Some smartass painted smily faces on the cars last night on our block.
I got it all off of the windows, but there's some specks on the paint - anyone know how to SAFELY remove that?
I'm thinking kerosene, WD-40 or the like.

Suggestions welcomed.

My wife, who does special FX on movies had the answer - I should have known...

Isopropyl alcohol. AKA, rubbing alcohol. About $1 for a bottle - enough for about 10 cars

Used a microfiber towel, and it cleaned right off.
Also took the junk off that normally needs clay - so I may be giving my car a massage with alcohol instead of clay next weekend.

Just wanted everyone to know - no damage, and not difficult to do.

Scott

 

scratch-x scratch remover worked wonders on gettin stuff like that off. i used it to get a big black rubber scuff mark off my bumper. some moron at school probably did it.

 

Thanks, but that's not the kind of polish.
It's the white stuff that's like paint.
It is what people use for "For Sale" on thier windows.
I have Scratch-X, and that didn't budge it.

 

Mineral spirits, just do it lightly and quickly. Don't go over the area a million times, it should come off on the first or second try. Make sure you dry it afterwards and wax it because the spirits will strip the wax.

 

That's kinda generic - anything more specific as to the product name?
Have you tried it?

Thanks!

 

Yea Scratch-X might not be abrasive enough to be honest with you. That is mostly made to remove fine swirl marks that are caused by dragging debris over your car with a towel, or from polishing. I would suggest (if you don't have or know how to polish) taking it to a detailer. The first thing that comes to mind mind is to get a little harsher polish (like meguiars diamond cut). But, if you don't have the right tools or know what you're doing then you can easily burn the paint since you would need to use a polisher to really help you cut the paint.

Let me know what you finally decide to do. But depending on how big the spots are on your cars paint you might be able to do this:

1. Get the level 3 diamond cut from Meguiars. I would suggest either using a terry cloth or a microfiber towel. Apply it and buff it out. ususally by hand you'll be much safer as it's hard for you to actually build up heat on the surface of the paint. Hopefully that will take it off.

2. Then after that's done you'll most likely see fine scratches in the surface and probably a little more severe than actual swirl marks. Take a product like scratch-X and apply and buff off. Then apply and buff off until you've gotten most of the swirl marks out that the polish put in.

Hope that helps somewhat. Maybe some others might have some more suggestions, I just cringed at the fact of using really harsh chemicals like the ones you described on the paint.

If the last resort comes and that doesn't work or you just don't feel like doing it, I would just call a local car detailer and explain what happened. If they are cool they will and or should try and help you by at least advising what steps to take to remove the product saftely.

 

Thanks for the thoughts, Resu.
I'm def going to try non-abrasive methods first.
I want to keep that thin clearcoat intact

I think possibly WD-40 or kerosene might do it.
I know they won't hurt paint, so maybe that's all I need to do.

I'm surprised this isn't a more common question with all the people using this on their car windows.

Thanks again.

 

You could also try a clay bar treatment, I believe that Meguiar's has one that you can pick up at the store... I would try that before going to the chemicals and abrasives... then if that doesn't work, go to the polishes...

 

true and i just finished reading up on a site that those would be okay to use. But not sure how accurate it was. But none the less trial and error. So go for it, just be careful lol.

 

Try and use a California clay bar. I used to work at an auto store and that seemed to get almost anything off. It helped a lot with scratches too

 

Indeed.
Wish me luck!

 

I would try Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover. That's supposed to safely remove all kinds of reside/bugs/sap/other paint that might be on your car.

 

^^ Thanks, HR.
I'll have a look at that as well.

Scott

 

clay bar got overspay off for me?

 

Personally, I' d try the clay bar first since I'm comfortable with the materials and procedure.

 

I think it's going to take a solvent, but if that doesn't do it, clay is next.

 

How about a shine boy?

 

Can't find 'em any more...

 

You should check into a clay bar had some ____ like that on mine and it took it off check walmartif u have one can think of the name of the name of it but its a blueish liquid with a blue top

 

I would wash it first then use the clay bar and finish it off with some meguirs scratch remover. The clay bar by meguirs is supposed to remove overspray from paint and hard to remove sap. good luck.