How to restore black plastic on your car

There are two areas of plastics on your car:

Internal (window trims, car dashboard, instrument controls etc.)
External (such as door trims, bumpers, mirrors etc.)

Over time, external black plastics on cars can become deteriorated, grey, and faded. This is usually due to climate factors such as sun, wind, rain, and dirt. Run-down plastics can harm the car's appearance and ultimately result in a lower resale value for your car. This can also be said for the internal plastics within the car; however, the inside of cars tend to suffer mostly from cracking and fading due to UV rays and poor upkeep.

What is the best way to maintain and protect your car's plastics?

There are no specific secrets to maintaining the look of your car's plastics. The key is to simply clean them regularly and use protective products to prevent deterioration and bring the plastic surfaces back to life with a shiny finish. Here are a few tips that will help:

Regularly clean the car's plastic the surface with a soapy sponge. It is important to wipe the area dry and use a microfibre cloth to ensure all the residue is removed and there are no streaks left noticeable on the plastic.
There are specific products for internal and external. Ensure you purchase the correct product. It is important to research the different brands, as some brands only enhance the grey to a shinny grey, some products will change the faded grey to black. Some products will last only 1 week; whereas some will last up to 1 month. You can purchase these products from car accessories stores or car accessories areas within chain stores.
If you are applying a product to the external plastics, ensure that you do not get the product on the paint or glass. Some products can affect these surfaces!

What products are best for renewing your car's plastic?

Here are a couple of our favourite products to use when restoring and/or protecting black plastics on cars...

FINIXA Plastic Renewal Gel

This plastic renewal gel nourishes plastic and leather interiors by re-intensifying the colour leaving a natural gloss finish.

Easy application with a hand foam pad.

Water-based and silicon-free.

AUTO GLYM Bumper & Trim Gel

A rich gel that instantly transforms and protects all exterior unpainted plastic and rubber surfaces, returning them to their original deep colour.

The unpainted external plastic and rubber surfaces on your car can fade over time from a deep black to a washed out grey. Bumper & Trim Gel restores the original colour and leaves a glossy water repellent film.

The gel does not contain colouring or dye so can be used to restore all unpainted plastics to their original colour.

Use on external plastics, vinyl and rubber, including moulded plastic bumpers, grilles, mirror cases, mouldings, wheel arch trims, door handles, vinyl roofs, rubber bumpers, spoilers and mud flaps.

It is important to keep up the maintenance of the plastics on your car. Doing so will help keep the dirt, dust and debris at a minimum. It will also help prevent cracking, fading, discoloration and premature ageing.

Ultimately it will give your vehicle a beautiful shine for many years to come!

If you have a vehicle that has damage that is beyond DIY repair, it may be time to call a professional like BumperTech. We can assist with car scratch repairs, car scuffs, car touch ups, and minor dent repairs,

Using BumperTech for your dent and scratch repairs will not only save you time, it will enhance the look of your car, increase its resale value, and our 5 year warranty will give you peace of mind that your car will maintain its appearance for years to come.