Just cleaned a Honda CRV and the Yeti with a similar amount and positioning of plastic. (front, sides and rear).

Observations................

Honda black plastic exterior trim easy to clean..It is textured as Yeti but a smoother pattern and slightly more gloss

than Yeti. Comes up very good without any further attention.

Yeti cleaning off road muck with copious amounts of warm water/car detergent

leaves the Yeti looking unevenly dirty.

The muck just appears to re-absorb into the plastic.

The material used is almost like blotting paper in effect and if you wipe finally with a damp cloth is impossible to

get a fully wetted even area and it re-absorbs the dirt film, drying unevenly dirty.

The Honda is just so simple and washes clean first time with no effort.

Any one come up with a foolproof method of cleaning.

Should I not use black plastic trim cleaners....is this causing the problem??

I have used a black plastic enhancement product (Back to Black) but find this ineffective on the Yeti.

If you put enough on to get the right appearance it runs into noticable marking when it rains.

Again you have to put a lot on with a cloth as the blotting paper effect of the plastic requires it to get a good initial effect that doesn't last for long.... and then goes streaky when it next rains.

Why is this animal so different from cars I have had in the past??.

My Honda get the same wash/wax treatment and is no problem in getting a good result.

Yeti sitting on drive looking a mess black plastic wise!!!

Appear to have a hairline scratch on the rear corner curved dark glass (Plexi-glass??).

Noticable in certain viewing angles (can feel with finger nail).

Can you polish them out or will this ruin the mirror like surface and make it worse??.

Edited 12 February, 201115 yr by kibby

I have noticed that the plastic trim does stain with dirt but when I wash the Yeti I don't let the soap suds rest to long on the plastic and always dry fully before applying a trim detailer. The plastic high gloss panels will scratch when washing so to reduce this you need to rinse your mop out every time you have cleaned a section. Don't use a sponge as this just moves dirt around when washing. You can polish the plastic but the best results are when you use a machine polisher like a Duel Action polisher. The best way to prevent scratches (swirls) is to wash your wool mitt out every time you re soak it.

If you want some good advice and info, have a look on detailing world forum.

HTH

I have noticed that the plastic trim does stain with dirt but when I wash the Yeti I don't let the soap suds rest to long on the plastic and always dry fully before applying a trim detailer. The plastic high gloss panels will scratch when washing so to reduce this you need to rinse your mop out every time you have cleaned a section. Don't use a sponge as this just moves dirt around when washing. You can polish the plastic but the best results are when you use a machine polisher like a Duel Action polisher. The best way to prevent scratches (swirls) is to wash your wool mitt out every time you re soak it.

If you want some good advice and info, have a look on detailing world forum.

HTH

Where is that detailing forum???

The scratch could be accidental but I use clean cloths, lots of water and light pressure so maybe not ..could be just supermarket damage!!!

Edited 12 February, 201115 yr by kibby

Where is that detailing forum???

The scratch could be accidental but I use clean cloths, lots of water and light pressure so maybe not ..could be just supermarket damage!!!

FOUND IT!!! but American and products not available in UK??

Edited 12 February, 201115 yr by kibby

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/

It's a UK site mate..!

Wonder how this will clean up??

You need some mud flaps on that

Edited 12 February, 201115 yr by a65rocket

Whats the best trim restorer product that doesn't leave multi-coloured runs/stains when it rains???

Looked on detailing forum ...lots of products that 'nearly' do the job.

A permanent action one appears to be the best but will not use in case it goes wrong and is irreversable. Also would't be advisable on a near new product (I think). It is horredously expensive at £27 per 15ml/£75 for 50ml so not practical for large area even if it works.

Is it best to clean back to virgin plastic (iso-propanol alcohol...any other suggestions??)and just use water/car detergent as the current effect I get is poor with product 'Back to Black' and AUTOGLYM plastic cleaner product (forgot name)??

Concerned using other products will make current condition only worse hence going back to as delivered state if it can be achieved. Surely a wax/oil/other chemical removal product should be simple to achieve??

Advice appreciated

Edited 14 February, 201115 yr by kibby

You need some mud flaps on that

Probably true, but TBH with the amount of clag I drove through even they wouldn't have made much difference.

Probably true, but TBH with the amount of clag I drove through even they wouldn't have made much difference.

The Skoda mud flaps are next to useless. Betty has a permanent curtain of mud along each side up to the rubber door trim. Best cleaning method is a jet wash to get the worst off.

Funnily enough when I was washing the Yeti last week I thought the complete opposite. The black plastic cleans up well using just the pressure washer.

After washing the car normally (bucket and sponge, finishing with a chamois), a quick application of Auto Glym Bumper Care and the black plastic looks great. I don't use bumper care every time, maybe every third wash or so.

After the flap I caused last time....... dare I mention the best cleaner of all time .........

