How To Remove Safely The Dirt From A Car

[Alberto Michelatti]

I would like to share with you some things that I learned with time on how to remove safely the dirt from a car.

The first enemy of the paint are the bird droppings, that are very acidic (pH 3.5 to 4.5). Pigeon and gull droppings are the worst. When bird droppings fall on the paint, the acid begins to burn and etch the paint's surface. The longer the bird droppings remain, the greater the damage. Moreover bird droppings contain micro-pebbles that they eat to crush the food. You can remove the bird droppings rubbing gently by hand with cotton-wool bathed with water. The result of bird droppings damage is a dimple in the paint surface, often as large as an inch or more in diameter. This damage can easily be repaired polishing the paint, after having washed the area with high pressure water, better if warm.

The second enemy of the paint is the tree sap, that if hardened could be very difficult to remove. I've found that the best way to remove tree sap from the paint without damaging the finish is to wet the sap spots with cotton-wool bathed with oil painting white spirit, waiting about three minutes and then rubbing gently by hand. This procedure removes perfectly paper decals also. I can guaranty that white spirit is absolutely neuter on the paint. White spirit is in fact an ingredient of car waxes and polishes and naturally you can use it to dilute them.

The third enemy of the paint are the bugs splats, because the internal fluids of the bugs are very acidic. Moreover the impact of the exoskeleton of the bugs can chip your paint. To remove safely bugs splats I recommend to use a specific citrus-based cleaning solution that gently removes even the most stubborn bug remains without harming paint. For bugs with a little extra grip, agitate the paint with a paint-safe insect sponge.

In general to remove organic dirt (bugs, mud, salt...) use soapy water, better if warm and at high pressure, while to remove petrochemical dirt (wax, grease, oil, tar, silicone, adhesives, gas residues... ) use cotton-wool bathed with white spirit, rubbing gently by hand.

I always have in the trunk a mini plastic bottle of water, a mini plastic bottle of white spirit and cotton wool, so if there are bird droppings and tree sap spots I can remove them as soon as possible.

I absolutely advice against alcohol, that if left on a painted surface for more than a minute can crack the paint top coat (it happened to me on my previous car when I was trying to remove tree sap with alcohol from the bonnet... ). Never and never use alcohol, because it is a very aggressive chemical product!!!

You can find some of these and other informations at Autopia.

For dashboard, plastics and glasses cleaning I simply use a damp synthetic chamois leather. For vents and switches cleaning I use a soft and wide dry paintbrush. If necessary and where possible, I gently use a worn toothbrush also.

Alberto.

[Kev Mc]

Some useful tips there, thanks for sharing them

More can be found by clicking Car Care Centre at the top of the page

[hoho15]

good stuff!

[Karma Supra]

I would never use hite spirit on paintwork!!!

Petrol works well asn paint si designed to be resistant to it!

[Alberto Michelatti]

Karma Supra,

probably you are confusing white spirit with lacquer thinner!

I can guarantee that white spirit is absolutely neutral on paint, while lacquer thinner is absolutely to avoid, because it is one of the most aggressive solvents that exist!

Alberto.

[uumode]

Karma Supra,

probably you are confusing white spirit with lacquer thinner!

I can guarantee that white spirit is absolutely neutral on paint, while lacquer thinner is absolutely to avoid, because it is one of the most aggressive solvents that exist!

Cheers,

Alberto.

100% sure? I've been brought up to believe that white spirit is used to strip off paint from paint brushes, and to clean off paint in general when DIYing. I use it to dissolve the paint off hardened brushes

http://www.auson.se/menu,233,235,page,235.html

"White spirit is an aromatic solvent which is used for cleaning paint brushes and tools and also for thinning of paints. The product is petroleum based."

http://www.bartoline.co.uk/solv.htm

Alcohol on the otherhand evaporates in seconds, used to sterilise personal items such as earings, clean tape deck heads, and monitors in the form of screen wipes, wasn't aware it could damage paint until now.

[Alberto Michelatti]

Uumode,

I'm 100% sure.

I have a can of white spirit and the instructions say that you can use it to clean brushes and to diluite paints, enamels, waxes and polishes. So I have no doubts.

Alberto.

[bert.tsport]

Uumode,

I'm 100% sure.

I have a can of white spirit and the instructions say that you can use it to clean brushes and to diluite paints, enamels, waxes and polishes. So I have no doubts.

Cheers,

Alberto.

I have a can of white spirit and the instructions say that you can use it to clean brushes

it is used to clean the paint OFF the brush, not to clean paint.

surely it would clean the paint OFF the panels??? :!Removed!:

BERT

[uumode]

Uumode,

I'm 100% sure.

I have a can of white spirit and the instructions say that you can use it to clean brushes and to diluite paints, enamels, waxes and polishes. So I have no doubts.

Cheers,

Alberto.

I have a can of white spirit and the instructions say that you can use it to clean brushes

it is used to clean the paint OFF the brush, not to clean paint.

surely it would clean the paint OFF the panels??? :!Removed!:

BERT

Thats what I thought if left in contact with paint, it would slowly dissolve the lacquer and paint, like it does off my hardened paint brushes. HOWEVER I think there is another white (surgical) spirit which is used to sterlise wounds - this does not dissolve paint, but is an alcohol type solution.

[PartsGuide]

Hi!

The first enemy of the paint are the bird droppings, that are very acidic (pH 3.5 to 4.5). Pigeon and gull droppings are the worst. When bird droppings fall on the paint, the acid begins to burn and etch the paint's surface.

Nothing frustrates me more, especially here in the sunny caribbean. Always have to soak with water for quite a while before being able to wash off. If you can wash it off before it dries off then fine, otherwise they won't come off at once.