Small animals, sap, and tar can build up on your car and damage the paint, leaving unsightly marks and impairing vision. Fortunately these three substances can be cleaned without spending a lot of money. Take a look at the first and next steps to learn how to remove the sticky dirt from your car so it looks like new again.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Eliminating Small Animals
Step 1. Don't wait too long
Small animal "juice" can dry out on your car's paint, and if you wait a long time to clean it, it can be very difficult to get rid of the pet marks without damaging the paint.
Step 2. Clean your car regularly to get rid of accumulated small animals
If you are taking a long trip or driving in the country and surrounded by small animals, have your car cleaned within a day or two of your return.
Step 3. Rub WD-40 on your car body
The oily substances will loosen the dead small animals and make them easier to escape. Apply it to the body of your car with a rag or use a spray bottle and leave it on for 10 minutes.
- Do not use WD-40 on windshields and windows. This spray is an oily substance so it will be difficult to clean.
- Don't have WD-40? Try other pet and stain cleaning products. Your local auto shop will offer a variety of products for removing small animal carcasses from cars.
- Apart from that, this method will also work well for removing tar.
Step 4. Wipe or scrub the remains of small animals to remove them from your car
Once the WD-40 has soaked in, use a towel to remove any small animals in a circular motion. If needed, you can rub the small animals with a towel to clean them. But be careful not to rub it too vigorously or you will damage the car paint.
- Don't use hard foam or steel wool pads to remove small animals from your car – these will scratch your car's paint.
- If you have the opportunity to clean a small animal carcass before it dries completely, then a single scrub is enough to clean it. If the little critters have dried and are sticking to the car paint, you should wash your car once, then rub the WD-40 again, then let it sit, and wash your car again.
Step 5. Wash the windshield and windows of your car
You will need another mixture to clean the tiny stars from the windshield of your car. A mixture of water and dish soap will usually work, but if you think you need a stronger mixture, you can buy windshield soap at an auto parts store.
Spray the windshield and windows with soapy water. Leave it for 10 minutes. #*Scrub and throw away small animals. For the toughest spots, use a scrubbing foam
Step 6. Wash your car
After the small animals have been removed from your car, wash your car thoroughly to remove any residue from the product you used when cleaning it of the small animals.
Method 2 of 3: Removing the Sap
Step 1. Clean the car from the sap every few weeks
The sap tends to become a thick, hard layer if you don't clean it regularly. If your car is often exposed to sap, plan to clean the car every two weeks – or more often in the summer, when the sap will be more concentrated or stick together more easily. This will make your job more difficult.
Step 2. Soak a rag in alcohol and apply it to the sap in your car
You can also use a sap-removal product from an auto parts store, but alcohol actually works just fine. Leave the towel in the gummy area for at least 10 minutes. The alcohol will begin to work and soften the hard sap.
Step 3. Rub the gummy parts to remove the sap
Use a microfiber cloth to remove the softened sap. If the sap won't come off, you'll need to soak it again for another 10-20 minutes. Keep soaking and scrubbing the sap until the sap comes off the outside of your car.
- If the sap is difficult to remove, coat it with WD-40, which will help loosen the sap. But don't use WD-40 on your windows.
- Do not use scouring foam or other hard materials to scrub the sap from the body of your car, as the paint will come off with the sap.
Step 4. Scrape the toughest sap from your windshield and windows
If the dried sap won't come off the window, use a razor blade to carefully scrape it off. Do not use this method to remove sap from other parts of your car.
Step 5. Wash your car
Once the sap is gone, wash your car to remove any residue. Even if this residue is small, the sap can still dry on your car and make you have to clean it again.
Method 3 of 3: Removing Tar
Step 1. Smooth the tar with a cleaning product to loosen it
Of all the dirt that can dry out on your car – small animals, sap, and tar – tar is the easiest to remove. Not only can you use cleaning products, but there are a wide selection of household items you can use to loosen tar. Puree the tar with one of the ingredients below for 1 minute to loosen the tar:
- WD-40 (not for use on windshields and windows)
- Goo gone
- Peanut butter
- Commercial tar remover
Step 2. Scrub and remove tar
Use a soft cloth to remove loose tar. If it still sticks, use the product again and wait a few minutes before trying again. Continue to smooth the tar with the product you are using and scrub and then throw it away until your car is clear of tar.
Step 3. Wash your car
Once the tar is gone, wash your car to remove any residue from the tar remover product.
Tips
- A soft terry cloth is perfect for this. Be sure to remove as much fiber as possible by shaking it a few times.
- Work slowly. Do not try to remove it by force. Be patient – this method will work.
- WD40 can also remove tar.
- Do not rub denatured alcohol on the spot with light paint or just metal. This will peel off the paint if any.
- Polish your car after cleaning.
- On large "blobs" of sap, as well as dry ones, this method works better than any other harsh chemical out there. Just soak the place longer until the sap becomes sticky like melted hard candy. Then get to work.
- Do not cover your car before doing this or you will spend all day cleaning it.
- Pure alcohol can be used in very small quantities. Don't use isopropyl alcohol (the alcohol you can find in the drug aisle).
Warning
- Do not use denatured alcohol near a fire or while smoking.
- Use denatured alcohol in a well-ventilated area. The steam will be very strong.
- Try denatured alcohol first in a small, inconspicuous spot to determine if it will damage your car's paint. Very little paint will spoil unless the alcohol is left on for a long time (more than 5 minutes).
