Just used rubbing alcahol, works like a charm!

 

After 10 hours of detailing my car this weekend, I also started the second round of trim tests. I have Back to Black, Poorboys, and Black Again, as recommended by various forums. I'm also re-running zaino and sonus.

I did the rest of the trim with sonus and was NOT happy with it, it is almost as sticky and messy as peanut oil, and as I previously showed it did not stand up to any rain.

There are chances of rain here and there this week so hopefully we'll get some to move my test along. I sure hope I get a winner this time. Meanwhile, I'll have the worlds largest collection of useless trim cleaning products!

 

try extra virgin olive oil...not as sticky as peanut oil

 

How about mineral oil? I haven't done any tests per se but considering its an oil it probably might attract dust, but you can apply it first and then apply your favourite protectant over the top, as layering.

 

I don't know waht it will do w/ wax.....but recently mar car was washed at the dealer and they armoralled my tires ....in doing so they got the junk on the fender skirts....which turned white immediately.......the head of service came out w/ a bottle called "Mini Plastic Care Emulsion"......it cleaned the stuff off effortlessly.....and they gave me the bottle for free....my car is still too new to warrant wax......but I would give this stuff a try.....

 

No it's not. Wax it now!

 

I've got a product that you might want to try. It goes on easy with a foam applicator pad, lasts a very long time, is resistant to water and mud, and doesn't attract dust like other products, though dirt still sticks to it.

 

Yeah...because even the new test is not going well, after 2 days of rain everything still seems to have washed off. The poorboys actually turned bright white!
Many products say they are safe for plastic because they are NOT silicone based, so I wonder how that renu-it is for the long term.

 

Considering that the plastic arches and trim are some of the least expensive parts to replace...arches are like $15, long term isn't much of a concern to me.

Keeping them looking great from day to day with the least amount of hassles is most important to me.

Re: silicone
People say the same about wax. That silicones are bad, yet the paint on our cars contains silicones as well.

Richard

 

My second test is complete, this time with Mother's Back to Black, Black Again, and Poorboy's Trim Detailer. I repeated the Autopia and Zaino Z-16 just for comparison.

Sadly, again nothing survived the rain. After two days most were washed off. The Poorboys actually turned a disgusting white. Then we had 3 more days of rain. After two days of dry I went out again yesterday to examine. The only thing that is just barely noticable is the Zaino. Like the last test, it does seem to outlast the others but it is barely noticable.

I'm not going to post the results and pictures to my site until I complete a 3rd test. Some have recommended olive oil (being less sticky than peanut oil apparently), and I'll continue to look for other products.

It's really a shame and very disappointing that everything I've tried, over a dozen products now, can't stand up to a day or two of rain. Here in new england, that means you would have to re-apply every week.

 

peanut oil FTW

oh, keep in mind that you will get a sudden craving for a pb&j sandwich

 

Well it finally happened to me. Wax on the moldings. Drat!!! Went in the house & got some Jiff. Put some on & left it to do its work for 10 minutes. Came back & wiped the Jiff off. Wonderful!!! I'm sure the peanut oil would be easier to clean up, but it makes for a soggy PBJ.

 

peanut butter works like a charm AND you can lick it off when you're done

 

Don't let your wife or girlfriend catch you doing that. ICKY!!!

 

The final results of my trim product testing have been posted:
http://www.jwardell.com/mini/2006/09...have-a-winner/

 

GREAT report.... many thanks Looks like I'm off to find some Forever Black.
I don't re-call seeing this on local auto parts shelves ( it may be because I wasn't specifically looking for that name). Where do you buy yours?

 

The links on the page all bring you to where you can purchase them. In this case, amazon. Not sure if you can find it on any store shelves. That is not true for most products I use.

 

I wonder Mr Wardell, if the forever black contains plasticizers like Armour all does. My father asked me this. I am not sure exactly what that is, he's an organic chemist person who develops vehicles for inks and develops ink systems.

 

Doubt it, it's a dye, not a protectant.

 

so what the heck can protect the trim?

 

The biggest "Protectant" for wax is going to be the blue painters masking tape. Knowing what wax can do to our trim and using zaino, I was VERY careful around the trim areas, and still got some slight areas where in time the dreded white residue began to show.
If you just want the trim areas to shine a little, then 303 or Back To Black will do fine... until the first rain or you next wash. Wheel well trim is usually the most problem area and it really only takes 2 min. to swipe those areas with BTB or 303.

 

Anyone ever try using Zaino to cover the entire black plastic pieces? I mean wax them like they are painted, and then buff of the wax?

I just waxed our car for the first time (Zaino Z5) and I waxed everything. The rear tail lights, the rear windshield wiper arm, the chrome bits on the front. But I accidently got some Zaino on the black plastic wheel arches and the lower trim (below the door). You can now see that wax is in those places, but it didn't turn white or anything. Maybe I should just wax ALL the black plastic pieces?

Anyone ever try this?

 

The word is hygroscopic.

 

I use some armor all and some elbow grease! works everytime!

 

I got some strange looks from the neighbors but peanut butter worked great at removing the wax from the plastic. Thanks for the tip!