how to get wax off rubber bumper parts

The weather was warm so I decided to wax the car (W123 bodystyle) for the first time. I accidentally got some wax on the black rubber of the bumper. Does anyone have any ideas to get the wax off the rubber parts? I was thinking about trying some paint thinner on a rag and rubbing the affected rubber parts.

Also, I noticed that the rubber on the bumpers could use some conditioning themselves. Anyone out there put anything on the rubber parts to keep them from drying out? I have been told by many people that armorall isn't what I want; needs to be applied all the time as the rubber "feeds" on it and then needs it.

thanks,
mike

As far as the wax on the bumper try some rubbing alcohol. I have been told that using hydrolic fluid on all external rubber parts is the way to go.

[DALE DORIA]

I had a friend who used transmission fluid on all the rubber parts....especially the bumpers, and it worked quite well...... Just a thought???

[ricali]

mineral sprits will remove the wax. I prefer an armoral type product

I had the same problem and looked at several posts here and found the answer. Peanut Butter! No kidding! It really works great. Just get a spoon full of the stuff and rub it on then just rub it off and presto!! everything looks new! My kids just loved watching me as I rubbed it on and licked my fingers clean, not to mention the family dog following me trying to lick the stuff off the trim!! One thing I recommend, don't use chunky peanut butter! It was the only stuff in the fridge at the time and the peanuts just fell on the ground to our waiting dog. Really it works! Try it on the door handles and anything rubber!


84 300d
84 300td
73 450sl (for sale, burgundy beauty)

[muybweno]

heheh thats funny peanut butter!!......

well the way how i got off the wax from my bumper was using some WD-40. I guess its better than wasting some good old peanut butter. Save your peanut butter for your PBJ sandwiches and use a house hold product like WD-40

heheheh good luck
allan

Wax penetates the rubber and then dries. You can't buff it off because it lies below the surface. Any oil (even the oils in, oh I don't know, say, Peanut Butter) will rehydrate the rubber and lift out the wax. The only oils you need to stay away from are petroleum based oils; they eat rubber and plastic.

So are products like trans fluid and hydrolic fluid petroleum based? Would these "eat the rubber?"

thanks,
mike

[240 Ed]

mrwith

in a word, shore!

Brake fluid will work I suppose, but there is a big risk it will get on the paint-you don't want that.

You can buy new parts from Performance.

Or try one of the popular silicone products at your local.

[Jay]

We had this discussion at work and our secrtairy said that vinegar will remove wax from rubber trim parts. Then, with a straight face, she said that vinegar will clean anything. True story.

Jay,

Vinegar is what to use if your car isn't, well... fresh.

[Jim Anderson]

I used vinager to clean the coffee machine at work and midway through I got a call. When I got back the secratary was taking a pot of coffee out to bring to a meeting of big wigs. I told her I had just ran some vinager through it and she said she had already made two pots for the meeting and nobody had complained.