I park on the road, usually under a tree. I occasionally jet wash the car or use bucket, shampoo and mitt but its very difficult to get the tree muck off. Its like a patchy, dark grey scab in places as it has built up and up on the bonnet and roof as all the airborne contamination and tree fall contam has fallen on it, stuck and dried out.

I have tried some household Flash diltued 1:1 with hot water, soaked kitchen roll in it and placed over some of the worst areas to soak but it still left most of the dirt after washing. Ditto rubbing it with the noodle type microfiber wash mitt. Significant elbow grease achieved very little and I worry about really making a mess of the paint.

Is there a suitable product (car or household) that will help get the bulk of the dirt off without having to scrub the paint work so hard as to damage it? I cannot use a hose, pressure washer or such like at home. Its buckets only, I'm afraid.

(I intend to use a claybar on the paintwork once most of the visible dried on built up dirt is gone)

APC and a clay bar should remove it with warm very soapy water

It will then need polishing to achieve a good base for applying a decent sealant that will resist future contamination

If I may be so arrogant to suggest that you book your car in with me..Only 45 minutes journey, I can do all this for you

 As Chris states above - sounds like you need the paint work properly decontaminated, polished and prepared; for a sturdy protection coat.

 

Assuming that you have no alternative to where you park; i would think this is the best route forward plus long term protection from a durable ceramic sealant.   

To lift the sap I would fancy a decent Bug and Tar Remover would be a good place to start.

 

Refrain from any heavy agitating of the contamination if possible, if it is heavily bonded you risk your paint.

Yup I would take it to Chris if I was in your position.

APC and a clay bar should remove it with warm very soapy water

It will then need polishing to achieve a good base for applying a decent sealant that will resist future contamination

If I may be so arrogant to suggest that you book your car in with me..Only 45 minutes journey, I can do all this for you

Thanks for the offer but I am unlikely to take you up on it and I've got 2 cars to do.

Do you mean a car specific APC or try some household stuff again? Once I can get the worst off, I have a Megs clay kit to finish the job and then I'll be putting on some AG SRP + EGP as I have these already.

(I know the EGP isn't the most durable product but I have over half a bottle to use, it works with the SRP which I also have and I'm jetwashing more frequently than I used to so the cars shouldn't get in this state again.)

Edited 3 July, 201411 yr by 'daiking'

To lift the sap I would fancy a decent Bug and Tar Remover would be a good place to start.

Refrain from any heavy agitating of the contamination if possible, if it is heavily bonded you risk your paint.

I was intending to get something like AS Tardis for the muck on the sides of the car but if you can recommend something as a 'one size fits all' product I would get that.

Well, I can tell you that nothing in the house shifted this. The key wash does nothing, household ABC didn't touch it. It was like flock.

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Only lots of soapy water and firm but gentle rubbing with the scrubbing bit on a microfiber mitt.

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I've finished the roof which is ready to be clayed/clean but the bonnet and hatch top are still only about 50% done.

Why on Earth did you let it get this bad?

There's months of grime and dirt that's been allowed to attack the clearcoat

You may be lucky if there is no permanent damage

Once youve cleaned it..It will need a machine polish with a proper polish..

.....(Not AGSRP) to get it looking like it should and then a durable sealer/wax...AG EGP is not durable

Again...bring it over here and you wont regret it..I can also show you what products to get to keep it looking new again

Why on Earth did you let it get this bad?

 

You are a very naughty boy, 1000 Lines for you Sir

 

" I must not let it get like this again "

Why on Earth did you let it get this bad?

There's months of grime and dirt that's been allowed to attack the clearcoat

You may be lucky if there is no permanent damage

Once youve cleaned it..It will need a machine polish with a proper polish..

.....(Not AGSRP) to get it looking like it should and then a durable sealer/wax...AG EGP is not durable

Again...bring it over here and you wont regret it..I can also show you what products to get to keep it looking new again

I don't know how/why the roof panel gets so bad. The hatch, side rails and bonnet only have a fraction of the problem as can be seen in the first shot.

Thanks again for the offer but there's little chance of it happening. I'm afraid that at 8 years old, there's a litany of other jobs it needs money spending on before detailing would get priority. The products I have will provide a modicum of protection in the short term and that will have to do.

Why on Earth did you let it get this bad?

There's months of grime and dirt that's been allowed to attack the clearcoat

If it's parked under a street lime tree it can get like that in a couple of weeks easy - I know as I used to have the same issue but have now moved house so no more :-)

Ok... But that's no two week hit

Least he's tackling it and adding some decent protection on the car will prevent permanent damage

Wish I didn't look at the pictures!

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Whilst getting out the cleaning stuff I knew I had I found a couple of things I didn't know about, see here:

Should I stick with the AG SRP + EGP or would the Megs Cleaner Wax (in the Megs clay kit) or Gold Class wax be a better option. I realise the gold class is not a durable wax.

Also there's about half a bottle of that Simoniz QD, what's the best use for this?

I think I originally had it for a quick wipe down at meets.

The Megs Cleaner wax is similar product to AGSRP..so either will do.....but the AG has a small amount of sealer added to it

I would then tip that with the Megs GC wax

However...you will need a fairly robust hand polishing pad ...Farecla do a set at Halfords

Good luck..Hard work by hand

The Megs Cleaner wax is similar product to AGSRP..so either will do.....but the AG has a small amount of sealer added to it

I would then tip that with the Megs GC wax

However...you will need a fairly robust hand polishing pad ...Farecla do a set at Halfords

Good luck..Hard work by hand

The Megs stuff must have come with an foam applicator but I can't find it and I ve only got mf clothes otherwise so I'm going to need to get those.

Raining today though. Hopefully drier tomorrow.