Question About Removing Wax

GPGuy · July 7, 2009

The last time I waxed my truck I got some on the plastic door handles and now I have a nice stain on them. Any ideas and/or tips on removing this. I have tried Mequiar's Back to Black but all it does is temporarily cover it and once it rains a couple of times it comes back. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Tsmith · July 7, 2009

Have you tried just wetting a soft/medium bristle toothbrush and giving it a scrub?

hatfishr · July 7, 2009

The last time I waxed my truck I got some on the plastic door handles and now I have a nice stain on them. Any ideas and/or tips on removing this. I have tried Mequiar's Back to Black but all it does is temporarily cover it and once it rains a couple of times it comes back. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I use rubbing alcohol and a soft toothbrush. Works great for me. I also use it on my truck to strip all the wax off once a year and re-wax.

GPGuy · July 7, 2009

Hmm that's not a bad idea...I thought of using a toothbrush but I didn't know what else to use with it.

daylower · July 7, 2009

I use rubbing alcohol and a soft toothbrush. Works great for me. I also use it on my truck to strip all the wax off once a year and re-wax.

you scrub your truck with a toothbrush?

But seriously, not too long ago there was a thread about this and a couple guys recommended peanut butter

Spurshot · July 7, 2009

you scrub your truck with a toothbrush?

But seriously, not too long ago there was a thread about this and a couple guys recommended peanut butter

Doesin't everybody use a toothbrush?

The peanutbutter thing was about his girlfriend....

hatfishr · July 7, 2009

I use rubbing alcohol and a soft toothbrush. Works great for me. I also use it on my truck to strip all the wax off once a year and re-wax.

you scrub your truck with a toothbrush?

But seriously, not too long ago there was a thread about this and a couple guys recommended peanut butter

I thought about editing my reply after I read it....I guess I should have. Oh well....

I wouldn't recommend the toothbrush but I do recommend the alcohol....pour it (THE ALCOHOL) into a spray bottle, then spray it (THE ALCOHOL) onto the truck in sections, then wipe it (THE ALCOHOL) off with a cloth baby diaper.

jake1530 · July 7, 2009

I'm not being a wise ass. Why do you strip all the wax off once a year. I wax my truck about three to four times a year I thought I was doing it right, I use Mother's wax. Just trying to learn something not arguing, thanks in advance, Jake.

spikesputnik · July 7, 2009

Or use goo gone if handier than PB.

Jake, I think he was referring to a flat black plastic handle/trim, not a painted surface.

team3-8 · July 7, 2009

alcohol is the way to get wax off plastic or paint.

Outbacker · July 7, 2009

I use rubbing alcohol and a soft toothbrush. Works great for me. I also use it on my truck to strip all the wax off once a year and re-wax.

you scrub your truck with a toothbrush?

But seriously, not too long ago there was a thread about this and a couple guys recommended peanut butter

I thought about editing my reply after I read it....I guess I should have. Oh well....

I wouldn't recommend the toothbrush but I do recommend the alcohol....pour it (THE ALCOHOL) into a spray bottle, then spray it (THE ALCOHOL) onto the truck in sections, then wipe it (THE ALCOHOL) off with a cloth baby diaper.

Sounds like a perfectly good waste of alcohol to me . And i am not going to comment on the baby diaper thing. Lint free microfiber cloths are all I have ever used. I have always used Mothers Back to Black, and it has worked like a charm in removing the white residual crap from wax from the black plastic. Once a year I wash the truck with dish detergent to remove residual wax off the paint, then use a clay bar, polish and 2 coats of Meguires NTX gives a deep wet shine. And a coat of wax a few more times through the year keeps the truck looking good.

daylower · July 7, 2009

I thought about editing my reply after I read it....I guess I should have. Oh well....

lol....

stadt11 · July 7, 2009

Don't use anything that "masks" the problem, just get Mr. Clean Magic Auto Eraser.

Irv · July 7, 2009

If I were you guy's I would check out www.autopia.org The site is full of professional detailers and there are all kinds of tips, tricks, ideas, info on how to properly prep a vehicle for waxing, cleaning etc.

I don't think using rubbing alcohol to remove old wax is one of them though

Stylous · July 7, 2009

We've got two threads her now...the original question was how to take wax off the handles. I suggest a toothbrush and acetone then come back over it with Armorall to protect.

Next thread is how to remove wax from vehicle before rewaxing? Not sure why you want to do this, my suggestion would be to use a clay bar with an aggressive grab at the most. Pouring alcohol over the car or using dish washing detergent is not recommended by any car/paint guru. That is a practice you will regret.