Over thirty years ago, we created a straightforward product designed to condition weather seals around doors, hoods, trunks, and sunroofs. It’s a simple, yet essential, car care product. Most car owners don’t give their weather seals a second thought. The focus is primarily on maintaining the exterior paint and trim and the interior trim. But when left neglected, weather seals dry up and allow for an increase in wind noise, potential water leaks, and rattling while driving. We developed Gummi Pflege to address a problem most never consider to be a concern until it becomes one.

Nextzett Gummi Pflege Stift for rubber weather seals

What is Gummi Pflege Stift?

Before we get into what Gummi is, let’s talk about how to pronounce the name correctly: GOOMY FLEE-GA.

However, if you prefer to pronounce it ‘GOOMY FLEDGE,’ that’s perfectly acceptable as well!

Gummi Pflege Stift translates to “Rubber Care Stick” and it’s a specialized rubber conditioner, formulated specifically for treating the rubber weather seals on vehicles.

Since Gummi Pflege is water-based, it also contains water-based silicone. If alarm bells just went off as you read “silicone”, keep in mind that there are many types of silicone. Although some concerns about silicone arise due to its association with petroleum solvents, which can dry out rubber, the silicone used in Gummi Pflege is water-based and safe, ensuring no damage to your rubber seals. So, if your concern is about whether Gummi will damage your rubber, rest assured it won’t.

The silicone in Gummi Pflege acts as a water-repelling agent in the coating that forms and dries on the surface of the treated rubber. The silicone helps prevent the conditioners from washing away with any water so that your seals stay conditioned. The finish is dry to the touch (non-greasy) and won’t attract dust.

The Importance of Maintaining Rubber Seals in Vehicles:

Unless there’s a visual sign of damage like torn rubber, most of us don’t give a second thought to maintaining the weather seals despite visual signs of them turning white, excessive wind noise or rattling while driving. Dry weather seals don’t come to mind as the reasoning behind these issues. But if you do learn that you have to maintain them, what do you take care of them? Before Gummi Pflege comes up as a solution in a Google search, the majority of car owners (let’s keep in mind that most car enthusiasts are not well versed in car care like many of you on this forum) reach for some kind of grease – which of course being a petroleum solvent based product, is no good long-term and leaves a greasy mess on the paint, and collects dust on the rubber surface.

Product Uses and Benefits:

• Winter and Summer protection: By conditioning your weather seals throughout the year (at least twice a year), you are keeping your seals protected from the heat in the summer and from sticking to your door frame in the winter (if you live where temperatures go below freezing).
• Long-Term Protection (Noise): Applying Gummi Pflege at least twice a year ensures that your seals remain in optimal condition. This regular maintenance helps reduce wind noise and can diminish rattling from windows and door frames, enhancing your vehicle’s overall quietness and comfort.
• Long-Term Protection (Water Leaks): If you live in a hot part of the country and you don’t condition your door seals (sunroof seals too), for years, you risk water leaks. You might think it will be an expensive repair – which replacing weather seals is – but it’s just a matter of a few applications of Gummi to bringing the seals back to life and forming a tight seal keeping water out.
• Restoring Color: Over time, weather seals can fade from black to gray or even white, especially in older and classic cars, or in areas exposed to direct sunlight and harsh elements, such as sunroof seals and those around the hood subject to engine heat. Regular applications of Gummi Pflege can rejuvenate these seals, restoring their original color and indicating that they are fully conditioned.

How to Apply Gummi Pflege Stift

Applying Nextzett Gummi Pflege on weather seal

• For optimal results, it’s highly recommended (though optional) to first wipe down all seals with a damp rag before applying Gummi Pflege. This helps remove dust and dirt so that you don’t load up the Gummi Pflege foam applicator up thereby shortening its life.
• With the bottle upside down, press Gummi’s foam applicator top against the rubber seal.
• While pressed, gently squeeze the bottle to start the flow of product. Once you see the applicator saturated, stop squeezing and gently glide the foam applicator along the weather seal.
• Repeat the process on all weather seals (doors, hood and trunk lid, and sunroof).

Tips for ensuring complete coverage and maximum absorption.

If you’ve never conditioned your weather seals before, it’s a good idea to apply twice the first time to ensure maximum absorption. Afterwards, applications every few months will be enough to keep those seals conditioned.

Comparing Gummi Pflege Stift with Other Rubber Care Products

Gummi Pflege was specifically formulated to help the type of rubber used for weather seals to restore their elasticity and integrity and remain that way. You can use other rubber conditioning products such as our Nextzett Vinyl-Rubber Extra to help condition the seals as well but Gummi is meant to condition and cause the rubber to be more malleable to form a tight seal between the paint panels.

Gummi Pflege is also water-based which for long-term applications, is the best and safest type of formula to prevent rubber from drying over time.

Nextzett Gummi Pflege 50/50

Cost Effectiveness

On a cost-per-use basis, Gummi Pflege is very economical. As with many of our products, a little goes a long way and lasts a long time. For this reason, we suggest you keep it stored at room temperature because you’ll probably hold on to the same bottle for a few years.

User Reviews and Testimonials

If you’re not sure that Gummi Pflege is worth it, we invite you to look at the many positive reviews and testimonials on Detailed Image and around the web.

Gummi Pflege is also used by several manufacturers in their service centers as it is a way to quickly solve many common issues like rattling, wind noise, and water leaks without having to replace the weather seals entirely.

FAQs

1. Application frequency: Apply at least twice a year. For example, spring and fall. This will prep your seals for hot summers that dry out seals and freezing temperatures that cause them to stick to the door frame. More often if you feel the need.
2. Types of rubber: the rubber has to be the spongy type like weather seals. Gummi will not absorb into hard, smooth rubbers like the type you find on the exterior window trim. We have customers who use Gummi on a variety of rubbers outside of the automotive realm that work and don’t work. The key is using on spongy, porous rubber.
3. Storage recommendations: We understand that sometimes you have to store your products in a hot garage or vehicle. High temperatures do degrade the longevity of the product faster so we always suggest keeping Gummi stored at room temperature. If it’s not possible, it will not cause harm to the product. If Gummi does freeze, simply let it thaw out and shake well before using.

Troubleshooting Issues with Gummi Pflege Stift

Lastly, some ways to deal with common complaints and how to prevent them.

1. Foam applicator rips off: This usually occurs if too much pressure is applied. To avoid this, gently press down, squeeze the bottle carefully, release, and smoothly glide the applicator across the rubber.
2. Foam applicator pops off: This is a result of the user squeezing the bottle before they’ve pressed the applicator against the weather seal. The product won’t flow until you press the foam applicator. Squeeze hard enough when not pressing against the weather seal and you can eject the foam applicator and liquid.

Conclusion

The little bottle with the funny sounding name is not a type of product that comes to mind as an important product to have in your car care arsenal, but Gummi Pflege is a low-cost preventative maintenance product that can potentially save big dollars in the future.

For detailing enthusiasts, applying every time you get your oil changed is an easy way to remember when it’s time to apply.

For professional detailers, offer it as a value-added service to set yourself apart from other detailers.

If you have questions, need advice, or want to share your experiences, don’t hesitate to reach out. Visit the product page on Detailed Image for more information.