Paint on plastic trim
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Paint on plastic trim
hey guys im new to this forum. well i walked outside the other day and realized there was some brown substance on my passenger side plastic molding. as i started to examine it i realized that it wasnt coming off very easy. i can scrape it off with my fingernail but it is really hard and takes a long time to get just one speck off, im assuming its paint. problem is i have no idea how to get it off. i have washed the car a few times but that is doing absolutely nothing to this stuff. so does anybody know of any product i can use to get this off and not harm the plastic?
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Joined: Jun 2006
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It's probably paint that scraped off from another vehicle in a parking lot. If that's the case, then it's probably on there pretty good. Call a local body shop for some suggestions that work because I'm sure they deal with this quite a bit.
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no i dont think thats it, sorry i kind of forgot to mention all the details. it looks like it was splashed onto the side of the vehicle because it is coated inside the front passenger side wheel well(meaning i must have hit this stuff on the road and not noticed it until the next day). im just assuming its paint because it is so hard to get off. if this helps its kind of a light tan/brown color so i know its not road paint. if anyone knows what this could be or how to get rid of it please chime in.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Detroit
Is it on painted or black plastic trim?
If it's on paint, I would first try this stuff called "Goof Off" which is made to clean paint and other stains off....actually, I would try this on black plastic trim as well but maybe test somwhere inconspicuous to confirm that the stuff won't whiten the plastic.
Actually, if you have some good old lighter fluid (naphtha), maybe try that first--I have used this to clean wax and other stains off fragile vintage guitar finishes and it won't hurt the finish. Next move to the Goof Off--this would be at any hardware store. The Goof Off won't hurt regular car paint and will *usually* be OK on most plastics.
If it is on paint, you could try some light polishing/rubbing compound--work slowly by hand (If on matte black plastic, the polishing compound would buff out the plastic too).
George
Actually, if you have some good old lighter fluid (naphtha), maybe try that first--I have used this to clean wax and other stains off fragile vintage guitar finishes and it won't hurt the finish. Next move to the Goof Off--this would be at any hardware store. The Goof Off won't hurt regular car paint and will *usually* be OK on most plastics.
If it is on paint, you could try some light polishing/rubbing compound--work slowly by hand (If on matte black plastic, the polishing compound would buff out the plastic too).
George
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thanks alot, ill be sure to try these products. its mostly on the un-painted plastic trim but there are a few small drops that made it on the paint. I went out and used some bug and tar remover earlier and that was somewhat effective with ALOT of rubbing and ALOT of time. i have also noticed that with driving and time it has started to fade a little bit on its own.
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Update
today i went to wash my escape at this new place ive been wanting to try. much to my surprise this particular car wash used heated pressure washers which is a luxery not often seen in my neck of the woods (it also had a spot free rinse that works which is something i have never come in contact with). well as i was washing my car i desided to humor my self and see if i could get that dreaded tan paint off my car. shockingly it worked. the stuff just washed away for the most part with the high pressure rinse. some of it didnt come off completely but i have confidence that with time and more washing it wll all disapear. all i can say now is this car wash station has my business for good.
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