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Your vehicle’s trim is prone to premature discoloration due to UV rays, harsh cleaning detergents, grime, and oxidation. Black trim may turn gray after frequent exposure to such conditions. Fortunately, it’s possible to restore the faded trim on your car with a plastic restorer. Read our guide for a detailed rundown of some of the best plastic restorer products on the market that will restore the original color of your trim.
Summary List
- Best Overall: TriNova Plastic & Trim Restorer
- Best Value: Chemical Guys Sprayable Dressing
- Best Gel: Mothers Trim and Plastic Restorer
- Premium Pick: CERAKOTE Ceramic Trim Coat Kit
Also Consider
- Car Guys Plastic Restorer
- Solution Finish Black Trim Restorer
- Adam’s New Black Trim Restorer
- Armor All Outlast Car Trim & Plastic Cleaner
- Meguiar’s Ultimate Black Plastic Restorer
Key Features
Formulation
Be sure to check that the trim restorer is compatible with the components of your car. Some formulations are too harsh for certain plastics and may corrode the material. The best plastic restorer products are silicone-free and form a long-lasting glossy finish. Silicon-based restorers have a glossier finish, but aren’t long lasting. The manufacturer often indicates the parts of your vehicle that the restorer is compatible with.
Durability
In this case, durability refers to how long the restorer stays on the plastic before discoloration reoccurs. Choose a product that works for a month before you have to reapply a fresh coat. Durable restorers are more economical and convenient, since you don’t have to think of auto detailing your car every couple of weeks.
Protection Level
On top of restoring the color of plastics, the restorer should offer additional protection that prevents future discoloration. Get a product that’s waterproof, dirt-resistant, and above all, offers UV protection, since UV rays are the main cause of discoloration.
Best Trim Restorers: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall
TriNova Plastic & Trim Restorer
Best Value
Chemical Guys Sprayable Dressing
Best Gel
Mothers Trim and Plastic Restorer
Premium Pick
CERAKOTE Ceramic Trim Coat Kit
Honorable Mention
Car Guys Plastic Restorer
Honorable Mention
Solution Finish Black Trim Restorer
Honorable Mention
Adam’s New Black Trim Restorer
Honorable Mention
Armor All Outlast Car Trim & Plastic Cleaner
Honorable Mention
Meguiar’s Ultimate Black Plastic Restorer
Our Verdict on the Best Trim Restorers
Our top pick is the TriNova Plastic & Trim Restorer. It’s currently one of the most popular trims and plastic restorers that shields against UV rays, darkens the surface, and can offer up to one year of protection.
Our value pick is the Chemical Guys Sprayable Dressing. It’s one of the cheapest trim restorers that will return your black trim to its original state.
Benefits of a Trim Restorer
- Improve the look of your vehicle. Trim and plastic restorers deepen the dark color on the bumper and other plastic surfaces. It makes your car look as good as new and offers long-lasting results. The products also add a lustrous finish to the black parts that absorb UV rays to prevent further aging of your vehicle.
- Multifunctional. You can use plastic restoration products on all the plastic parts of your vehicle’s interior and exterior, including rubber parts like the tires and window seals. The restoration formula is best for restoring the original color of leather seats, plastic bumpers, and plastic door handles.
- Safe and environmentally-friendly. Most plastic restorers won’t damage your trim even if you use too much of the product. Also, manufacturers are becoming more sensitive to the effects their products have on the environment, and that’s why most of the plastic renewal products on the market are eco-friendly and safe for human contact.
Trim Restorer Pricing
- Under $15: Most trim restorers are affordable. Selecting a cheap product doesn’t mean that you are sacrificing quality. However, cheaper products are packed in smaller tubes and bottles. You may have to buy them as a set to get the job done.
- Over $15: Trim restorers within this price range come in bigger bottles that could be up to a gallon in size. You will also find sets of two or more restorers. Most of these products come with a spray applicator for easy application.
Other Considerations for the Best Trim Restorers
- User-Friendly: Get a trim restorer that’s mild on the skin. The best products also have a low viscosity for fast and easy application. Choose an exterior trim restorer that comes with a spray applicator for easy application.
- Eco-Friendly: Choose a non-toxic product that doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals that can cause a significant effect on the environment. Generally, eco-friendly detailing products don’t have an unpleasant smell.
- Versatile: Not all plastic restorers are designed to be used on all plastic surfaces. You should check the manufacturer’s description to determine where you can use the product. The best trim and plastic restorer can be used on tires, bumpers, leather seats, rubber seals, engine components, and other plastic parts of your vehicle.
Tips
- After using a trim restorer, make the trim sparkle and hide scratches with some of the best polishes, sealants, and waxes. They will help bounce off UV rays and prevent scratches to keep your trim looking new for longer periods of time.
- If the trim restoration product fails, try using a UV-protected dye to prevent future fading from occurring. Select a black permanent dye for longer lasting color, and use masking tape to seal other parts of your car from the dye.
- Besides car detailing, you can restore the faded black plastic by using a heat gun to bring out the oils that enhance the color. You can also use oily peanut butter to restore black plastic or paint over the defective plastic.
FAQs
A: It depends on how you apply the restorer. Trim restorers work by stripping off whatever is coating the exterior trim surface and replacing it with a protective layer that prevents fading, water, and dust. If you use an applicator pad to apply the chemical on the trim, it will remove the wax. However, it won’t remove the wax coat if it accidentally spills on parts of your car that are wax-coated as long as you don’t rub it in.
A: Exterior trim restorers are typically reapplied after a few weeks or months depending on the quality of the restorer. It also depends on the level of damage of your exterior trim, how much of the product you use, and your driving conditions. For example, if your car is old and you drive on rugged terrain under harsh weather conditions, then the trim restorer may only last for a week. It will last longer if you don’t frequently expose your car to heavy rain and harsh sunlight.
A: Assuming that you have a new car or have just restored your exterior trim’s color, you can prevent the trim from fading by keeping your vehicle parked away from direct sunlight. Hose down your vehicle to remove dust, and if you have to, give it a hard wash to remove tough stains using a mild detergent and a soft scrubber.
A: The car trim is any black material on your car that may fade when exposed to harsh environmental conditions. This includes the door handles, roof rack, window rubber gaskets, mud flaps, fender flares, bumper, tires, side mirror cover, and lower rocker panel trim pieces. It also includes the plastic and rubber parts in your vehicle’s interior.
