3 Plastic and Rubber Trim Care Tips for Students in an Auto Detailing Course

Plastic and Rubber Trim Care Tips

An automobile’s beauty is often found in its details. Take the beautiful Rolls-Royce Phantom for instance; it features hand-stitched leather and hand-picked wood veneers that adorn the interior, meaning the masterful Rolls-Royce’s beauty stems from its details. Professionals working in automotive detailing understand this concept; every nook and cranny of a car needs to shine in order to give it its best look.

The exterior plastic, vinyl, and rubber mouldings on a car are some areas that, when taken care of properly, can make or break the appearance of a car. These aspects of the car are built with what are known as ‘polymers,’ which erode and fade when they receive too much sunlight, oxygen, and heat. These polymers need to be cared for in order to stay in tip-top shape.

Read on to find out how detailing students can help keep plastic and rubber trims looking new.

1. Professional Automotive Detailing Often Includes Dressings for Restoration

The application of dressings on automotive polymers is done using a microfiber towel or a foam pad in order to spread it easily. Usually foam pads are used for larger areas, while microfiber towels are used for small trim areas. Dressings can reverse degradation and get rid of residue.

Once you begin your career in professional automotive detailing, always begin the process with only a small amount of dressing because different dressings spread in different ways. For example, some products only require a small pea-sized amount to begin. The process is simple; apply the gel and let it set for a few minutes. Then, wipe away the remaining residue. Be careful to not get any on the paint of your client’s car, as this can begin to damage it. You should notice the changes in the trim’s look and shine right away.

After applying a dressing to car trim, wipe away the excess residues and check out the shine!
After applying a dressing to car trim, wipe away the excess residues and check out the shine!

2. Applying a Dye is a Good Option Once You Begin Your Career in Professional Automotive Detailing

Dyes can help turn fading trim back to its original colour, but it’s important to prepare various surfaces before working on them, and the exterior polymers of a car are no exception.

Some dyes come with a cleansing solution that can clean away grime or dirt that may cause the dye to work ineffectively. Sometimes it’s best to clean the polymer more than once to ensure that all debris is removed. Once you start applying dye to the automobile’s trim, you will notice it will be absorbed like a sponge.

3. Professional Automotive Detailing Experts Seal Their Polymers After They Are Dyed

Those in an auto detailing career understand that applying a sealant to surfaces that have been dyed can help protect them from future degradation. When your client’s vinyl and polymer parts have been cleaned and dyed, it’s best to protect them by applying a protectant. This will ensure that a car’s polymers are protected from UV exposure and you won’t have to do the same dyeing job again in the near future.

Want to see what an auto detailing course can do for your career?

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