All right I'll chance it

Peanut butter (smooth is easier).......wash the bumper and rinse.....apply peanut butter with a brush (I used a nail brush on mine last time) and rinse off .....one clean and shiney bumper.

don't laugh it works, and no I am not winding you up

After the flap I caused last time....... dare I mention the best cleaner of all time .........

All right I'll chance it

Peanut butter (smooth is easier).......wash the bumper and rinse.....apply peanut butter with a brush (I used a nail brush on mine last time) and rinse off .....one clean and shiney bumper.

don't laugh it works, and no I am not winding you up

From first application to clean and shiny how long does it take??...feels like it could be

an long ordeal for back compromised creaky person!!!

From first application to clean and shiny how long does it take??...feels like it could be

an long ordeal for back compromised creaky person!!!

Depends how hungry you are and how fast you can lick

Once clean, this is a very good product and a favourite on our detailing section http://www.motorgeek.co.uk/aerospace-protectant-sizes-p-88.html

I too have the problem, wax residue though. What I have read on other sites is that if you go over the marks with a tooth brush and washing up liquid, it should clear it well, and it did it pretty well, so might worth a try!

Otherwise, get some interior wipes and wipe those plastic and it also do a good job, I have tried Back to Black, not too effective!

I jet washed mine on the way to work this afternoon. Just hot soap high pressure lance followed by high pressure rinse and it all looks fine again.

From first application to clean and shiny how long does it take??...feels like it could be

an long ordeal for back compromised creaky person!!!

The bigger the brush the quicker the job......and I am getting old and creaky as well ...just use a low seat/footstool to sit on

WD 40 is your friend.

use it on all the exterior plastics and it'll get it looking like new,

or alternatively...

now you might say i'm mad but try cheapo baby wipes!

i don't know what's in them but they'll get all sorts of muck off virtually everything.

WD 40 is your friend.

use it on all the exterior plastics and it'll get it looking like new,

or alternatively...

now you might say i'm mad but try cheapo baby wipes!

i don't know what's in them but they'll get all sorts of muck off virtually everything.

Tried WD40 (not on the Yeti) and found if you use it sparingly the effect is patchy and if you

use a liberal amount it streaks after a rain. Overall any improvement is not lasting.

Feels like it is just wetting surface with oily finish... OK initially, not very good when dried on.

I think it is not silicone based...use it lots for other applications.

Edited 14 February, 201115 yr by kibby

Anyone used Iso-propanol alcohol or Metholated spririt to clean black plastic (remove wax etc)??

Seem to recall it is used to clean wax off paintwork prior to fitting rear door protection foils.

Does it work??

I used it to prepare the surface of my rear bumper on my Roomster before fitting the top protector. Worked a treat, at least the adhesive stuck OK and that was the purpose of the excercise.

Fred

Just cleaned a Honda CRV and the Yeti with a similar amount and positioning of plastic. (front, sides and rear).

Observations................

Honda black plastic exterior trim easy to clean..It is textured as Yeti but a smoother pattern and slightly more gloss

than Yeti. Comes up very good without any further attention.

Yeti cleaning off road muck with copious amounts of warm water/car detergent

leaves the Yeti looking unevenly dirty.

The muck just appears to re-absorb into the plastic.

The material used is almost like blotting paper in effect and if you wipe finally with a damp cloth is impossible to

get a fully wetted even area and it re-absorbs the dirt film, drying unevenly dirty.

The Honda is just so simple and washes clean first time with no effort.

Any one come up with a foolproof method of cleaning.

Should I not use black plastic trim cleaners....is this causing the problem??

I have used a black plastic enhancement product (Back to Black) but find this ineffective on the Yeti.

If you put enough on to get the right appearance it runs into noticable marking when it rains.

Again you have to put a lot on with a cloth as the blotting paper effect of the plastic requires it to get a good initial effect that doesn't last for long.... and then goes streaky when it next rains.

Why is this animal so different from cars I have had in the past??.

My Honda get the same wash/wax treatment and is no problem in getting a good result.

Yeti sitting on drive looking a mess black plastic wise!!!

Appear to have a hairline scratch on the rear corner curved dark glass (Plexi-glass??).

Noticable in certain viewing angles (can feel with finger nail).

Can you polish them out or will this ruin the mirror like surface and make it worse??.

I stopped using "Back to Black" because of the aggressive pigment used in its composition, I found that it actually changed the colour of the bumpers. However, I now use a far superior product - Autoglym Bumper care, it is a gel like product with no added pigment, it gives fantastic results especially on "Porous" finishes. Try this Link:- http://www.autoglym.com/engb/product-proddetail.asp?v06VQ=EM&Range=1

I used it to prepare the surface of my rear bumper on my Roomster before fitting the top protector. Worked a treat, at least the adhesive stuck OK and that was the purpose of the excercise.

Fred

Which one???

Which one what?

Which one what?

Iso-Propanol or Metholated spirits to clean wax/contamination off black plastic exterior.