How to Clean Plastic Car Molding
The molding on your car is multi-functional, protecting panel edges, giving rough borders a finished look, and adding color and styling. Plastic car molding is built to resist wear and fading, but UV rays and corrosive weather can eventually take their toll and damage the appearance of your vehicle. Learn how to clean plastic car molding and maintain its bright and attractive look. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Car soap and water
- Auto detailing brush
- Terry towels or microfiber cloths
- Car molding cleaner
- Liquid laundry detergent
Instructions
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Work in the shade when possible. The sun can dry soaps and other car products before you have time to rinse or buff them, and will leave a residue film or spots behind.
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Clean the trim thoroughly with soap and water each time you wash your car. Be sure to use special car soaps and molding cleaning products only, as even the mildest household cleaners can fade or damage car surfaces and trim. Use a water hose on a low setting for rinsing the car and plastic molding. A heavy blast from the hose can embed dirt and debris in the trim or etch it.
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Use an auto detailing brush to clean rough or textured plastic molding. (Stick with terry towels or microfiber cloths for smooth trim, as any kind of brush can scratch it.) Use the brush to get dirt and built-up wax out of the crevices of rough plastic.
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Dry thoroughly with another terry towel or microfiber cloth (microfiber will leave less lint on rough surfaces).
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Apply something like Armor All to all molding, every 1-2 months. This will help protect it from UV degradation and weather conditions that can cause mildew and corrosion. Follow the manufacturer's directions for application. Once you start using protectant on your car, it's important to thoroughly remove the previous application before adding another coat. Multiple coats of protectant can degrade your trim, so it's important to always begin with a completely clean surface. Many manufacturers have special car molding deep cleansers for just this purpose. Try a clean microfiber cloth for a nice, even application.
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Use a special car molding dye to improve the look of faded molding or repair damage spots. Be sure the dye is approved for plastic moldings. Always spot test the dye in the least conspicuous area of molding on the car to check the results. Different dyes can leave a shiny or more matte finish, so it's important to test and find the right match for your car. Work in small increments, and be careful not to get the molding dye on other parts of the car.
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Tips & Warnings
Use liquid laundry detergent when washing microfiber towels and cloths. Powder detergent crystals can get trapped in the microfiber and end up scratching your car paint or molding!
Always spot test all car molding cleaning and dye products on a less conspicuous area first to be sure it doesn't damage or discolor the plastic. Follow the manufacturer's directions for application and warnings for best results.
