Finally - wax residue removal product that works

I

imported_doug

New member
OK, raise your hands - who is frustrated at the wax residue on your car's black vinyl bits? Me, Me!! Me - hand WAY up! My car has bumper inserts, windshield washers, headlight washers and door moldings. Some of these are textured. And I'm just not dedicated enough to mask before I wax or polish.



I've tried alcohol. I've tried Meguiar's #40 and Trim Detailer. I've tried 303 Aerospace Cleaner and Protectant. I've even tried peanut butter. If you've tried all this stuff, you know that NONE of them work. Most have oils that completely hide the white stuff - looks great - until you've washed a few times. Then it all comes back.



So I'll try anything (which explans the peanut butter episode - THAT is how desparate I am :rolleyes: )



I recently found a can (metal can) of 3M "Adhesive, Tar and Wax Remover" pn #03607 - at a Wal-Mart, no less. This is a clear liquid, and is some sort of solvent. "Will not harmmost cured automotive paints" "Hmmm. Must be strong stuff", me thinks. It smells very similar to "Goof-Off" if you're familiar with that. Guess what - it works! I used an old t-shirt and a toothbrush - and the residue is gone. The best thing is this stuff evaporates completely away within seconds, so you can SEE where you need to keep working. When you're done, the vinyl WILL look dull - but it will be free of wax. So - after it is clean, you can put your favorite rubber/vinyl dressing on and know that you aren't just temporarily hiding the wax.



NOTE: SEE MY LATER POST BELOW FOR PHOTOS



I feel much better now.



P.S. - I found kids' electric toothbrushes on sale at Walgreens - $1.99. I'm not kidding $1.99!!! I actually used it to work in the tight corners. :bounce
 
Thanks Greg, I still have trace bits of 6 month old S100 wax on both my cars. They come back after I thought I had gotten rid of them.



I don't have Goof-off, but I have something galled Goo-Gone. Looks like it could stain, because it is yellow like Pine-Sol.
 
Goof Off is a graffitti remover, as in PAINT remover.

Goo Gone is a citrus-based solvent that works well for

dissolving tar, adhesives, etc.

Not to say that Goof Off wouldnt have its place in our detailing

arsenals, but it's one product I would say requires a thorough

label-reading before use.
 
Justin - I also have goo gone, I've tried it. And it doesnt work. :(



but Greg, great tip on the 3M stuff- and the toothbrushes! I might just have to try that :o
 
A few minutes of masking off the trim with masking tape saves a lot of the agrravation you are talking about! What are we talking about for a time frame to mask off the trim...5 to 10 minutes? Sheesh!
 
Isn't that stuff mainly NAPTHA?



Any where you touch the paint it will remove the wax there too...so be careful....else you could get in an endless cycle of waxing and removing wax build up....
 
carguy said:
I'm just not dedicated enough to mask before I wax or polish.



I recently found a can (metal can) of 3M "Adhesive, Tar and Wax Remover" pn #03607 - at a Wal-Mart, no less. This is a clear liquid, and is some sort of solvent. "Will not harmmost cured automotive paints" "Hmmm. Must be strong stuff", me thinks. It smells very similar to "Goof-Off" if you're familiar with that. Guess what - it works! I used an old t-shirt and a toothbrush - and the residue is gone. The best thing is this stuff evaporates completely away within seconds, so you can SEE where you need to keep working. When you're done, the vinyl WILL look dull - but it will be free of wax. So - after it is clean, you can put your favorite rubber/vinyl dressing on and know that you aren't just temporarily hiding the wax.



I feel much better now.



P.S. - I found kids' electric toothbrushes on sale at Walgreens - $1.99. I'm not kidding $1.99!!! I actually used it to work in the tight corners. :bounce
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3M Adhesive, Tar and Wax Remover is good stuff, have been using and recommending it for at least a year. Not too expensive eather. And of course it also safely removes wax from painted surfaces and actually makes it easier to use a clay bar. I use it regularly at least twice a year. Jst remember to let it sit, then rub lightly, without any effort. Let it do the work.



In the future, put on a trim dressing before you wax so you don't have to mask. Meguiars and Eagle one have the ones that work best on my vehicles.
 
Oooh neat, thanks! I forgot about tar removal products altogether. I (still) have polish residue on some of my trim because I had planned to mask it off but forgot! :doh



I'll have to try this someday. I've also tried a variety of stuff, including Megs Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner with modest results even when scrubbed. Time to try something more "solventy" like this.
 
I love this stuff so much I have 5 containers of it. I thought it was gone for good but I too get it at Walmart. 3M makes a similar product available in quart containers, most 3M dealers can get it and places like NAPA Auto Parts usually stock it.



Been using it for 10+ years. It's my last line of defense when I have to remove some serious yucky stuff. if it doesn't work, out comes the cutting torch. :eek:
 
JustinTRW said:
Thanks Greg, I still have trace bits of 6 month old S100 wax on both my cars. They come back after I thought I had gotten rid of them.

.
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One of the reasons I ike S100 is it doesn't leave any thing on my trim. Before I used S100 I just used QD like Speed Shine to take it off.
 
Sorry I didn't post pics before - I ended up doing a little more work with today. Unfortunately it was just getting dark as I did it so the natural light was very different from shot to shot. I used the flash, but for the last shot it was nearly dark, so there is more flash and it was a pretty glary shot. The MG Trim Detailer is NOT a high gloss product. You can see I have a scuff on this particular piece.



I used a toothbrush - it took a few cycles of scrub, wipe (it drives a lot faster if you wipe sift a soft rag - I used an old t-shirt.) Then, within seconds you can see where you still need to work. The little round thing is one of the ultrasonic transmitters for the park distance control. You can see it looks better too.



P.S. - definitely NOT alcohol, definitely NOT like Goo-Gone (which I like WAY better than Goof-Off for adhesive removal). It does "soften" the vinyl ever so slightly while you're working with it - the instructions warn you not to rub hard with a rag.



wax_remover.jpg
 
I have used this stuff for a while now but never tried it to remove wax residue. So I went right out and gave it a try,,, Thanks Greg, it worked!!
 
admac said:
weren't people also using those clicky erasers to remove wax residue as well?
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Yeah, the white gum erasers can work, but (as I found) they can't clean grainy textured vinyl very well.
 
admac said:
weren't people also using those clicky erasers to remove wax residue as well?
Click to expand...



They seem to get the more smooth rubber and plastic, and the majority on more textured bits. The last 10% is still there though.
 
I have been trying to be more careful and not get any wax on the trims but no matter how careful I have been I still get those annoying wax marks on plastic trims. I have been using peanut butter to remove wax residue from plastic parts and so far have no complaints.
 
I was wondering if there were any recogmended products to use after using the 3m remover to bring back a nice clean look....like the rubber/vinal protectant



Jon
 
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