Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning
• What you need

Insects, sap and tar can get on your car and get on the paint, leaving ugly stains and affecting visibility. Luckily, all of the above stains can be cleaned without spending a lot of money. See step 1 and the next sections to learn how to remove dirt from your car, and your car will shine like new again.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Get rid of dead insects

1. Don't wait too long. The insect's "juice" can dry out on the paintwork, and if you don't wash the car for too long, it will be difficult to remove it without removing a little paint.

2. 

   Scrape the toughest sap from the windshield and windows. If the dry sap on the window glass does not come off, you can carefully scrape it off with a paper knife. Do not use this method to scrape sap from other car parts.

3. 

   
   
   Car wash. Once the sap has been removed, you should wash your car to remove any remaining traces. Small pieces of leftover sap may dry out elsewhere in the vehicle, leaving you to process it again. advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Clean tar

1. 

   
   
   Apply a product to the pitch that loosens the tar. Of the three sticky substances that can dry out on a vehicle - insects, sap and tar - tar is the easiest to remove. Not only that, but you can also use many household products to loosen the tar. Apply one of the following to the tar stain for about 1 minute to loosen the tar:
   • WD-40 oil (not used on windshields and windows)
   • Goo gone
   • Peanut butter
   • Commercial pitch cleaner

2. 

   
   
   Wipe off the tar. Use a soft cloth to wipe off the soft tar. If the stain is still sticking, use another cleaning product and wait a few minutes before trying again. Continue to apply the cleaning product to the tar and wipe until there is no tar left in the vehicle.

3. 

   Car wash. After the tar is gone, wash your car to remove the residue of cleaning products. advertisement

Advice

• Using a soft ruff is best. Be sure to remove as much lint as possible by rinsing the cloth several times.
• Take it easy. Do not try to exert yourself. Be patient - this method will work.
• WD40 oil also works well against pitch.
• Do not apply denatured alcohol on peeling paint to reveal primer or metal. This may cause the paint to start to peel off.
• Wax your car after washing it off.
• For large "chunks" of sap, even when dry, this method is still more effective than strong commercial chemicals. Just soak the stain for a little longer until the sap becomes sticky like a melted hard candy. Then you can clean it.
• Do not cover the car before handling, otherwise it will take a long day to clean.
• You can use pure alcohol just in case you need the kip. Do not use isopropyl alcohol (the type sold at a pharmacy).
• Kerosene can remove the tar that was stuck on cars. Pour kerosene into a rag and rub it over the tar. There will be tar in a few seconds. Once you've removed the tar, wash your car and wax it.

Warning

• Try applying denatured alcohol to a small blind spot on the car to see if the paint is damaged, although very rarely the paint will be damaged, unless the alcohol stays on for too long (more than 5 minutes).
• Do not use denatured alcohol near an open flame or while smoking.
• Use denatured alcohol in a well-ventilated area. The gas produced can be quite strong.

What you need

• WD-40 oil
• Soft cloth
• Soapy water
• Rubbing alcohol