HI All,

 

My Octavia is in need of a good clean and it has some pretty stubborn black flecks that look like mould, particularly on the bonnet.  What would you recommend from Halfords (all that's local to me) to try and remove and clean?  There is also so green gunk when you open the doors.  I don't want/have a pressure washer and don't want to spend a fortune on a foam sprayer!

You just need some fallout remover for the black marks.

 

This is the one I use but any will do really.

 

https://www.ezcarcare.co.uk/products/aurora-advanced-fallout-remover

 

 

The rest just needs a good careful clean. If it’s really bad maybe better to get it detailed by a pro.

 

Edited 16 January, 20224 yr by purephotoni

If it's black then the contamination is tar.  So a fallout remover (above) isn't going to be what you want.  Although I would recommend it as your paint will have iron contamination as well, which shows as little orange specs.

 

My recommendations are...

 

• Fallout Remover:  https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/carpro-iron-x - This removes all the iron contamination.  It turns purple when active.
• Tar Remover - https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/carpro-tarx - This removes the tar sports.  It does not change colour.
• Detailing Brushes - https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/detailing-brush-set - These can be used around badges, window seals, hard to reach grill areas.  Basically anywhere a mitt cannot fit.

You'll need some kind of protection on the paint work after all the above.  Some kind of spray on, rinse off product if you're not wanting to spend forever and a day doing it.

 

 

Easiest way to get tar off the bodywork is put some petrol on a rag and rub it off ,comes off very easy ,or white spirits ,alot of the tar removing products are crap imho.and if your your door shuts have gone green thats just down to lack of keeping the car clean .

Edited 16 January, 20224 yr by Mickvrs220

I think it's auto glym that does a 2in1 tar and iron remover. Maybe not quite as perfect as individual products but very useful if you just want one bottle of stuff.

I use a soft rag or sometimes just kitchen paper roll, soaked with some brake cleaner and gently wipe the offending spots away. Big ones may require softening up first.

The other way would be to clay the car. But that will strip off any polishes or waxes you've got on there. You'd just need to redetail your car afterwards.

 

I find keeping my car is staying tar free most of the time because the Bilt Hamber wax does a very good job of preventing dirt clinging on enough to withstand a foam and pressure wash washing. Just out of sheer obsessiveness I wax my car once every forth wash.

6 hours ago, tunedude said:

The other way would be to clay the car. But that will strip off any polishes or waxes you've got on there. You'd just need to redetail your car afterwards.

 

I find keeping my car is staying tar free most of the time because the Bilt Hamber wax does a very good job of preventing dirt clinging on enough to withstand a foam and pressure wash washing. Just out of sheer obsessiveness I wax my car once every forth wash.

I dont think the op is using a bucket and sponge let alone a clay bar haha