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Detail-It-Yourself

Exterior Trim, Glass & Plastics

Every Detail-It-Yourself guide on exterior trim, glass & plastics. Or browse all guides.

Exterior Trim, Glass & Plastics

An orange ATV parked in a muddy field, showing its plastic body panels and fenders
Exterior Trim, Glass & Plastics

ATV/UTV Plastic Restoration: Why the Motorcycle Fairing Method Doesn't Apply

Most ATV and UTV body plastic is color-through, not painted. The popular linseed-oil recipe is real but temporary, and it carries a fire-safety risk almost nobody mentions. For real fading, a wet-sand-and-buff sequence is the method that works.

A black motorcycle helmet with a clear visor
Exterior Trim, Glass & Plastics

Cleaning a Helmet Without Destroying the Anti-Fog Coating

"I don't want to ruin the anti fog coating." One rider asked exactly that on r/motorcycles, and no single manufacturer manual answers the whole question. Three of them do, once you put their instructions together.

Close-up of a red, white, and blue motorcycle fairing panel
Exterior Trim, Glass & Plastics

Motorcycle Plastics: Restoring Faded Fairings Without Melting Them

Identify the panel's material and finish before polishing or restoring it. Painted clear coat, unpainted plastic, matte finishes, and graphics need different care.

Interior view of a car with soapy windshield during cleaning. Clear dashboard visible.
Exterior Trim, Glass & Plastics

Streak-Free Glass Cleaning: Why Ammonia-Based Cleaners Are a Problem on Tinted Windows

The same chemistry that makes Windex work so well on bare glass is, in weaker and slower form, the same chemistry a tint installer uses on purpose to peel old film off. Here's which of your windows that actually applies to, and how to get them streak-free without it.

A close-up of a car hood beaded with water droplets, some drying into a hazy film
Exterior Trim, Glass & Plastics

Water Spots That Won't Come Off: Etching vs. Mineral Deposit

A two-minute mist test and a fingernail test tell you which of two very different problems you're looking at, before you buy a remover or scrub at something that will never come off with a towel.

Black and white side view of a rugged suv.
Exterior Trim, Glass & Plastics

Restoring Faded Plastic Trim: What Actually Works Long-Term vs. What Fades in a Month

Two independent durability tests, cross-referenced against each other, show which trim products actually hold up for years, which hold for months, and which are chalky again within weeks, no matter what the bottle claims.

A close-up of a car's chrome side mirror and window trim against a green body panel
Exterior Trim, Glass & Plastics

Chrome and Metal Trim Care: Preventing Pitting and Corrosion

Most of what's called "chrome" trim on a modern car isn't plated metal at all, and figuring out which of three materials you actually have determines whether polish can fix what you're looking at or whether the damage is already permanent.