*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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Okay, I've had it...

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I've ordered a car cover off Amazon!
 
So my car was destroyed by birds last night and I've got some bits that just won't come off.
Can anyone recommend anything to remove it? I don't want to revert to using a knife to scrape it off in case it damages the paint.
 
I'm no expert on this sort of thing, but if it has only just happened, surely the first resort is loads of warm water to soften all the 'muck', but not anything like a knife!

I have a feeling that you have a rather smart car anyway, so don't go and do something quickly, which you might later regret.
 
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It's probably been on there for 24 hours now so too late.

Not rather smart, it's a Clio 182 but I don't want to ruin the paint if possible.
 
Maccy said:
It's probably been on there for 24 hours now so too late.

Not rather smart, it's a Clio 182 but I don't want to ruin the paint if possible.
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Don't! I've had birds angel delight on my car for a day or two now! Can't get out to wash it off either! I'm hopeful that the two coats of FK1000p will protect the paint a little bit!
 
Careful, the longer you leave it on the more likely it is to damage the paintwork. Might just be etching the outer layers of paint, but left long enough can leave lasting damage.
 
Biffa said:
Careful, the longer you leave it on the more likely it is to damage the paintwork. Might just be etching the outer layers of paint, but left long enough can leave lasting damage.
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Thanks for that biffa! Neighbours if they saw me would think I was mad! Mixed up some snow foam in a sprayer bottle and sprayed all the bird stuff I could find! Left it five minutes and wiped it off then rinsed! Wasn't stuck at all so hopefully they did it when it was raining and it'll be fine
 
Bird wipes are a waste of money. Only good for fresh droppings and dry quickly like an alcohol wipe.

Get a decent bit of kitchen roll and soak it to absorb the water. Stick that over the dropping and push a little to release some excess water (it will stick to the paint even on vertical surfaces. Then remove and roll the softened dropping off the paint with a microfibre or similar. Can also rinse with hot water to soften it further.
 
Contemplating having a paint correction/detail done to get rid of the years of swirl marks etc. Found a local well regarded mobile valleter who came to have a look. To clean, clay, remove tar, clean again, mask it all up, machine polish and hand wax he quoted £120. Decent price? Worth it?
 
That's not bad for half a day's work I guess, but if you bought a DA and some polish for a similar amount you could do it again in future for free :)
 
Howard said:
That's not bad for half a day's work I guess, but if you bought a DA and some polish for a similar amount you could do it again in future for free :)
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Well free assuming my own time is worth zero! He's also going to do a better job of it than I'd be able to do with my fists of ham
 
iaind said:
Well free assuming my own time is worth zero!
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I always wonder why people say this - Are you a high-flying wealthy businessman with multiple directorships who is so busy that he needs his EA to schedule dinner with his family? Who would you be billing the time in your Saturday mornings to otherwise? :p

I don't think I could put a monetary value on my free time. Well, I probably could - it'd be around £0 :D
 
iaind said:
Contemplating having a paint correction/detail done to get rid of the years of swirl marks etc. Found a local well regarded mobile valleter who came to have a look. To clean, clay, remove tar, clean again, mask it all up, machine polish and hand wax he quoted £120. Decent price? Worth it?
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Decent price considering cost of quality materials (if buying them from scratch) and labour. Depends whether they do a decent job I guess.
 
iaind said:
Contemplating having a paint correction/detail done to get rid of the years of swirl marks etc. Found a local well regarded mobile valleter who came to have a look. To clean, clay, remove tar, clean again, mask it all up, machine polish and hand wax he quoted £120. Decent price? Worth it?
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If he has a good reputation that's pretty cheap.
 
Howard said:
I always wonder why people say this - Are you a high-flying wealthy businessman with multiple directorships who is so busy that he needs his EA to schedule dinner with his family? Who would you be billing the time in your Saturday mornings to otherwise? :p

I don't think I could put a monetary value on my free time. Well, I probably could - it'd be around £0 :D
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To be honest it's a valid way of thinking about things

I have weekends and evenings outside of work - I wouldn't be billing anyone on a saturday morning but I could be doing other stuff. What is breakfast with my family worth? Or time spent clearing the garden? Or having coffee with my girlfriend? I can't necessarily put a monetary value on my spare time, but I can compare it to other things I could be doing with my (limited) time
 
If its half a day, how much actual time will be spent polishing?

Don't really think a mobile valeter can really be considered the same as a detailer.

£120 is cheap though if he does all the things you say and does a good job.
 
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