Getting waterproof suntan cream off paintwork

Getting waterproof suntan cream off paintwork

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Discussion

GuinnessMK

Original Poster:

1,608 posts

221 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
I drove to the south of France for my hols this year and accidentally got waterproof suntan cream on the car, twice!

Once when using one of those spray dispensers, leaving an overspray on the back lights / wing / bumper. The spots are about 1-2mm in diameter.

The second problem area is around the drivers door, where I leant on the car to take some photos! So I have a lovely imprint of my arm on the roof.

Since coming back from hols I've hand washed the car several times, but the suntan cream is still there!

Car is a metallic black Seat if it makes any difference.

Thanks in anticipation of your advice.

Mike


HRG

72,857 posts

238 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
I'd be inclined to try a clay bar, but you're right, it is a right sod to get rid of yes

Tim Bomford

232 posts

254 months

Saturday 4th October 2008
quotequote all
Paint cleanser works a treat.
Something like Dodo Juice lime prime, or Swissvax CF or Zymols HDCleanse will all sort this out for you. Price wise Dodo's offering will be the cheapest.
Tim

PJ S

10,842 posts

226 months

Sunday 5th October 2008
quotequote all
Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) should be all it takes to remove the staining, but you could try a high concentration of dish washing liquid, with plenty of rinsing!

Blue Meanie

73,668 posts

254 months

Sunday 5th October 2008
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HTH

TheDetailDoctor

8,777 posts

209 months

Wednesday 8th October 2008
quotequote all
IPA will shift it.

evolutionvalet

907 posts

219 months

Wednesday 8th October 2008
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Blue Meanie said:


HTH
Yeah complete with grinding disc....hehe


I concur with PJS, Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) will sort it out.....wax afterwards though..

Edited by evolutionvalet on Wednesday 8th October 11:58

monthefish

20,439 posts

230 months

Thursday 6th June 2013
quotequote all
Just thought I'd bump this thread as I've found a miracle product that solves it. (IPA did bugger all)

Autoglym Paint Rennovator


After suffering some white hand prints on the black family wagon, and giving up hope of being able to resolve it short of a respray, I finally got round to trying this which has practically fixed the problem.

Still got a few more areas to do, so I'll do some 'before' and 'after' pics if anyone's interested.

Locknut

653 posts

136 months

Thursday 6th June 2013
quotequote all
I need to deal with a similar problem. The advice given on another forum was to use BabyWipes, maybe they contain the Isopropil alcohol mentioned by those posters five years ago!

m8rky

2,090 posts

158 months

Thursday 6th June 2013
quotequote all
I have found that rubbing margarine over a contaminated paint area then polishing off can get rid of oily and tarry type deposits.

monthefish

20,439 posts

230 months

Friday 7th June 2013
quotequote all
Locknut said:
I need to deal with a similar problem. The advice given on another forum was to use BabyWipes, maybe they contain the Isopropil alcohol mentioned by those posters five years ago!
Doesn't work unfortunately - tried it.

Baby wipes shift everything (except this!)

m8rky said:
I have found that rubbing margarine over a contaminated paint area then polishing off can get rid of oily and tarry type deposits.
That's the thing, it's not actually a deposit on the paint work. It's more of a white 'burn' into the paintwork that no amount of cleaning, claybaring or polishing will fix.

Edited by monthefish on Wednesday 10th September 14:16

cslwannabe

1,395 posts

168 months

Friday 7th June 2013
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Friend has similar marks on their silver mondeo - I thought claying would work but it didn't. Then tried Gtecniq P1 with no success. Bilt Hamber Auto Balm was the only thing that seemed to work, although could just be masking them rather than permanently removing them, certainly seemed to do the trick though.

texaxile

3,289 posts

149 months

Saturday 8th June 2013
quotequote all
What ingredient in sun tan lotion does this, anybody know?. Got the same problem on wifey's Mazda, little ones hand prints on the back doors.

I've tried T cut, which seemed not to work, wax polish and was going to consider gentle a wipe over with some petrol on a rag, then a good wash and wax. However, the auto glym option is the one I'll try next.

Cheers!.

williredale

2,866 posts

151 months

Saturday 8th June 2013
quotequote all
I'm interested in the solution as a friend has a black Kia with suntan lotion handprints over the back doors from his kids. I promised him I'd have a go at them.

Ride Revive

3 posts

175 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
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Hi all

I have dealt with this problem a fair few times on clients cars, I believe that sun tan cream has some sort of corrosive properties. It looks like it will just wipe off or clay off but won't budge! The only way to get rid of it is to polish it out, should be able to do it by hand with any sort of cutting polish, depending on the severity. I however, have always used a pc to polish the marks out, again using a cutting compound.

Hope This helps,

Neil - Ride Revive Mobile Valeting & Detailing

monthefish

20,439 posts

230 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
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texaxile said:
I've tried T cut, which seemed not to work, wax polish and was going to consider gentle a wipe over with some petrol on a rag, then a good wash and wax. However, the auto glym option is the one I'll try next.
williredale said:
I'm interested in the solution as a friend has a black Kia with suntan lotion handprints over the back doors from his kids. I promised him I'd have a go at them.
yes Try the Autoglym stuff - it's only £4-odd.

MJK 24

5,648 posts

235 months

Saturday 29th June 2013
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My mums Passat (Reflex Silver) had a couple of little hand prints on the rear door and quarter left by my two year old Godson. They have been there a couple of months but I shifted them this week after giving the car a good clean:

Washed with Fairy Liquid
Clayed
Autoglym Super Resin Polish
Autoglym HD Wax (two coats)

She now has an exceptionally shiny Passat without any little hand prints. I'm not sure which stage took them off but they're not there anymore!

smile

Sm1th90

2 posts

129 months

Sunday 30th June 2013
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Magic Sponge with a little APC works a treat, most Autoglym, Autosmart reps/stockist usually stock them.

marki2013

21 posts

129 months

Monday 1st July 2013
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white sprits on a cloth with a gental rub or brake n clutch cleaner on a cloth but wash the car straight away

monthefish

20,439 posts

230 months

Monday 1st July 2013
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marki2013 said:
white sprits on a cloth
Spirits didn;t work for me. That's why I was so suprised and impressed witht he Autoglym stuff


marki2013 said:
with a gental rub
Not sure how that would help, but it's a good way to pass the time. biggrin