Damned Trees! Removing residue from my car

LaOs

A few of the yards on my street have trees in them that drop little sticky pods all over the damned place! Many of these pods have fallen on my car. Due to the weather recently (and some laziness), I did not wash my car immediately upon finding the vile pods on my car. Now, since they sat a while, they've left a residue that needs to be removed.

What products are best for home-use in removing tree-pod residue from my car? What will be effective at getting gunk off my car but still be safe enough on the paint?

Djeet

The best thing to remove surface contaminants is a degreasing dish doap like dawn. This will also remove any wax on the paint/clearcoat though, so you'll want to wax it after you wash.

If it's really stuck on hard like baked in sap, tar, or paint overspray you may need a claybar to get it off (you can score these at pepboys or autozone for $10 or so). When claying your car make sure the surface is always wet.

Figgy

Have you tried just taking the car into a coin-wash and scrubbing it really good with the soapy brush?

I used to have tree gunk on my car all summer long where I used to live/park, and sometimes it would be on there for a few days if I had some time off and get stuck on. It never took more than a good wash though, and maybe a bit of scrubbing in a few spots with a towel.

Alternatively, I also have a bottle of product that is designed to remove dead bugs easier. It's got a special sponge with a net over it that gentle scrapes them off too. That might work for you. I don't remember what it's called off hand but it's a black spray bottle with bright green lettering I think. You're in Canada, so you might find it in Canadian Tire in the car care aisle.

Aurin

Figgy wrote: »

Have you tried just taking the car into a coin-wash and scrubbing it really good with the soapy brush?

I used to have tree gunk on my car all summer long where I used to live/park, and sometimes it would be on there for a few days if I had some time off and get stuck on. It never took more than a good wash though, and maybe a bit of scrubbing in a few spots with a towel.

Alternatively, I also have a bottle of product that is designed to remove dead bugs easier. It's got a special sponge with a net over it that gentle scrapes them off too. That might work for you. I don't remember what it's called off hand but it's a black spray bottle with bright green lettering I think. You're in Canada, so you might find it in Canadian Tire in the car care aisle.

Bug and Tar Remover by Gunk. Lovely stuff, though you want to make sure you wash the car AFTER you use that stuff. It's pretty strong stuff.

Also... eww on that car brush at the coin wash. I only use those on cars I don't care about the paintjob on. Too much crap in those things that'll scratch the hell out of your car.

LaOs

I usually only use the brush on my rims and the black sort of "skirting" along the bottom of the sides of the car, mainly because I'm concerned about scratches.

Also, in this case, most of the tree crap is stuck in corners or tough little dips in the body that a big brush like that wouldn't work so well.

I do appreciate the product suggestions--I'm sure I could go into Canadian Tire and find something but I wanted to make sure I had a better idea of what the right something was with respect to efficiency and "safety" for the car.