clean off tomorrow in the daylight). I want to make them look dark and black like the truck.

Also, what methods have you guys found to keep wax off the rubber around windows? I use blue painters masking tape on the plastic bed rail caps, but am clueless on how to get something up close on the rear window surround and door mouldings.

 

peanut butter will hide the white residue, but it'll do just that, hide it for a few weeks.
I've tried lots of stuff, and just about all of it would run when it got wet and leave streaks, especially back to black. that stuff is crap in a bottle, and somebody told me to try meguiars trim detail, and well, that stuff smelled like crap in a bottle, so i didn't even want to try it on my truck

anyway, i now use vinylex on all my trim. that will run also if it gets wet like the day after you apply it, so what i do is i do it on all my trim before i wash the truck, then i wash the truck and it gets the excess off and only just enough stays on the plastic and it won't run. and if i do use wax right after i do the vinylex, since the trim was freshly protected, its got enough protectant on there that it won't turn white. although i never used wax on my truck, i used to use liquid glass, but it still left white like a wax would, but this procedure solved my problem

although, an even better fix is zaino. it leaves no white marks on the trim at all

 

Vinylex is what I use as well... great stuff but, like Harley said, it will run as well. I haven't found a product that won't streak the paint after use and rain... I'm sure it exists though...

I love the Vinylex on my tires as well... Great product. I'm buying it by the 3 Liter bottle now.


http://www.lexol.com/vinindex.html

RP

 

but the only thing I have ever used on my truck is DuraShine. I not only use it on the paint, but on the plastic, rubber, and chrome.
I've been using it on my truck since new (97). The black plastic and rubber has a nice sheen to it. Keeps that same look even after it rains or after washing.

As for what it does to the paint finish... best shine I have ever gotten. Plus no powder residue from buffing, no swirl marks, just a beautiful shine.

I put it on after washing, while the truck is still wet. Let it dry, and hose it off and towel dry.

Just my 2 cents.

 

3m makes an adhesive remover I've heard people using to remove the wax residue.

I personally have started to use Pro's Bumper Renewer. It works great! It will last through rain and it will last through washing the vehicle.

I still have it on my truck and it is after the third wash and I still can't see the old wax residue. The trim is still nice and black! This stuff also doesn't run easily. I'll apply it, wait for like 10mins as I do other stuff, and then mist a rag with some water and wipe the trim down quickly to get the excess residue off. It is how I applied it and I'm on the third wash and it is still going strong. I wish I took some before and after pictures.

 

this spring when i reorder stuff i might get some poorboy's trim restorer. i've heard it doesn't run and streak and lasts a long while, but then again, i've been told that before and it ends up running like crazy, so we all know how that goes

then again, hopefully by spring i won't have any plastic on the outside of my truck and it'll all be smoothed and painted

 

Lava rags work great!

 

What is a 'LAVA RAG'?

 

I've heard people tell me to try Lava Rags for lots of stuff but I've never been able to find them. They say try Home Depot and Lowe's and I've searched there but never seen them.

Where do I find these Lava Rags?

 

i think i've seen them before at pepboys on one of the endcaps. never picked them up before though. its usually with the waterless hand cleaner stuff. i usually just get the castrol super clean hand cleaner in the purple bottle, so i've never tried the lava rags before, or even for on the truck

 

It doesn't even show the product on their website...

When we say 'LAVA' are we talking about the green hand soap with the pumice?

http://www.wd40.com/Brands/lava_product_info.html


RP

 

Found em'


http://shop.store.yahoo.com/nsclub2/lavheavdutha.html

 

Meguiar's #39 (Heavy duty vinyl/rubber cleaner) and an old toothbrush will usually get the toughest stains off the trim!

 

Doesn't rubbing alcohol do the trick?

 

That's pretty cheap. I might have to order some to try out. Hey, if all else fails I'll just use them to clean my hands.