Strange Cleaning Question

M

MsMiranda

New member
Hi all,



I have a few interesting questions. I write for an online publication and they have asked me to write a piece on car cleaning ... but there's a bit of a twist.



They'd like me to explain how to clean items such as eggs, shaving cream, silly string, pumpkins, wet toilet paper, toothpaste, and any other item a young kid might throw at my car during Halloween festivities, off my car!



If anyone has any tips or special products needed to clean such products off a car without damaging the paint, I'd really appreciate the info!



If you'd rather email or PM, please do - research on this subject has come up a little dry online, and I don't know if I'm ready to subject my Subie to the Halloween madness for research sake!!



Thanks in advance!



- MsMiranda
 
Those products will likely damage the paint by themselves, at that point it is simply a basic autopian wash and maybe a claybar.



click the link in my sig. besure to give credit to autopia where it is do.
 
Egg shells can crack and chip the paint. No amount of regular cleaning will repair this kind of damage. Depending on the severity, repainting may be your only option.
 
Autopia will definitely appear with the article .. all resources I use are listed at the end of the piece! :)



I know it's not an easy piece ... any product suggestions would be great too (brands etc.)



Thanks again!



- MsMiranda
 
Eggs thrown at a vehicle: the force of the throw and the rotation of the egg as it is thrown will cause the eggshell too shatter , and the paintwork to chip. The conntents of the egg itself arehighy acidic and will etch the paintwork



Silly string should be removed as soon as possible, as a combination of silly string and warm temperatures will cause staining of the paintwork.



As a matter of fact, the sale of Silly String was banned in my community after a Labor Day parade where silly strting was sprayed on fire trucks and police cruisers in the parade. One police cruiser had to be repainted due to the damage!



Shaving cream will also etch paint if left on the finish for any length of time.



If you live in a neighborhood where the little "darlings" tend to be "merry pranksters" :shocked , your best bet is to keep the car in a garage!
 
chml17l said:
Egg shells can crack and chip the paint. No amount of regular cleaning will repair this kind of damage. Depending on the severity, repainting may be your only option.
Click to expand...



Yup, this happened to me one halloween... the shells chipped the paint and the primer, it was down to bare metal in some spots. :(



Most of the stuff on the list isn't that hard to clean off the car at all, a normal wash will take it right off, usually. The problem in most of these situations is that the paint can get stained or etched if the substance sits on the paint for too long. In these situations, getting it washed off ASAP is the most important thing.
 
benvegas said:
However, TOILET PAPER will not hurt your car! (Unless it is used)
Click to expand...



LOL I'm talking about wet, balled up toilet paper projectiles that'll dry on your car over night! :)

Mind you ... used TP would just be disgusting ... I don't think I'd be able to use my car after that ....





- MsMiranda
 
I have personal experience with silly string on the interior of a car. (My interior got hit at my wedding on a 110 degree day)



If it has melted in the heat, about the only thing you can do is sell the car, nothing that I tried would remove it.
 
bjackson8 said:
I have personal experience with silly string on the interior of a car. (My interior got hit at my wedding on a 110 degree day)



If it has melted in the heat, about the only thing you can do is sell the car, nothing that I tried would remove it.
Click to expand...



Yikes :eek: was it the die from the string - like a colour left on the fabric, or just something chemical in the stuff that left an oil-like stain?



I guess you have a constant reminder of your wedding day every time you drive, eh? That's not so bad ... :)



- MsMiranda
 
Since there isn't a specific set of cleaning products geared toward the items you've described as potential attackers to your paint, I'd recommend steering the article toward a proper autopian wash, talking about the potential damage those items can inflict, and in the event of abovementioned items coming into contact with the paint, stress that the best answer is to wash ASAP. I don't think there are any miracle fixes you might be looking for, like taking peanut butter to remove gum from hair, etc...
 
I think these responses give you a clear indication that part of the article should focus on the fact that while people may think these pranks are funny, they will without a doubt harm someones car; so people should refrain from such acts. I don't think kids realize that throwing eggs at a car is very harmful to the finish. Although even if they did know, they probably would still do it.
 
Grimm said:
I think these responses give you a clear indication that part of the article should focus on the fact that while people may think these pranks are funny, they will without a doubt harm someones car; so people should refrain from such acts. I don't think kids realize that throwing eggs at a car is very harmful to the finish. Although even if they did know, they probably would still do it.
Click to expand...





Definitely going to be part of the write-up ... it's a preventative, preparation type piece. All your advice and suggestions have been great ... thank-you all so much!!



- MsMiranda
 
i agree about the proactive approach to the article...that while "egging" someone's car may seem like a great idea at the time...it could possibly result in a multi-thou$and dollar paint repair bill for the owner.
 
Aside from the egg, most of the other stuff could probably removed with a good quality wash, clay, and if needed some light polishing. As others have already stated egg on a car is very destructive as it cuts through the base and clearcoat. It is almost grounds for a respray of the panel.



Greg
 
MsMiranda said:
Hi all,



I have a few interesting questions. I write for an online publication and they have asked me to write a piece on car cleaning ... but there's a bit of a twist.



They'd like me to explain how to clean items such as eggs, shaving cream, silly string, pumpkins, wet toilet paper, toothpaste, and any other item a young kid might throw at my car during Halloween festivities, off my car!



If anyone has any tips or special products needed to clean such products off a car without damaging the paint, I'd really appreciate the info!



If you'd rather email or PM, please do - research on this subject has come up a little dry online, and I don't know if I'm ready to subject my Subie to the Halloween madness for research sake!!



Thanks in advance!



- MsMiranda
Click to expand...



As others have already stated, most items thrown at cars can be washed off and I think it's a great idea to tell them about a proper washing but perhaps you can also tell them to keep in their car a handy "emergency kit" which consists of:



Quick detailer

Microfiber towels

cleaner/wax

APC (All Purpose Cleaner, properly diluted of course)

Distilled water



This kit should be able to handle most bird bombs, insect guts and dirty glass (distilled water). The cleaner/wax is so you can re-wax the area where a bird just bombed or perhaps cleaning up some spilled gas after a fill-up and the APC can be used for food spills and such in the interior.



Also tell your readers that it is always best to be proactive in car care than reactive. So to help ease the cleaning of bird bombs, peanut butter, shaving cream or a few dozen love bugs their cars should have a nice wax or sealant on them. It doesn't help to say AFTER getting bird bombed...."Oh man I need to get my car waxed!"



The interiors can be scotchguarded so liquid spills can then be blotted up.



Hope that helps,

Anthony
 
Anthony,



That's a really good point. Keeping a car care kit like that in your vehicle is critical to being able to clean stuff off (like bird bombs, as you mention) ASAP.
 
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