Clean Paint/Scuff Off Plastic & Rubber Trim

[chicagomike]

What does everyone use to try getting paint and scuff marks off of plastic trim, and rubber trim?

I am tired of scrubbing with slow results using a 3M scrub pad/scotch pad and it scratches plastic to much, magic eraser is slow and neither work worth a crap!!

I am hoping someone has the secret I need to try while not being to harsh on the plastic/remove the shine like the scour pad does and hoping there is a secret for the rubber trim/bumper parts.

 

[vacuumkid47]

Use a clean, dry microfiber towel or rag and apply isopropyl alcohol and let it sit for a few seconds and rub until it disappears. As far as I know, it does not damage any plastic. It also works on rubber trims as well. DO. NOT. USE. GOOF OFF!!! It will BURN the plastic and it's a mess to work with. ONLY use it on metal or rubber (if really needed)

 

[lesinutah]

Ya

Don't use goop off. Isopryl alcohol and a green pad used for dishes
I don't know what the green thing is called it.
I have tried wet steel wool lightly.
The goop off is like a pain stripper. I used on a rainbow black power nozzle and it ruined it rather quickly.

Les

 

[madman]

Alcohol is good. Brake cleaner and acetone will likely damage plastic, but might be better on rubber where alcohol fails. For paint scuffs on plastic, you might try Xylene... but try it somewhere inconspicuous first, as I don't know how it'll affect plastic. It's good for softening up paint without being as detrimental as a paint stripper. There's also paint thinner / mineral spirits, which should be perfectly fine for plastics, but contrary to the name, don't really soften up paint that's already dried / cured.

The link below shows a plastic compatibility chart for solvents. However it's mostly for bottles safe to store it in. Rubbing a little bit of whatever on plastic is not really the same thing, so take it with a grain of salt.

Abrasives like scotch brite are out of the question. Magic eraser is ALSO an abrasive, albeit much finer so the scratches it leaves are usually too fine to notice.

https://capolight.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/solvent-compatibility-and-plastics/

 

[manchestervacs]

We use meths.

For heavy marks, G3 and the buffer.

 

[mike811]

I use magic eraser type "wonder sponge" for cleaning heavy stains.
Just need to be very careful not to damage shiny plastics.
After that polishing if needed.

 

[hoover300]

GOJO (pumice hand cleaner). It works for plastic and rubber, as well as Sharpie with a little elbow grease and doesn't seem to scratch.

 

[rugsucker]

Alcohol-

-yes,but 90% not 50%.

 

[evilvacuumman]

I been using citrus solvent and 0000 steel wool. Have had no problems.

 

[madman]

@manchestervacs - I'm assuming you mean methylated spirits?

That's denatured alcohol for us yanks

Side note, they seem to label it as just 'Fuel' now, with 'denatured alcohol' in fine print below. I'm guessing for liability reasons. Just in case anyone is wondering why they don't see it on the store shelf.

 

[chicagomike]

Results

Thank you for the suggestions.

50% was slow using a microfiber cloth
91% using microfiber cloth worked well
Denatured alcohol using microfiber cloth I thought worked better then the 91% only because it did not evaporate as quick maybe or maybe it even worked with less effort.. -- either way 91% or denatured alcohol is the way to go.

 

[lesinutah]

Meth

You should have used meth. I mean everyone's doing it.
I thought isopropyl alcohol was 70% and 99%.
Who cares about acohol use the meth.
Les

 

[jo]

I’ve had pretty good luck with a toothbrush sometimes and windex but it’s slow so I went to the Mr. Clean magic eraser and some citrus degreaser. I bet Alcohol with the Magic eraser would be even quicker.

I try my best not to bang a vacuum into the walls or trim. For 2 reasons, aside from keeping my vacuum looking nice, more importantly, I have restored my 1950s house with original woodwork which was a lot of work and really would like to prevent it from getting chipped and nicked up. It’s actually less tiring to vacuum more slowly and carefully preventing these issues and cleaning results are better.

It always amazes me how some people can beat up a vacuum cleaner so heavily. As a result their furniture legs and house moldings all end up looking like crap and beat up as well. My Grandmother vacuumed her house twice a week and was kinda rough with the nozzle and all of the heirloom family furniture from her home that’s been distributed in the family has beat up legs! All of us who have it have discussed!