Emulsion paint on car bodywork/windows

Borealis

Borealis

Borealis

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Our immediate neighbours realised that their brand new 65 plate Kia had lots of little white spots on it. It turns out that the people in the house a couple of doors down have been completely refurbing/renovating the place, including repainting everything with one of those emulsion spray guns. He has apparently admitted that he cleared the pressure out of it by pointing it out of the window! That would've been fine, except the wind was blowing and carried the paint mist down the drive we share with our neigbours!

We then realised that my mum's car had a few spots on the rear window. Not as bad as next door, because their car probably shielded us from the worst of it. Her car is a white Honda Jazz, so the spots on the bodywork weren't/aren't noticable.

Surely there must be a way to remove the paint from my mum's rear window other than change the window (my parents do tend to take a drastic approach to everything)?

Also, any can anyone suggest how to remove it from the bodywork. This is more for our neighbours' benefit, as their car is black!
 
OK, thanks for the advice and suggestions. I for one, wouldn't replace anything myself. I'm just getting a sceond opinion here to prevent the parents spending money on something they don't need doing.

I'm going to be seeing the parents next weekend, so I'll have a good look at it myself. I'm assuming that it's just emulsion. Funny thing is that next door took it to their Kia dealer and the dealer is scratching their head as to how to remove it!

What I've been told so far is that it's set like concrete and won't come off. My dad's got a bad case of tendonitis at the moment and my mum has arthritis in her hands, so they might not actually have the strength to do it right now.

I'll try the elbow grease method first. If that doesn't shift it, then I guess I'll be getting a clay bar!
 
Spoke to the parents again and made sure they don't do anything stupid like change a window. I have been told that this isn't the first time it's happened, just the first time our car has been caught in the spray mist. Something similar happened a few weeks back, but as our neighbour had decorators at their works, they thought that was how it had happened. Also, the previous incident affected a very small area.

I'm definitely going to get a good look at it next weekend. The paint apparently scrapes off the windows with a fingernail, which suggests it is definitely emulsion or some kind of water-based paint.

I mentioned a clay bar and it turns out that next door have ordered one off amazon. Hopefully they'll use it correctly, as his wife tried to get the paint off the first time with a Flash 'Magic Eraser' which did more harm than good! (It specifically says do not use on car bodywork on the label.)

The people 2-down who caused the problem have admitted that they have caused the issue. He offered to "do a T-cut job" on the affected areas. Unsurprisingly, my parents and next door politely declined.
 
Borealis said:
The people 2-down who caused the problem have admitted that they have caused the issue. He offered to "do a T-cut job" on the affected areas. Unsurprisingly, my parents and next door politely declined.
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If this is the case then get it sorted by a Pro and send them the bill.

No point DIY and possibly screwing it up.
 
Yeah, totally agree with you. As far as my parents are concerened, I've told them if warm soapy water doesn't get it off, I know of a few decent detailing companies in the area who will be more than happy to do the work. My mum's car is a 63 plate Honda Jazz that she bought about a month ago, one previous owner and only 6k on the clock. Which is why she's a little hacked off.

Neither me or my dad have used a clay bar and my first instinct was if detergent doesn't shift it, then I'm getting a pro to deal with it as we're way out of our depth. I'd rather not screw anything up if I can help it.
 
Borealis said:
Neither me or my dad have used a clay bar and my first instinct was if detergent doesn't shift it, then I'm getting a pro to deal with it as we're way out of our depth. I'd rather not screw anything up if I can help it.
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Buy a clay bar before getting a pro detailer involved. Or even get a clay mitt. :)
 
Janesy B said:
Sod that, even if it could be done why should they spend an afternoon of their own time to sort out some idiot's mistake. They can pay for a detailer, **** em.
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Thats what I would be thinking as well.

Might and I do mean might just teach them to be more careful in the future.
 
Hopefully I'm going to be able to scrub it off with a cloth. If that fails then we'll take stock of the situation and take it from there. I really hope they've learnt their lesson.

I can understand releasing the spraygun pressure, but why the heck point it out of a window if you know there's a breeze... If they're using one of those indoors, then the carpets and everything else should be covered in dustsheets so just point it at a dustsheet.
 
Janesy B said:
Sod that, even if it could be done why should they spend an afternoon of their own time to sort out some idiot's mistake. They can pay for a detailer, **** em.
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These type of threads usually bring out the kids and adults.

Adults knowing the value of keeping the peace around your neighbours and the kids with the **** em attitude :D (I used to be of the **** em attitude.)

The reality is, he's been perfectly straight and admitted his mistake, a couple of hours attempting of fixing your own car is going to cost nothing and keep a very happy street.
 
pepsilol said:
These type of threads usually bring out the kids and adults.

Adults knowing the value of keeping the peace around your neighbours and the kids with the **** em attitude :D (I used to be of the **** em attitude.)

The reality is, he's been perfectly straight and admitted his mistake, a couple of hours attempting of fixing your own car is going to cost nothing and keep a very happy street.
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Yes you are correct he did admit his mistake which means he should also be willing to accept that his actions have consequences in this case possibly financially.

I do believe that is something that adults like to teach kids isn't it? That actions have consequences. ;)

Why should the OP or his parents be out of pocket for cleaning materials, (and possibly more), or give up there own time to correct another persons stupid mistake.

If I was the person that had sprayed the paint everywhere I would be doing everything I could to make it right even if it meant telling them to claim on my house insurance etc

That is how you keep a happy street in this case......
 
pepsilol said:
These type of threads usually bring out the kids and adults.

Adults knowing the value of keeping the peace around your neighbours and the kids with the **** em attitude :D (I used to be of the **** em attitude.)

The reality is, he's been perfectly straight and admitted his mistake, a couple of hours attempting of fixing your own car is going to cost nothing and keep a very happy street.
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Living in London where my new neighbour just sneered at me when I said 'morning' last week gives me a different perspective. There's nothing wrong with saying it will cost X to put right.
 
Knowing that next door have ordered the necessary equipment to attempt a DIY job, I think I'm going to wait and see what happens before I consider doing anything myself. I can't do anything until next weekend anyway as I live ~40 miles from my parents.

Personally I think it will wash off my mum's car with a bit of effort on my part as it's supposedly only a few spots.

On further inspection, next door have apparently found some paint spray on their bay window! Makes sense as in order to reach their car, it would have gone past their windows.
 
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