Car Plastic Restorers & Trim Restoration
FAQ's: Car Plastic Restorers & Trim Restoration
A car plastic restorer is designed to bring faded exterior plastics and trim back to a darker, richer finish. Over time, UV exposure, washing, and weather strip natural oils from plastics, leaving them chalky or grey. Most plastic restorers work by penetrating into the surface and re-darkening the material, rather than just sitting on top like a basic dressing. Higher quality products also include UV inhibitors to slow down future fading. The key is prep. If you apply a trim restorer over dirt, old silicone dressings or oxidation, it will not bond properly and results will be patchy. We highly recommend giving the car a proper wash before applying a trim restorer!
This is one of the most common questions we get, and it depends on the condition of the trim. For lightly faded plastics, a quality black trim restorer or trim coating, such as CARPRO Perl, will usually restore some colour in one application. For heavily faded or uneven trim, you may need a dedicated restoration product, such as Solution Finish Trim Restorer, with stronger bonding properties, sometimes even multiple applications. If the plastic is physically damaged or turning white from deep oxidation, no product will completely fix that. In those cases, restoration improves it significantly, but it may not return to factory-new. Proper cleaning beforehand makes a bigger difference than most people realise.
Longevity varies depending on the product type, prep and how often the vehicle is used. Basic dressings may last a few weeks. A proper car trim restorer or trim coating can last months. sometimes longer if maintained correctly. Factors that can affect durability:
In most cases, yes. Plastic trim restorer are designed for textured black or grey exterior plastics such as bumpers, mirror surrounds, cowl panels, door and window rubbers etc. However, you should avoid using them on: