It isn’t uncommon for a small amount of dried buffing compound to be left on plastic when you have finished making your vehicle nice and pristine.
Of course, while that buffing compound probably isn’t going to do any harm to your vehicle, chances are that you don’t want it there.
Why would you? You want your vehicle to look awesome. So, how do you get rid of buffing compounds on plastic? Let’s take a look!
If you’re struggling to remove buffing compound from a plastic surface, try using a mild detergent or soap and warm water to gently scrub the affected area.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to safely and effectively remove buffing compound from plastic, using a variety of proven methods. From commercial cleaners to DIY solutions, we’ve got you covered.
So, whether you’re dealing with a small smudge or a large area covered in buffing compound, follow these steps and you’ll have your plastic parts looking good as new in no time. Let’s get started!”
Let It Dry
Now, you shouldn’t be buffing the plastic on your vehicle. You should be buffing the paint. However, it is common for a small amount of buffing compound to splutter about and hit the plastic.
It may be tempting to remove the buffing compound from the plastic immediately but don’t. That buffing compound can stay on the plastic for a while.
Your vehicle’s plastic will not suffer any harm from that buffing compound being there.
You will want to leave it to dry. This will take a while. However, we promise you that if that buffing compound is dry, it is much easier to remove. We wouldn’t lie to you.
Grab a Toothbrush
For all of these methods, you are going to need to grab yourself a toothbrush.
This will allow you to brush out the compound without touching the paint on your vehicle, which you want to avoid doing with some of the methods we will discuss.
Use an old toothbrush. You won’t be putting it in your mouth again. You will only need to use the toothbrush for the wax remover.
Methods for Removal
There are several different methods for removal. You can try any of them, and people have had success with them.
No matter which method you use, it is important that you are as careful as possible. Refrain from brushing too hard. Don’t let anything touch the paint (particularly if you are using wax remover).
Slow and steady wins the race here. Hopefully, you won’t have too much buffing compound to remove.
Before using any of these methods, we highly recommend using your toothbrush to brush away as much of the compound as possible.
A lot of it will flake off naturally. If you didn’t get that much compound on the plastic, then this may be all you need to do.
Wax Remover
Wax remover is the best way to remove buffing compounds. After all, the buffing compound is just wax.
There are multiple wax removers on the market. It doesn’t matter which one you opt for, but we suggest you look for anything that says it is fine for automotive use.
Now, the key thing with wax remover is that you are gentle. It should not touch the paint on your vehicle at all. If it touches the paint on the bodywork, you will have marks that need to be buffed out. You are back to square one.
Use the wax remover as directed. Put a little on your toothbrush and brush away.
Magic Eraser
Many people have had success using a magic eraser. Many people have these sitting around their homes, so that it may be a far superior method to wax remover for some.
Many people would need to go out of their way to pick up some wax remover.
Pencil Eraser
A pencil eraser is less brilliant than a magic eraser, but it works.
Any old pencil eraser will do. However, ensure that it is a fresh piece. You don’t want to rub graphite all over your beautiful vehicle, do you?
You mustn’t push too hard here. Thankfully, the dried buffing compound shouldn’t be too firmly embedded in the plastic.
This means that you shouldn’t be rubbing too much. Gentle, with a small amount of pressure.
Wipe Clean
Once you have rid your vehicle’s plastic of that awful buffing compound, you can clean it.
Just use a clean cloth for this. We prefer microfiber. This is because a microfiber cloth isn’t going to leave any residue on the plastic. But, any cloth should be fine.
If it does leave a bit of fabric behind, this will fall off when you drive your vehicle anyway.
Conclusion
See, we told you that it is simple to remove your buffing compound from plastic!
You may need to adjust your buffing technique if you have regular issues with the buffing compound on your plastic. In many cases, you are likely using either the wrong size sponge for your buffing or too much compound.