how to get wax off plastic

I have been trying everything I could think of but I finally found a way to get it off. How to Wet Sand Foggy Plastic Headlights [8 Steps]. Unfortunately, this leaves a cloudy white residue that's especially noticeable if the trim is black. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Thanks for checking out Carwash Country — a place where you can find answers and recommendations related to washing and protecting cars, trucks, or SUVs. We’ve found the best way to remove dried on wax on plastic trim with McKee's 37 Wax Remover for Plastic is to spray it directly onto a terry cloth towel and gently rub the surface. The answer really comes down to the fact that dried on wax can be super difficult to remove when it dries. A lot of plastic trim pieces are textured to the touched and pretty porous, which allows wax particles to get lodged inside these pores. 4 years ago. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. References Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,040 times. ), so you may want to re-apply wax to those areas in particular once you’re finished. Plastic in … Work carefully when you scrub with the stiff brush so you don't scratch the paint. Many people will use heat guns or other methods that tend to discolor or fade the plastic, but this is a safe method you can try that should do the trick. It can feel like waxing your car takes forever, so it's easy to rush and get wax on the trim. 7 Products to Understand, Foam Gun or Cannon? The wax should transfer to the paper towels. Warming the candle wax might actually make it harder to remove. Hope this helps. The eraser trick works surprisingly well, I just found out. If you accidentally wiped wax onto trim, it's usually a pretty thin layer. Tested. If the wax has sealed in hard to reach places, a toothbrush can work quickly to disrupt its components. It looks worse now than before. How do you get wax off the black plastic parts of a white car from a sloppy wax job.. Blackfire All-In-One All Purpose Cleaner is another product well-suited to removing dried wax residue, particularly if it has been on your car for a long period of time. Body wax is excellent for removing unwanted hair from skin, but it’s not meant to end up anywhere else.It cools quickly and hardens, making it difficult to clean away completely. This product by Chemical Guys is one of the more expensive options I’ve seen for removing wax that can remove wax or oils from trim (depending on which one you have). Because warm wax … Carwash Country is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to these websites. Just take a toothbrush and eraser and rub the wax off! This is really ideal for heavily soiled trim, since it will take everything off with a little scrubbing. The Chilled Wax Process In many cases, chilling the wax can make it brittle enough to snap it off of the sink. If you need to cool it quickly, place an ice cube in a plastic bag and hold the bag against the wax until it hardens. Step 3 Remove the plastic and clean the area when the paste has completely dried. % of people told us that this article helped them. I get wax off plastic trim by dipping a Q-tip in a little bit of WD-40 -- takes it right off. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. The best approach is to apply it to the problem areas you’re trying to fix and allow it to sit and begin to break down the wax or sealant. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Before applying these a trim restorer or any type of polisher, it’s best to remove any trapped wax, pollen, or other particles from plastic before protecting them. You can also use a … I used it on painted plastic and chromed plastic surfaces. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Repeat if necessary. Materials Required: Steel Ruler or Knife, Textured Cloth. Synthetic waxes (as opposed or organic carnauba waxes) are generally safe for trim, so you don’t have much to worry about with those. The longer the product stays on the paint, the harder it may be to remove. It's important to use a clean microfiber cloth so you don't spread dirt on your newly cleaned trim. Mothers Back to Black Heavy Duty Trim Cleaner is a product that should have come out years ago. If there is any wax that is stubborn or hard to reach, such as if it has gotten into a grout groove, lay a paper bag or an old towel over the remaining wax. How to Remove Wax Off a Textured Wall. Source(s): Personal Experience. I’m sure chemicals make it easier, but in a pinch the eraser trick is pretty handy, surprised I’d never heard that before. This product comes with a nylon brush for areas where a lot of old wax has built up, and is a top choice for detailers. Doesn’t harm the plastic or the paint. Leaving the wax is a bad idea because it significantly diminishes the headlight’s visibility. The cleaner helps break down the wax so it's easier to remove with the toothbrush and eraser. Lv 4. You can also use a nail brush or toothbrush to clean the edges and inner parts of the trim. Spray it on and give it about 30 seconds or so to do its thing and then scrub it off with an applicator sponge or soft towel. Unfortunately, while being in the zone, you may accidentally get some of the wax onto the plastic headlights of your vehicle. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. After vacuuming it up, scrub with soap and water to remove any stain residue that remains. Keep in mind however, that the cleaner will most likely remove wax from all painted areas it comes in contact with (areas where you WANT wax! You want to avoid making contact with your vehicle’s paint, as it’s can potentially mar the paint and remove any wax or sealant you have (which you obviously don’t want). Source(s): https://shrinkurl.im/a8eHb. Hold a brown paper bag against the wall, or on the carpet, on top of the wax… Of note is that denatured alcohol should be used as a last resort only if you do not have a brush or eraser, since it is the most risky of all methods. Advantages, Soaps, & Recommendations. Don’t leave it longer than a minute or two or you could end up with water stains in your wood. If you are careful, you shouldn’t really ever need to use much of this stuff, but is nice to have in your toolbox of supplies. Black Plastic Molding. Use the side of your credit card or plastic putty knife to gently remove any remaining wax. If you use a magic eraser, press lightly and stop rubbing as soon as the wax is gone so you don't wear out the trim. When using a detailing brush, this product is probably the best I’ve used. Let the ice sit until the wax is brittle enough to crumble off. Set it … This article has been viewed 1,040 times. Check To See That The Oil Jugs You Buy Have The Exact Amount Of Oil In Them And Have An Inner Seal Under The Cap. I used a fork (carefully) to pull some out of the carpet. You can also use these methods for rubber trim. This product I found on Amazon for 17 bucks, which was a little expensive for a spray on trim cleaner. Scrub the peanut butter into the trim with the toothbrush. Dip a corner of a clean cloth into rubbing alcohol and wipe stain. It is also effective at removing polish or compound residue that may also be left behind. Some people choose to use painter’s tape when waxing (which you can certainly do depending on your vehicle), but for most people it’s just a good idea to be careful. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Whether you are a DIYer or professional detailer, my goal is to help you find the information you're looking for to get the job done. Square white pencil erasers are one of the most effective ways I’ve seen to remove wax from black trim or plastic. ! This is the main reason this type of wax is so hard to remove, since water and soap alone are unable to lift the particles out. You can try a pink gummy eraser if you already have one, I just prefer these white erasers since I think they work just a little bit better. Save Share. Finally – an easy way to remove wax stains from plastic trim! A credit card can work well if you don’t have a plastic scraper, but be sure to choose one that can easily be replaced in case you damage it. It may take a few applications depending on how much wax is built up. If you want to restore and condition the trim, use a wax remover product that thoroughly deep cleans it as well. Vinyl Flooring. Freeze to harden the wax. Set the bag aside and pick at the ice with your fingernail, a plastic scraper or the edge of a plastic spoon bowl. Polish or wax … A great product, just not for painted surfaces. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Tip: Although you can use magic eraser on wax, it might be too abrasive for the trim. This causes the appearance of a white haze that can make it look like the plastic itself is fading when it’s really just trapped wax. This is one product that does a good job at removing wax, and is a cleaner that works great on all vinyl, plastic, or rubber surfaces. The bristles will help you work it into texture and any cracks or crevices. Many people will use heat guns or other methods that tend to discolor or fade the plastic, but this is a safe method you can try that should do the trick. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2f\/Clean-Wax-from-Plastic-Trim-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Wax-from-Plastic-Trim-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2f\/Clean-Wax-from-Plastic-Trim-Step-1.jpg\/aid11895036-v4-728px-Clean-Wax-from-Plastic-Trim-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"