So yesterday my battery died and I got a jump from a greasy tow truck guy. He had some old jumpers lying in the back of his filthy truck that he used to jump me. I noticed a bunch of grease from the cable got transferred into the gloss plastic trim on the front of the car and that he wiped he away with a rag when closing the hood. Today however, I come outside and see it's corroded/damaged that same gloss plastic trim. See the photo for an idea of what I'm talking about. How do I restore plastic trim back to gloss? I'm assuming this will need sanding/polishing smooth as it currently feels rough where the damage is.

Thanks



How do I restore this plastic back to gloss?

 

thoughts on using a headlight restoration kit?

 

gentle buffing like gg7aph said should do it.

 

Novus plastic polish N0. 2 (available at motorcycle shops). I use it to remove scratches from plastic windshields.

 

If it's just grease (and not scratched) I'd first try washing with Dawn dish detergent, which is known for it's gentle grease-removal properties. Don't rub hard, let the Dawn do it's thing.

If no joy, THEN do the polish thing. (The fake 'chrome' is just a coating after all)

 

meguiar's scratch-x and a kiwi shoe cream foam polish pad. it has a red plastic handle.

then use some polymer sealant afterwards.

 

What about bugs? I was in the mountains in NM just after dusk and went through a massive cloud of bugs; so many that the noise and diminished visibility made me think I was in a light rain except for the swarm in my headlights. My windshield was covered but I was afraid of smearing if I hit the wipers. Fortunately I came to a small town a few miles down the road and hit up a pair of squeeges at a gas station, leaving big gobs of yuck that probably ruined them. The bug remover works well on the paint but I'm not sure how to clean the black piece or the headlight covers.

 

Best and least invasive method I've found is to take a microfiber towel, dampen it and heat it in the microwave. The combination of heat, moisture and the texture of the microfiber towel will melt through bug guts like crazy. All without harsh chemicals.

Been doing this with the motorcycle for 20 years and the paint still looks like new.

 

Old truck drivers method: 10-15% hydrogen peroxide, drop or 3 of Dawn in spray bottle of water. Take with anywhere. Have used this on acrylic motorcycle windscreens as well. No problem. Peroxide is an enzyme that will dissolve bugs (organic) but not paint.
Have the best rest of the day U can.

 

u guys sure have some weird ideas here this fit forum. lol

 

Laying a wet soapy towel on the front of the car for 15 minutes will do wonders to loosen up bug material.

 

or how about use some real tools like wizard's bug release? effortless cleaning. follow the instructions.