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Chrome and Trim Restoration Checklist (Mar 2026)

Most car owners make this harder than it needs to be. Here's the straightforward approach that actually works—no fluff, no upselling.

Dull plastics and pitted chrome making your pride and joy look like a farm hack? Here is exactly what you need to bring that factory shine back before the winter rain hits.

MT
Mick Thompson Senior Detailing Editor
| Updated: 18 March 2026
What You'll Learn
Chrome and Trim Restoration Checklist (Mar 2026)

Aussie Conditions

Australian conditions are tougher than most—intense UV, red dust, coastal salt, and 40°C summers. European car care advice often doesn't cut it here.
Quick Summary

Look, after a long Aussie summer, the UV has usually done a number on your plastics and the salt air has started eating your chrome. I've spent 15 years fixing 'sun-baked' trim, and truth be told, most people overcomplicate it. This is my personal 'no-nonsense' list for getting your trim back to mint condition without wasting a Saturday afternoon on stuff that doesn't work.

01

Let's Get Stuck In

I learned the hard way on an old HJ Monaro that you can't just slap wax on faded trim and hope for the best. It just looks greasy for two days then turns white again. You've got to actually clean and protect the surface properly.
02

The Gear You'll Need

What You'll Need

0/8
A decent Metal Polish — Autoglym Metal Polish or Autosol are my go-tos for real chrome.
Trim Restorer — Solution Finish is the only one I trust for black plastics. Don't bother with the cheap 'wet look' sprays.
Microfibre Applicators — Grab a 4-pack, you'll want fresh ones for different surfaces.
Fine Grade Steel Wool (0000) — ONLY for real metal chrome. Don't get this anywhere near your paint or plastic chrome.
Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) / Prep Spray — To strip old waxes and oils so the restorer actually sticks.
Masking Tape (Low tack) — Essential for protecting the paint around the trim. (Your partner will thank you for not staining the car).
Soft Detail Brush — For getting red dust out of the edges of the trim.
A stack of old microfibre towels — Don't use your good ones; metal polishing turns towels black and ruins them.

While you're here...

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03

Pre-Start Checklist

What You'll Need

0/4
Is the surface cool to the touch? — If it's been sitting in the 40-degree sun, she'll be too hot and the product will flash off too fast.
Is it real chrome or plastic 'chrome'? — Tap it. If it's plastic, NO steel wool. I've seen a bloke ruin a modern Ranger grille because he thought it was real steel.
Is the car bone dry? — Water hiding in the gaps will ruin your trim restorer application.
Check for 'tiger stripes' on plastic — If the plastic is already peeling or chalky, it might be past saving with a liquid.
04

The Game Plan

Tap each step to mark complete
01

Deep Clean

Give the trim a proper scrub with an APC and a brush. You need to get every spec of that outback red dust out of the grain.

02

Tape it Up

Mask off the paint around the plastic trim. Solution Finish stays on paint forever if you aren't careful, and it's a nightmare to get off.

03

Decontaminate Chrome

If the chrome has salt pitting, use 0000 steel wool with a bit of soapy water as a lubricant. Light pressure only, mate.

04

Degrease

Wipe everything down with Isopropyl Alcohol. This is the most important step. If the surface isn't 'squeaky' clean, the restorer won't bond.

05

Apply Trim Restorer

Apply a few drops of restorer to an applicator and work it into the plastic. Give it a minute, then buff off the excess with a clean rag.

06

Polish the Metal

Small amount of metal polish on a cloth, rub until it turns black, then buff it to a mirror finish with a fresh microfibre.

05

Final Inspection

What You'll Need

0/3
Uniformity check — Look at the trim from different angles in the sun to ensure no 'patchy' spots.
Check the glass — Did you get metal polish overspray on the windows? Wipe it now before it dries like concrete.
Tape removal — Pull the tape back at a 45-degree angle to ensure a clean line.

Watch Out

Never use metal polish on 'black chrome' or matte finishes, you'll strip the finish right off. Also, if you're using Solution Finish, wear gloves. That stuff stains your cuticles for a week and the missus won't be happy if you're tracking black fingerprints through the house.
06

Summary

Anyway, that's pretty much it. Once you've got it looking mint, try to hit it with a quick detailer every second wash and it'll stay that way. Give it a crack this weekend!

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