How To Remove Wax Residue From Plastic

KDTundra · #1 (**permalink**) 04-29-2002, 04:54 PM

I know I've seen this question in previous posts but couldn't find it in a search. How do you remove the white residue after a wax application on the black fender flares. The residue isn't real bad but it doesn't look as clean as you'd expect from a wax job. I have the same problem with the wifes 4Runner and its fender flares. If I remember right, there's a product that will take this off fairly easily from the auto stores. Anyone remember?

In the future, as hard as I try, I always manage to get a line of wax here and there on the black plastic (fender flares and front bumper). I'm using a PPG Polish from a body shop that gives great luster and water beading. How do you keep the stuff off your flares? Thanks in advance.
Kev.

Musashi · #2 (**permalink**) 04-29-2002, 05:13 PM

what do you use on the fender flares to protect them? And do you use anything on them to give them any type shine?

akauth · #3 (**permalink**) 04-29-2002, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KDTundra
I know I've seen this question in previous posts but couldn't find it in a search. How do you remove the white residue after a wax application on the black fender flares. The residue isn't real bad but it doesn't look as clean as you'd expect from a wax job. I have the same problem with the wifes 4Runner and its fender flares. If I remember right, there's a product that will take this off fairly easily from the auto stores. Anyone remember?

In the future, as hard as I try, I always manage to get a line of wax here and there on the black plastic (fender flares and front bumper). I'm using a PPG Polish from a body shop that gives great luster and water beading. How do you keep the stuff off your flares? Thanks in advance.
Kev.

Usually, a wax vendor also has a "finish spray" or a between waxings spray. This also is a pretty good way to remove wax.

If your vendor doesn't have that, I'd use a microfiber towel to remove the wax as best you can and use another vendors's finish product. Meguiar's Final Inspection would work fine in this case. Then I'd put 303 on your flairs to seal them and protect them from the sun.

I think you'll find that a slightly damp microfiber cloth is great at cleaning in gereral, doesn't matter if that's extra or old wax.

Alan

devauxb · #4 (**permalink**) 04-30-2002, 03:25 PM

Believe it or not, some people have had luck removing the residue with peanut butter and an old toothbrush! I've tried it on other cars and had 'spotty' success. Seems that products I tried seemed to clean (mask?) the mess, but sometimes it comes back after a few washings. Personally, I haven't found that bullet-proof, works everytime solution!

ibleedblue · #5 (**permalink**) 05-01-2002, 07:00 AM

I did a long search on this same issue yesterday on autopia.com. The most popular recommendations from those folks were (in no particular order)....

1. A white vinyl drafting eraser (where you get them I don't know)
2. EF Hi Intensity (no clue what this is, can someone fill me in? it must come from properautocare.com)
3. Meguires #39
4. Isopropyl Alchohol and scrubbing with a toothbrush
5. The peanut butter and toothbrush trick.

And then it seemed every post always ended with 'make sure you put some 303 on it when you're done.' There was also some mention of using vegetable oil instead of peanut butter. My thinking is that neither of the two do much more that put a coating of oil on the plastic that makes it look black for a little while then it's back to the 'waxed over' look after a few weeks. I've heard some liquid Dawn dishwashing soap and a toothbrush work well, but I haven't had an opportunity to try it yet.

Good luck whatever you do and please post results. Between the trim and the bed rail caps and the side mirrors and bumbers I've got two weeks worth of scrubbing that I need to do.

Greg

KDTundra · #6 (**permalink**) 05-01-2002, 08:46 AM

Thanks for all your quick responses and advice. I think the 303 application was what I remeber.

Musashi, I don't or haven't been putting anything on my fender flares for protection. My truck is fairly new and looks great. Good point though that down the road, a protectant will be necessary. Maybe some can lead us to what they use.

ibleedblue, Thanks for jogging my memory about the 303 application. I'll try the other remedies too.

Kev.

SATundra · #7 (**permalink**) 05-01-2002, 01:18 PM

Thanks guys for posting the info. I to have gotten a little sloppy with the waxing a couple of times and needed to know how to get rid of those little white smudge marks on the dark plastic. I am gonna try the "white vinyl ereaser", will let you know how it works.

