Wax vehicle, then how to clean wax off plastic GOOD!

[Mark Christianson]

There are some things in life that just suck to ask.

When you wax your vehicle, it never fails that you get wax on the plastic trim, door handles, fender flares, etc....

What the heck takes that wax residue off the plastic?????

I have tried Armor-all, bug/tar remover, wash it again, bla bla bla.... I can get it decent, but I have not been able to get it to the "new car" look. It always still has a haze to it.

Is there any good remedy to get that wax residue off the plastic parts?? I gotta believe there is something very simple out there for an idea.

[Try Too Fish]

Try 409 cleaner! sometimes it works.With porous plastics you have to use a fine bristle brush!

[Powerstroke]

Peanut Butter. Its really works despite the fact it sounds crazy. Just try not to get it in the cracks.

409 would probably strip the wax you got on any paint since it is a liquid. The peanut butter is nice cause its thick and sticky and you can dab it where you need it.

[Mark Christianson]

I want my truck clean, but I will NOT burn up my precious peanut butter on my fender flares. Thats just wrong!!!!!!!!!!

I can see it now. I use peanut butter, and my next post will be, "How do I get peanut butter out of the seams between my plastics and the fenders?"

I am gonna shy away from that post. DOH!

Thats it for ideas? What am I missing? For years I have had those subtle crossovers onto the plastic trim and never gotten it cleaned up perfect. Am I the only one????

[Powerstroke]

Sorry BLB. I know it works since I had an F150 with all the plastic trim. I used to get was on the flares and bed caps all the time. The peanut butter works.

[chris63]

I see either a sasquatch"messin' with commercial"or a bunch or black bears eating your truck when you come back from a week of fishing on the gun flint or boundry waters area(s),Peanut butter bad!.c63 Certain types of wax can be harder than others to remove from plastic parts.What kind are you using and how long are you leaving it b4 buffing it off?c63

[cold one sd]

Quote:

---

"Peanut Butter. Its really works despite the fact it sounds crazy. Just try not to get it in the cracks."

Yup, I hate peanut butter in my crack too.

[SVO]

Denatured alcohol will take it off. Bug and tar remover also works.

[ChuckN]

A buffer with the buffing pad will take out all that irrating wax out of plastic. I buffed my truck recently and it removed several years of oopsies out of the plastic areas. Just make sure your vehicle is very clean before using the buffer...

[Farley]

I've heard Simple Green and a toothbrush. Avoid getting the simple green on the paint as it will strip the wax.

Or you could take the trim off and re-paint it if you really want that new look.

[chris63]

Be carefull with the buffer on plastic parts as heat build-up can cause melting of said plastic parts!Ouch!thats gonna leave a mark.c63

[nthomps66]

My neighbor uses and recommends WD-40 to get the wax off the plastic and he takes ridiculous care of his truck.

[RedDB76]

There is commercially available "Wax and Grease Remover", which works well - as with anyone elses comments - keep it off the rest of the truck!

I have a small can of 3M wax and grease remover - it is high dollar stuff, and you can probably find it at most auto parts stores (not sure if they still sell it, mine is at least 5 years old). Otherwise, any automotive paint place will sell similar products, for much less than the 3M stuff.

[Hibbing]

FYI - When you do get it cleaned off, switch to the new stuff advertised on TV. To avoid using a company name that might violate FM rules, it is made by "Tortoise Parrafin" and rhymes with "nice"! I've tried this stuff and it is GREAT!

[ChemMechanicInc]

Mothers make a product called "Back to Black".

This is your ticket.

[chris63]

Do the Bears eat back to black too?c63

[Mark Christianson]

Good info guys. No offense Powerstroke, but the peanut butter just wasnt gonna happen for me.

I'll investigate the many other recommendations though.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I also use the 3M wax and grease remover. Apply to a rag and rub the area. It does what it says so you really do need to keep it of the fresh wax!

I wonder if the peanut butter/wd40 actually remove the wax or if they mask it by making the plastic look shiny because of the oils. Kinda like armor all on old dull tires. They look good for a couple of weeks but eventually the tires look dull again.

[Fishin4Life]

Quote:

---

FYI - When you do get it cleaned off, switch to the new stuff advertised on TV. To avoid using a company name that might violate FM rules, it is made by "Tortoise Parrafin" and rhymes with "nice"! I've tried this stuff and it is GREAT!

---

I agree, just tried this stuff, works great no white residu