Hello all of you detailing wizards!

A little advice needed for a newbie to 'proper' car cleaning.

I when washing my car I noticed that I have acquired a large amount of gunk and rubbish that has dried itself onto the bottom of my rear bumper behind each of my rear wheels. It's almost like tar mixed with crap of the roads.

It's hard and won't come off even after multiple washes and even a trip to use the high powered jet wash at my local petrol station. (Just the rinse feature not the horrible brushes)

Are there any products or techniques I could use to remove it?

I get accumulation there too but always come off with a snow foam and wash. Maybe get some auto smart tardiss and spray it on and leave to dwell then rinse off

Thank you will do

May be worth claying it too. I'm sure someone more knowledgable will be along soon (Chris) who will have a better idea.

I normally do get a build up on that part of the car, but for some reason it will not come off. I must have driven through something pretty nasty as it has literally bonded itself to my bodywork.

I'd definintely say don't clay that!!!! There is way too much build up on there and to my mind isn't really what claying is for and stands to do more harm than good.

 

It looks like concrete in the photo not tar, this may require some of this http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/autosmart-congo-concrete-and-cement-remover-5-litres.php?cPath=82 , if you can ascertain what it is you have stuck on there, then it will help select the product.

 

But just like machine polishing, the safest path is to go with the most gentle solution first and then work upwards.

 

What is your wash process Ally?  Have you tried soaking the area with a pre-wash and leaving it to dwell for 10 minutes?

After I've washed the car it is black which makes me think that it is tar, I could be wrong!

My process is most likely rubbish and I was be laughed at/shown the door to this forum. I use a good wash mit and auto glym wash products. Doing half the car at a time I rinse first, wash top to bottom rinse and then repeat to the other half. Wheels and then dry.

Nobody is looknig to point flaws in what you are doing Ally, just know what you are doing so can offer some help.

 

before you spend too much money I suggest going to ASDA and picking up some cheap APC and a bottle of Demon Shine Rapid Dirt Shifter.

 

Take one of these (Dilute down the APC) and spray it on to the contamination and leave it to dwell and soak in and react, but not dry out. then rinse off/wash off.

 

It might just be that a rinse and bucket wash isn't giving the wash chemicals enough time to soak into the contamination and do their job.

 

this would be my first step before getting some Tardis or other products, good old fashioned baked on dirt can be tought to shift unless it's softened up.

Oh I know, I'm only messing :-)

I'm the first to admit I'm not a proficient car cleaner. I'm ok with that! I was just looking for advice as my current products/process is not working.

As ever I am so humble that people took the time to reply/offer advice. As ever, thank you all so much!

I am going to try the soft solution approach and step it up until I find what will shift it. I might start with some Muc Off that I use on my cleaning my mountain bikes and then step it up to what Sparkly has advised.

Ps sorry for all of the spelling mistakes, iPhone autocorrect is amazing as ever.

I think hit with intensive tar remover on a cloth first to get the worst off.

I would personally clean the car as you normally do, then try a few methods that sparkly has suggested and if it doesn't work then get some tar remover, and de tar the whole car at the same Time. Then I would get some polish and sealant on there to try and stop it from happening in the future.

I would drop me a PM and arrange to come to mine and we can wash it here with all my bits.

 

No charge, just happy to help.

I would do this:

 

Wash & Dry

Tar remover

Wipe with an old cloth

Wash again

Clay it..I use Bilt hamber Clay because you use soapy water as the lube

Dry

Polish

Wax/Sealer

Thanks for all of the responses guys really really appreciate it! I've not had chance to have a crack at it yet, weather is sucky round here today. Will post results when I get chance to have a try.