[trhaus]

im writing this as a heads up, i recently had a fellow com into the shop i work at wondering why the textured plastics on his vehicles were so faded. with one look at the vehicle i came to the conclusion that he had waxed them along with the rest of the car. it was a very expensive mistake. so when polishing or waxing your car tape off the textured plastic bits.

[D.Acker]

I tape off everything I don't want wax on. Trim, lights, windows, sunroof.

[Canuck623]

I have been pretty careful in that area too but the Arizona sun has no mercy. All the plastic on my Sport Trac has a white color now without the wax. I am going try and get it back to black again.

[Lip Ripper]

I just armourall it first. Good news is there ain't none of that plastic s**t on my 66.

[escowagon]

meguires. back to black.. works like a charm.

[D.Acker]

Originally Posted by escowagon

meguires. back to black.. works like a charm.

So do white pencil erasers.

[mark v]

Black spray paint.......

Get a rag and a can of cheap old Black Spray Paint...... Wrap rag around finger..... Spray paint on rag wrapped finger..... wipe on textured plastic that was waxed and now discolored.

Been doing this for years and it is much cheaper than back-to-black.

[Canuck623]

That's interesting Mark. My plastics were never waxed but rather bleached by the sun. Was going to try Back to Black but like you said it's not cheap. Funny part is it's not the stuff at the base of the windshield. it's the trim on the running board and the top of the rear bumper.

[Mile30]

I use a product I found out about working at a 'car-spa' locally...

They only used it in the high-$ detail tent, not the everyday wash stuff, and it's the best product I've ever found for RESTORING old/faded plastics... Autech Trim Dressing. It's got polymers in it that absorb into the plastic like polish for boots; you keep rubbing it in until there's a uniform coating and it begins to bead on top of the surface. Another tip for deep cleaning AND hydrating the plastic is to use the green-scrubby side of an old dish sponge... It helps get it in between the cracks in the texturing and you can flip it over to pick up any extra.
I recently did a comparison test for another forum I'm on and took a number of photos beginning to end... I used Mother's Back To Black, ArmorAll Original, and Autech Trim Dressing... look at the pics and you'll see!
Because this stuff is dark I've only used it on gray and black plastics and it works like friggin' gang-busters! The only caveat would be that it is a gray gel, so I'm hesitant to use it on tan colored interior plastics... unless they're cooked and the owner gives me a thumbs up despite my apprehension... try it in a small corner first if the plastic is really faded and damaged; that being said - there is no better product for restoring old/faded plastic trim!
This stuff isn't in stores; I found out about it from the supplier delivering to the location I used to work at and bought a 32oz bottle for $20 4 years ago... I just used the last of that bottle to do the comparison. I can't live without the stuff in my garage so I ordered another bottle from the company; the price went up to $30 for the 32oz bottle, so if you think Mother's Back To Black is too expensive, I got some sour news for ya Jack...

I've been trying to find someone with an XLT Escape/Explorer/Expedition with all that 'body-cladding' to use as a guinea pig... Sooooo, anyone local wants to be in my pictures; drop me a line...

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...4dayslater.jpg

[Mile30]

If you don't want to keep redoing it, and you don't mind paying a tad more ensure as much; this stuff restores the FEEL also and looks good way longer than the stuff you'll find in stores!
If you end up wanting to track this stuff down you'll have to call the company... Their main business is automated car-wash systems and they have their own chemical department, it also sounds like a small company from what I've gleaned talking to them; so be patient!
It's not the cheapest and shipping may take a while from NC where they're headquartered; but the best is worth the wait! The other products are available everywhere and they work fine for newer plastic trim, but they also wear out after less than two weeks. I apply this stuff and after two/three weeks I lose interest in remembering to keep track of how well it still looks; 'cause it looks and feels brand new. I know how well it performs here (MD), so I'd be curious to see how it'd hold up out in the arid states!

[Poppy]

Interesting that someone mentioned armor all, I personally only used it once, and I guess I didn't use it correctly, but after it dried and a few days in the sun, I got white lines in all of the ridges in my hard plastic imitation leather grain of my dashboard.