Cheap wax on rubber. How do you get it off?

[Blackcab]

I have these awful looking white blemishes on the rubber components of my car from using zymol. How do I get these stains off? Also, I've seen a couple posts regarding rejex being applied onto your wax coat. What is it?

Many thanks.

[Eric Coffey]

Vinylex and a toothbrush should do it. Or you can use peanut butter (seriously).

[89911]

They make a solvent name "Prep All" available at AutoZone that is a grease and wax remover prior to painting. It will not harm your finish. Use it with a toothbrush to remove the white wax residue and then use a good vinyl dressing.

[Pat S]

I second Vinylex. Good stuff.

[MY83SC]

Where can you get Vinylex???

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by 89911
They make a solvent name "Prep All" available at AutoZone that is a grease and wax remover prior to painting. It will not harm your finish.

maybe the same as Prep Sol. Pros use it.

[porschenut]

Originally posted by Blackcab
How do I get these stains off?

The same way you get wax or grease off your hands. Soap and water, my friend, soap and water. A toothbrush works great or you can use a damp soapy rag.

Vinylex will not work as well. I've tried it. Think about it, you're trying to remove wax, not treat vinyl. And wax is like grease. Best results will be had using a citrus degreaser like P21S Total Auto Wash, or the aforementioned soap and water.

[azasadny]

The local Murray's Auto Parts here sell Vinylex as well as Lexol for leather. They're both excellent products!

[Zeke]

I've seen a lot of detailers use lacquer thinner. YMMV.

[gr8fl4porsche]

Do not use lacquer thinner anywhere near your cars paint, plastic, rubber or vinyl. Most lacquer thinners are very hot, will remove paint and melt rubber and plastic. Try the mild stuff first.

[LeeH]

Do you use a rubber treatment on the black bits when you detail your car? Next time treat the rubber FIRST... then the wax comes off easily.

BTW, I just used Dupli Color Bumper Coating (spray can) on an old Honda I'm fixing up to sell. WOW! That stuff works great! The bumpers on this car were bleached white on top from the Arizona sun... taped them and sprayed them and now they look like new. I never expected this stuff to work so well.

[azasadny]

A citrus-based cleaner called "Goof-off" also works...

[scottb]

I've heard this stuff is good: Wax Blaster

[wcroty]

Rubbing alcohal and water mixed 1:1
and a tooth brush

[Eric Coffey]

Originally posted by porschenut
..Vinylex will not work as well. I've tried it. Think about it, you're trying to remove wax, not treat vinyl.

Vinylex is a a rubber/vinyl cleaner and protectant. Works great. It will remove wax no problem. You must have been doing it wrong.

[D Hanson]

I use Back to Black on all black parts and it works weel on waxing errors.

[porschenut]

Originally posted by Eric Coffey
Vinylex is a a rubber/vinyl cleaner and protectant. Works great. It will remove wax no problem. You must have been doing it wrong.

I was using it right. I never said it wouldn't work, I said it wouldn't work as well as soap or citrus degreaser. Have you tried either of those? Vinylex is a great product but it doesn't do everything.

[Randy Webb]

Meguiars Rubber Care is safe and good for the rubber. Best if done before waxing.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally posted by porschenut
I was using it right. I never said it wouldn't work, I said it wouldn't work as well as soap or citrus degreaser. Have you tried either of those? Vinylex is a great product but it doesn't do everything.

Dude, just busting your chops. But, yes, I have tried soap and citrus degreaser and it didn't get me anywhere when dealing with stains left on the front smile from color sanding (white car no less). The only thing that removed the residue/paint from the front smile (which is generally more porous than the bellows or rocker strips) was Vinylex, a toothbrush, and some time. Yes, there are probably other products/techniques that would work, but that is what worked for me. I wouldn't really recommend using powerful degreasers on a routine basis either, and certainly not solvents/alcohol. Keep anything containing silicone (as a dressing) away from it too. Otherwise, you will eventually end up with hard, dried out "checked" rubber. YMMV.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by gr8fl4porsche
Do not use lacquer thinner anywhere near your cars paint, plastic, rubber or vinyl. Most lacquer thinners are very hot, will remove paint and melt rubber and plastic. Try the mild stuff first.

Do you know what "hot" is? Hot is more tolulene and less xylene in combo with acetone. I have used lacquer thinner on all kinds of stuff including the body paint. Except lacquer paint, of course. I have used straight xylene to wipe down before painting. I have used straight tolulene to wipe down before painting. I have used common hardware store lacquer thinner on furnature before applying a new finish coat. I test, of course, but 95% of the time if works to do what I want.

I have no idea what kind of rubber is on you car, but all of my cars have never suffered any damage because of lacquer thinner. The only place I can think of to never use it is the upholstrey. I use it to remove grease and oil from some carpets. I couldn't get along w/o lacquer thinner.

Would you care to document some damage you have done or witnessed?

Edit: BTW, I have used LT on the smile many, many times. You have no idea what the body shop does with this stuff. They practically bathe the car in it.