Getting waterproof suntan cream off paintwork

[GuinnessMK]

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]

I'd be inclined to try a clay bar, but you're right, it is a right sod to get rid of

[Tim Bomford]

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]

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]

HTH

[TheDetailDoctor]

IPA will shift it.

[evolutionvalet]

Blue Meanie said:

HTH

Yeah complete with grinding disc....


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

Edited by evolutionvalet on Wednesday 8th October 11:58

[monthefish]

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]

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]

I have found that rubbing margarine over a contaminated paint area then polishing off can get rid of oily and tarry type deposits.

[monthefish]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

Try the Autoglym stuff - it's only £4-odd.

[MJK 24]

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!

[Sm1th90]

Magic Sponge with a little APC works a treat, most Autoglym, Autosmart reps/stockist usually stock them.

[marki2013]

white sprits on a cloth with a gental rub or brake n clutch cleaner on a cloth but wash the car straight away

[monthefish]

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.