Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Smear oil on faded plastic
• Method 2 of 3: Using a heat gun
• Method 3 of 3: Paint black plastic
• Tips
• Necessities
• Smear oil on faded plastic
• Using a heat gun
• Paint black plastic

Black plastic is durable, but especially surfaces such as edges and bumpers of cars fade and discolour over time. Fortunately, you can easily restore the plastic and make it shine again. By using olive oil or treating the faded area with a heat gun, you can make the plastic look as good as new again. If nothing else works, you can always use black spray paint to make the plastic shine again.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Smear oil on faded plastic

1. Wash and dry the surface of the plastic. The olive oil is best absorbed by a clean surface. If the plastic item is dirty, clean it with soap and warm water. Before treatment, dry it with a towel to prevent the olive oil from running off the surface.
2. Put a coin-sized amount of olive oil on a cloth. Olive oil can restore the natural color of black plastic and refresh faded and discolored areas. Put a small amount of olive oil about the size of a coin on a cleaning cloth or paper towel. A little goes a long way and you can always grab more oil later if you need to.
   • You can also use baby oil or flaxseed oil.
3. Massage the olive oil into the plastic. Rub the affected area back and forth with the cleaning cloth or paper towel. Continue rubbing the area for a few minutes to make sure that the plastic absorbs the olive oil.
   • To prevent oil from getting on nearby objects and surfaces, cover them with a tarpaulin or towel.
4. Polish the plastic with a dry cloth. After rubbing the olive oil into the surface for a few minutes, take a dry cleaning cloth and wipe the plastic in circular motions. Apply firm pressure to remove the residual oil and make the plastic shine beautifully.
   • If you can't find another cloth, use part of the first paper towel or cleaning cloth that has no oil on it.
5. Check the plastic for discolored spots. When you have wiped the olive oil off the surface, check if there are any damaged spots on the plastic. If you see areas that the olive oil has not repaired, repeat the process with more oil and tackle the stubborn areas.
   • You may need to treat badly faded and discolored areas with black spray paint.
6. As an alternative, try bumper spray for black plastic. A bumper spray, like olive oil, restores car edges and bumpers by moisturizing the surface. If you prefer a product specifically designed for cars, you can use a black plastic bumper spray. You apply such an agent in about the same way as olive oil.
   • You can buy bumper sprays and similar products at most auto parts stores. Read the directions on the bumper spray packaging before applying it to the surface.
   • If you want to restore a black plastic object that is not part of your car, you can also just use a bumper spray.

Method 2 of 3: Using a heat gun

1. Use a heat gun as a temporary solution. A heat gun can release the natural oils in black plastic to the surface and restore shine, but this is not a long-term solution. The plastic may eventually fade with use and after a few treatments it may not contain enough natural oils to allow heat to reach the surface.
   • How long this recovery method works depends on how often your car is exposed to direct sunlight. The more you use the car, the faster the plastic will fade again.
   • If you've used a heat gun before but the treatment no longer works, you can apply olive oil to the surface of the plastic to make it shine again.
   • You can buy and rent a heat gun at most hardware stores. They can also be purchased online.
2. Before using the heat gun, cover non-plastic items nearby with a tarpaulin. Heat guns can warp and discolor non-plastic items. If your item is stuck to something, cover the parts you don't want to heat with a fire resistant sheet.
   • This method is mainly for car edges and bumpers. Do not use this method for black plastic that adheres to flammable materials (such as some types of black toys).
3. Wash and dry the plastic item. By treating dirty plastic with a heat gun, dirt particles and stains can be burned into the plastic. Wash the item with soap and water and remove as much dirt and dust as possible. Dry the item with a towel before heating it.
4. Hold the heat gun a few inches from the surface. Switch on the heat gun and move it in small circles over the discolored plastic. Do not aim the heat gun at the same spot for too long in order to heat the surface evenly and prevent the plastic from burning.
   • First test the heat gun on an inconspicuous place to see if the treated plastic gets a nice color.
5. Turn off the heat gun and observe the new color of the plastic. As you treat the plastic with the heat gun, the surface should turn a darker, deeper color. When you have treated the entire surface, switch off the heat gun and check the plastic. When you are happy with the new color, you are done restoring the item.
   • If the plastic is still faded and discolored, apply olive oil or paint the object.

Method 3 of 3: Paint black plastic

1. Wash the plastic object with soap and water. The paint adheres best to a smooth surface that is free of dirt. Dip a cleaning cloth in a mixture of warm water and soap and remove all dirt and dust from the surface of the plastic.
   • Immerse the item in water to thoroughly clean and remove stubborn dirt.
   • Dry the object with a cloth before painting it.
2. Sand the surface with a 220 grit sanding block. Sanding makes the surface rough so that the paint sticks to it. Rub the fine sanding block over the surface of the plastic with firm pressure. When you're done sanding, wipe off any sanding dust with a dry brush.
   • If you don't have a dry brush, you can also use a paintbrush.
3. Apply a coat of primer so that the paint sticks. Spray a coat of primer on the surface of the object. Avoid over-spraying in one area to ensure a thin, even coat. Let the primer dry, adhering to the drying time stated on the packaging. Drying time should be 30 minutes to an hour.
   • You can buy plastic primer online and at most hobby stores.
   • A thin coat of primer is ideal because several thick coats can change the texture of the object.
4. Spray a coat of black spray paint on the plastic. Hold the nozzle approximately 12-40 inches from the surface and use the aerosol in smooth sweeping movements. Keep spraying paint in overlapping strokes until you have covered the entire surface.
   • Apply 3-4 coats to give the item a deep, bright color and wait for each coat to dry.
   • It should take about 30-60 minutes for a coat of paint to dry. Check the paint packaging to determine the drying time.
5. Protect the new layers of paint with transparent varnish. When the last coat of paint is dry, spray the entire surface with transparent spray lacquer. This way the paint will not fade, discolor and peel off.
   • Spray paint is especially important if you are going to use the item outdoors where it will be exposed to the elements.

Tips

• If the plastic is broken or damaged, fix it with glue, acetone, or a soldering iron before restoring the color.
• Return the black plastic to the municipality if you are unable to restore the black color to your satisfaction.

Necessities

Smear oil on faded plastic

• Cleaning cloth or paper towel
• Olive oil

Using a heat gun

• Heat gun
• Fire resistant tarpaulin
• Water
• Soap
• Towel

Paint black plastic

• Soap
• Water
• Cleaning cloth
• 220 grit sandpaper
• Primer for plastic
• Black spray paint
• Transparent spray paint