Best Trim Restorers: Revive Your Car’s Faded Black Trim

The Trinova Trim Restorer is a fade-preventive formula that restores the original dark color of your trim. It darkens, shines, and prevents further aging of worn-out plastic, rubber, and vinyl surfaces. It also forms a protective coating against dirt, salt, and water. In case the trim gets rained on or you travel through dusty terrain, all you have to do is to wipe off the dirt layer on the coat to reveal the dark and lustrous trim.

What you will appreciate about this product is that it won’t leave behind oil streaks after a car wash or rain shower. It will also prevent the trim from cracking under intense sunlight. The product is easy to apply and comes in an eight-ounce bottle with an applicator pad. The restorer can last for up to 12 months and is recommended for both cars and motorcycles.

A major drawback of the product is that it may take up to three days to dry. It feels oily to the touch, and it can get messy when you apply it. That's because the bottle doesn’t have a spray applicator, and you have to use a cloth to spread the greasy product. You also have to constantly wipe off dust and dirt from the car trim because the product attracts dust. It may also be washed off by a heavy downpour.

Chemical Guys Sprayable Dressing comes in a 16-ounce bottle with a spray applicator for easy and fast application. It’s a water-based formula that dries a few seconds after you apply it on plastic, rubber, vinyl, and even on tires. The product is suitable for vehicle interiors and exteriors. It leaves a durable, silky shine and restores the original OEM look of your car trim. It’s also dry to the touch and won’t attract dust.

This non-greasy trim restorer is formulated with sun blockers that penetrate deep into the trim to prevent harmful UV rays from cracking or discoloring it. Its creamy texture is easy to apply and can last for weeks of driving through rough terrain and rainy weather. The product is also safe for engine components and can be used on bicycles, motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs.

The product leaves a nice new-car look on your trim until it gets wet or it rains. It may form streaks when wet or leave a white discoloration on a dark trim. It also washes off in a heavy downpour. This spray has a strong smell that you may find nauseating if you use it in your car’s interior.

Mothers Trim & Plastic Restorer is a great product that restores the original dark color of your car trim. It also cleans the surface by removing dirt, waxy residue, and light oxidation. The product protects your trim from cracking, fading, and aging caused by UV rays, smog, water, ozone, harsh chemicals, and airborne contaminants.

The product comes in a 12-ounce bottle, and it’s easy to spread it on any black surface with an applicator pad. It leaves a perfect shine on your car and prevents further deterioration of the plastic parts of your car. This Mothers product is one of the best restoration gels to get a car with black plastic parts showroom ready in record time.  

A major downside of the product is that it leaves a streak residue after a car wash or after being rained on. It also feels greasy to touch and may take a few days to dry. Moreover, the product’s shine doesn’t last long. The coat starts to thin out after only a few weeks, and you may have to put on a fresh coat every few weeks to maintain the shine.

If you are looking for a non-messy way of restoring the color of your vehicle’s trim, then we recommend the Cerakote Ceramic Trim Coat Kit. Instead of messy spray or squirt gels, you get a pair of gloves and 10 packages of pre-moistened wipes. You will only need to wipe the trim with the wipes, and the ceramic coat will bond to the plastic to restore the luster and original color of the trim. 

Since it’s a ceramic product, it forms a long-lasting coat that can last for two years or about 200 washes. What’s more, the ceramic coat forms a protective layer against UV rays, dirt, and dust, which are the usual culprits that cause the trim to fade. 

While it may be a durable product, it seems to work better on textured surfaces than on smooth surfaces. It leaves streak marks and spots when applied on a smooth surface such as the plastic on the side mirror.

The Car Guys Plastic Restorer not only works on plastics, but also works to rejuvenate faded rubber and vinyl. It’s an eco-friendly product that contains no harmful chemicals, and can be used on both interior and exterior surfaces. It contains UV inhibitors that repel UV rays to protect the applied surface from fading or drying. 

Applying it will be fairly easy since it’s non-greasy and comes with an ergonomic applicator bottle. It dries after only a few minutes, and leaves a long-lasting coat that repels water and can survive a heavy rainfall. It will leave the surface looking as good as new for several months. 

The main issue we take with this product is that it doesn’t protect the surface from dust, and may in fact attract more dust and lint. Also, it isn't going to make scratched surfaces look any better, and may be a hit or a miss with older vehicles.

The Solution Finish Black Trim Restorer is another product on our list that can also be used to restore faded vinyl and plastic on a car’s exterior. It's an advanced, silicon-free topcoat that polishes and seals the applied surface to leave a black matte finish. You needn’t worry about the surface looking dry since it also conditions the trim to give it a rich look. 

It's designed to penetrate the trim so that it can prevent oxidation in the plastic to prevent future fading. It also bonds with plastic to offer protection from harsh UV rays and unfavorable weather conditions.  

The price is its most significant drawback—it’s priced higher than most trim restorers on the market. The product is also sticky and the application can be messy. Besides that, it emits strong fumes, so it's best to prepare it in a well-ventilated area.

Adam’s Polishes is a respectable brand in the car care industry, so you may want to try out its trim restorer. The New Black Trim Restorer is a temporary dye that restores the black color to a faded exterior trim in a single treatment. It’s a ceramic-based coating that’s specially designed for plastic trims. 

You only need to apply a few drops on the applicator pad, rub it in evenly, and leave it to settle for a few hours as it goes to work on your trim. When fully cured, it leaves a rich, black color, and the effects can last for several months. 

Naturally, this product also has a few drawbacks. For one, it leaves a residue when fully cured, which can look unappealing if not wiped off. In addition, it doesn’t hold up well to water, and there may be watermarks on the trim if you drive your vehicle in a heavy downpour. 

Another brand whose products are worth looking at is Armor All—it makes some of the best car detailing products. The Outlast Car Trim and Plastic Cleaner is designed to restore the original color of plastic, rubber, and vinyl trims. It does so by preventing oxidation and forming a protective layer against UV rays, both of which are the main causes of discoloration. What’s more, you can use it on trims of all colors. 

When applied as recommended, it can last through 100 car washes. It takes less than 10 minutes to dry, and then you can use a wet microfiber cloth to wipe off any excess product. You can use it on vinyl rooftops, side mirrors, door handles, bumpers, and interior trim. 

The main downside with this product is that it doesn’t give the best results when you only apply a single coat. You need to apply several coats if you want a long-lasting finish. Also, the shiny finish may only last for a few weeks.

Meguiar offers a liquid wax that goes on easily with only a towel or a pad. You only have to spray it on and gently buff the surface. When fully cured, it creates a lustrous black finish and a protective seal against UV rays. This keeps the surface from fading and conditions it to prevent cracks. 

The product is designed to work on all exterior plastic surfaces, including rubber and vinyl trim. It will also come in handy for removing cloudiness, and reducing the appearance of scratches on your vehicle's trim. 

However, the product emits strong fumes and should only be applied in a well-ventilated area. You should also wear gloves since prolonged skin contact can cause irritation. In addition, it’s not quite long-lasting and you may need to reapply it after only a month.