How to Remove Wax from Plastic Trim

When waxing your car, you might leave behind a cloudy residue on your trim. You can use products like magic erasers and wax removers to remove wax from your car.
Written by Rochelle Miller-Hernandez
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
When wax dries on plastic trim, it creates a white haze that is as hard on the eyes as it is hard to remove. That being said, waxing your car should be a catch-22! If you remember to cover your plastic trim while you wax, you can achieve an optimal paint shine and an equally lustrous black trim.
Even with precautions, wax can easily find its way onto plastic trim. You may pull out all the stops to wash and wax your car to get that gorgeous shining look, but if you forget to be
mindful of your plastic trim
, you'll end up unsatisfied with your car's trim.
If it’s already too late, and you’ve applied car wax with your black trim exposed, fret not! Licensed insurance broker
Jerry
is here to show you how to remove wax from your car's trim.

Use spray-on wax remover for your car

Spray-on wax removers are concocted to dissolve wax trapped on plastic trim. It is easy to apply and maneuver into hard-to-reach spots. You can purchase wax remover at most general retailers, automotive stores, and online.
One popular brand is
McKee’s Wax Remover
, which comes with a long-handled nylon brush to help loosen and remove the wax build-up.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
Find insurance savings

Removing car wax with rubbing alcohol

Not only is rubbing alcohol an inexpensive way to remove wax from plastic trim, you probably already have it on hand. Simply dip a soft cloth or old toothbrush in the alcohol and scrub it onto the area with the build-up. Once the spot comes clean, wipe with a damp clean cloth.
If the plastic surface has dulled a bit, use a protectant like
ArmorAll Extreme Shield
to restore the shine.

Use a pencil eraser

Is your child's pencil case laying around somewhere? Using a pencil eraser is a surprisingly effective way to remove wax from plastic.. A pencil eraser is a great way to access hard-to-reach areas or you can purchase a larger rubber school eraser. Simply rub the area in circular motions and the old wax will fall off in crumbs.

Use a magic eraser on your car

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers
are made of melamine resin foam, which creates a mild abrasive safe for many surfaces when combined with water. Magic Erasers are perfect for clearing wax from your car in little to no time.
For the best results, only use the Magic Eraser on your car's trim. It could potentially damage your clear coat or car paint.
MORE: How to remove water marks from your car

Protecting your trim

If you don't get wax on your trim, you won't need to clean it off. Before waxing, remember to tape off the areas you want to shield from the wax application. Painter's tape will do the trick and it will also easily peel off after the new wax has been applied.
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings