Cleaning black metal trim around windows? After wash oxidized (rainbow colors)

[jbp2021]

Can anyone share if they are using a special cleaner for their black metal trim?

Today I gave my Y it's first wash and I'm not sure if it's because the trim pieces were too hot from sitting in the sun but the trim around the windows turned into a rainbow finish. I used a different soap and cold water from inside the house to get it close to normal again. It took quite a few rounds of cold water, soap, and rubbing it to remove the rainbows. But I feel like it's back to almost the way it was before the wash.

I have the exact same discoloration on my black door trim. Did you ever get rid of it?

 

[jbp2021]

The answer is all in the explanation. The soap dried onto the HOT black anodized surface. It literally cooked on it in the sun. The cooked soap, regardless of PH, is now a thin layer of product sitting on top of the colored metal which is refracting light and causing the rainbow effect. The OP's description of being able to remove it with additional water and soap indicates the product is removed. PH would cause damage and would not remove with soap and water.

I would not blame the soap, the PH or anything else outside of the technique of washing a car in hot sun and failing to remove the soap before it cooked on the surface of the metal.

Are you saying this is permanent?! Or is there a way to get rid of it?

 

[jessicahuffer]

I have the exact same discoloration on my black door trim. Did you ever get rid of it?

I have the same discoloration too, nothing I’ve tried had worked. Any other suggestions?

 

[thesmokingman]

I have the same discoloration too, nothing I’ve tried had worked. Any other suggestions?

I just washed our relatively new Y using chemical guys CWS207 w/o issue. I use a sun joe with a foam cannon btw. It's dried with a chamois after. I'm gonna switch to the chemical guys pink CWS402 soap which is thinner, foams better I think.

 

[jpfive]

Can anyone share if they are using a special cleaner for their black metal trim?

Today I gave my Y it's first wash and I'm not sure if it's because the trim pieces were too hot from sitting in the sun but the trim around the windows turned into a rainbow finish. I used a different soap and cold water from inside the house to get it close to normal again. It took quite a few rounds of cold water, soap, and rubbing it to remove the rainbows. But I feel like it's back to almost the way it was before the wash.

I use an automatic car wash. When I noticed this problem, I requested that they coat the door trim with the same product they use for dash panel protection. It has worked for me. Good luck.

 

[T3JS]

Found a solution on YouTube. Use stainless steel refrigerator cleaner and it will remove the rainbow sheen.

 

[T3JS]

Found a solution on YouTube. Use stainless steel refrigerator cleaner and it will remove the rainbow sheen.

 

[DanDi58]

Had the same issue, I saw WD-40 recommended on another post, worked great….

 

[mdsco]

Had the same issue, I saw WD-40 recommended on another post, worked great….

+1 for the WD-40, works like a charm! No need to scrub either, just a light wipe and its back in black

 

[X-Chris]

This happens to many people who use automated touchless car washes because many of them use high-ph cleansers to compensate for lack of brushes.

There is a very long thread on this topic.

MY Door Trim Discoloration

I have a 10 week old MY, and the black trim is starting to show rainbows and almost a rust in some places. Assuming this is from chemicals in a touchless car wash. Thoughts on restoring it, then protecting it?

teslamotorsclub.com

Many suggestions there including Weiman cleaner.

 

[ctilley83]

I don’t see why OP is so cagey about the brand of soap he used. Weird.

 

[mroslyak]

this happens to me after a touchless car wash.
spray some WD-40 on a clean micro cloth and wipe the trim.
removes discoloration for me.