Care for Your Trim and Molding

In recent years, black plastic trim has become popular among auto manufacturers – think of the Nissan X Terra, the Hummer H2, and the Jeep Wrangler. All these vehicles have two things in common: #1 they have black molding either over the wheels or on the front, or both; #2 they’re rugged, off-roading vehicles that incur more abuse than your average sedan. For these two reasons, you have to apply protectant to these pieces. If you don’t, they’ll turn gray faster than you can say “low resale value”.
This tutorial will make some suggestions on how best to keep your dark trim and moldings looking like new.

Regular Maintenance Wash. Wash the trim and moldings each time you wash your vehicle. On textured pieces, use a Pinnacle Detailing Brush found in the Detailer's Choice 6-Piece Brush Detailing Kit. For larger pieces of trim, you might find it easier to use the Mothers Wheel & Wheel Well Long Handled Brush. A brush will allow you to pull contaminants out of the pores of the material. These contaminants may be contributing to the discoloration of the rubber or plastic. Avoid using stiff bristle brushes on smooth black plastic; it will scratch. Undress. If you already have a dressing on the trim and molding, clean it off periodically. Layering dressings will eventually result in discoloration because the outermost layers are not curing to the rubber; they are just sitting on top of old layers. Take a moment to clean off old dressings at least every two months using DP Cleanse-All Exterior Cleaner 32oz.. Spray your California Microfiber Towel 6 Pack and wipe down the trim pieces to avoid over spray. Protect. Once your vehicle is clean and dried, you need to protect the trim pieces with a quality rubber, vinyl, and plastic protectant. This will help prevent future UV degradation, which is the primary cause of fading. Meguiar's M4016 #40 Vinyl/Rubber Cleaner 16 oz. and 303 Aerospace Protectant 8oz. are both exceptional products. They both provide excellent UV protection with a non-greasy, satin finish. Use a Cobra Microfiber Applicator Pad 6 Pack Bulk to spread the protectant over the surface. It will provide an even coat without dripping or running. I apply protectant to my vehicles once a month because the sun is intense in Florida, but once every two months is probably sufficient in most climates. When applying protectant, don’t skip the wiper cowl (the plastic piece at the bottom of the windshield), the mirrors (if applicable), and window and door moldings. Use a detailing swab to apply protectant in tight spaces. Open your doors and apply protectant to the rubber gaskets, too. If they become dry or brittle, they will not effectively keep out air and road noise. Meguiar's G11500 Gold Class Protectant Wipes are a convenient way to protect and preserve rubber gaskets. Just use a pre-moistened wipe to apply a layer of patented protection.

Restoration If your black trim and molding have already faded, there are options to restore them. Forever Black is a black dye for coarse rubber and plastic pieces. The dye contains UV protectants to prevent future fading and its polymer formula ensures lasting color. Forever Black is a permanent dye so use care when applying it. In fact, test it out on an inconspicuous area before applying to all the trim. Keep in mind that it will not be able to absorb evenly into smooth plastic. The Forever Black Bumper & Trim Dye Kit comes with a cleaner and a bottle of dye. The dye has a sponge-tip right on the bottle for easy application. Turn the bottle upside down and press it against something to get the dye flowing. Spread a thin, even coat over the surface and allow it to dry for 20 minutes. No buffing is required. It may take a couple of coats to get the desired shade of black. If your trim isn’t quite black or you have smooth plastic surfaces, another option is Black Wow.This is a long-lasting product that significantly darkens the color of the plastic or rubber. It takes very little Black WOW to get great results. Start with a pea-sized amount on a foam applicator and spread it as far as it will go.

Use these tips to give the trim on your car that deep wet black look all year round.  With some simple maintenance once a month you can keep your car looking great with little effort.

Want to really learn how to detail? Order a copy of our easy to understand, Auto detailing DVD that show step-by-step instructions. For information on how you can order an AutoPlus Detailing DVD contact Andrew @ UrbanAndrew@gmail.com