SATundra

akauth · #8 (**permalink**) 05-01-2002, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ibleedblue

1. A white vinyl drafting eraser (where you get them I don't know)
2. EF Hi Intensity (no clue what this is, can someone fill me in? it must come from properautocare.com)
3. Meguires #39
4. Isopropyl Alchohol and scrubbing with a toothbrush
5. The peanut butter and toothbrush trick.

Greg

Greg, EF Hi Intensity is a pretty strong cleaner.

http://www.properautocare.com/hi-c32.html

Personally, I've never had to resort to more than a microfiber towel with a paint finish spray on it like meguiars final inspection (or something like 303 or Klasse to dampen it). But if I needed to tackle something a little harder, I think that I'd even try some clay to remove it while I'm washing the car (or spraying the area with meguiars). Have to be careful with that clay though, as then you'll have to wax the paint you touch. But clay is pretty effective at cleaning. One you try it, I think you'd be amazed at how well it works and how it smooths even rough paint.

I've never tried the white draftsman's eraser (available at art supply places), but I think that will create another problem (that is easier to clean up).

Alan

ibleedblue · #9 (**permalink**) 05-01-2002, 02:18 PM

Quote:

But if I needed to tackle something a little harder, I think that I'd even try some clay to remove it while I'm washing the car...

Tried that. The clay won't get into the porous (or 'bumpy') surfaces like the black side moulding and the trim around the side mirrors and the bedrail caps. It works great on smooth plastic (my flares are painted and smooth, so I don't know if the black ones in the original post are smooth or porous). The clay is an awesome product, you just can't manipulate it enough in those plastic grooves to do anything.

Quote:

I've never had to resort to more than a microfiber towel with a paint finish spray

I'm ordering some microfiber towels today when I get home. From what I can gather, those things are pretty amazing. For me, I'm thinking the biggest problem will be that I've let the wax bake on the trim for months because I didn't know how to remove it. I don't know that a microfiber and some finish spray will take off year old baked on wax? Even if it does, the plastic is probably stained now, so I'll have to constantly put some 303 or something similar on it to keep it looking black.

Greg

nhparrot · #10 (**permalink**) 05-01-2002, 02:33 PM

My wife brought home some aerosol stuff from the detail shop she works at. spayed on a microfiber towel or q-tip, I was able to remove all the wax residue I had. I will post up the name of the product after I get home and look on the can.

nhparrot · #11 (**permalink**) 05-02-2002, 06:44 PM

The stuff I used was called Perfect 10, sprayed on a q-tip, microfiber cloth or a soft bristle tooth brush. Pefect 10 is a rubber, plastic dressing made by Malco.

Buzzard · #12 (**permalink**) 05-02-2002, 07:02 PM

Try a toothbrush and some toothpaste.

Dont know if it will get wax off the plastic but it got rust off my counter top. (Floride optional)----Buzzard

TIGERTUNDRA · #13 (**permalink**) 05-03-2002, 01:06 PM

Has anyone tried the Mother's Back To Black on the fender flares?

ibleedblue · #14 (**permalink**) 05-04-2002, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Has anyone tried the Mother's Back To Black on the fender flares?

It's not a permanent fix for the waxed over part. It keeps the area black for a couple of weeks, but once it washes off, you're right back where you started. I should say that I have not used it, this is just what I've read over at autopia.com.

Greg

ibleedblue · #15 (**permalink**) 05-06-2002, 07:31 AM

I spent about 3 1/2 hours yesterday cleaning all the black plastic (side moulding, bumper covers, bed rail caps, side mirror trim, rear glass trim and 3rd brake light trim) on my truck. I was able to get all of the old wax out of the grooves (not just cover it up with oils/polishers), but it was not easy. I used Dawn dishwashing detergent and a fingernail brush to do everything. I cleaned about a foot long section at a time and then wiped the plastic clean with a towel. I know the Dawn will strip the wax off paint, so I tried to keep if from running as best as possible. Thankfully everything turned out great! Too bad I didn't have time to wash and wax yesterday too. Just wanted to let everyone know that this worked.

Greg