W124 black rubber trim on windows doors
 

Any experience and advice for cleaning and maintaining older black rubber window and door trim? I'd like to really clean my white 87 wagon's black rubber surround trim. If it gets wiped, rubbed, or swiped - it rubs off a streak of black oxidized smudge that contaminates the cleaning cloth, or the clay, and dulls the paint - making cleaning very difficult. Maguires' forum recommends a Vinyl protectant, but doesn't mention the black streaks I get on my cloth or clay. And it doesn't appear to claim it as a solution to addressing old trim's black smudges. Another source suggested window cleaner (I tried Windex) or vinegar in water, and soap and water. I tried all 3 lot and did reduce the surface smudging, but didn't get anywhere close to zero. I have not tried a tooth brush as it was recommended for cleaning grime and it seemed a bit too abrasive.

I'd like to give the car's factory white paint a good polishing and seal it (every 5 years, whether it needs it or not!). And it hasn't been buffed out in 2 years. The paint's finish looks like it can be buffed out nicely. Is masking the black rubber trim the solution before I wash/clay/polish and seal the paint?

87 300TD 315k

I used to use lacquer thinner on the Michelins on my old Sprite. Cleaned them really well. I used a terry cloth towel and was careful not to spill any on painted surfaces. It also cleaned some of the rubber parts around windows, etc. on my gullwing.

Not sure about the new "green" lacquer thinners........ seems they don't do *****!

I've heard several forum members say they got excellent results pressure washing the black rubber parts. There is also a product called Back To Black that I've gotten good results using.

I'm surprised this isn't an issue for more people. It isn't really addressed in the Detailing wiki. It's kind of like the early lore on poison oak and poison ivy or jelly fish stings - recommending you pee on the exposed area.
I've been told to try turpentine (just picked up some at Home Depo) which should probably work like thinner. But I'm more than a little concerned about it interacting with the paint, and wanting to wash it off the rubber to end the thinning/dissolving reaction. I think of turps and thinner as having a lingering presence you can smell after washing with soap...
Back to Black appears marketed as a re-staining product for black trim (plastics and rubber?). And it is said to be more effective than other blacking treatments. Maybe it will seal the black rubber's surface, and adhere even better after a thorough wipe-down.
Pressure washing sounds interesting, too. It solves the turps/thinner clean-off issue, but probably requires care to not compromise the rubber's sealing bond.
Any other ideas? Proven processes? Or products?

Lacquer thinner is so volatile there's nothing left to wash off.

Turpentine is a different substance; and it absorbs into the rubber.

I've heard some people swear that peanut butter works. There are somethings I'm not willing to try . . .

I'm inclined to take a pass on the PB, too. (some guys swear it works!) And thanks for the turps warning. WD40 might work, and is probably OK on the rubber, but it'll have a residue issue. I guess thinner is still in the running, too.
But I'm hoping to hear from more people with first hand expertise.
Anybody know a classic car restorer/detailer?

I use Meguiars ultimate protectant. Spray on an old rag, wipe and repeat. It has UV protectant to stop the fading, and I also use it on all my door handles and bumpers and it usually is good for a few months before needing to be reapplied. I use it on anything and everything that isn't painted or glass :)