Alright, so I was looking around for tips on cleaning the gunk off my car since the previous owner let it sit for 3 years. I've got some nnaaassssty(imagine it being said like Cleveland) brown spots on my nice white exterior. I searched around, and didn't really see much, so if y'all don't mind, how do you wash your car? What about those tough spots?

I figure this post could help other people get an idea as to how to get that "mirror finish" or make their car shine just right.

Thanks!

 

Obviously this is not new paint. You never want to use dish washing detergent on 'good' paint, but in your case, I'd use Dawn, and wash the heck out of it. Scrub as best you can with a terry cloth rag (the rougher terry will help), and wash wash wash.

Afterwards, what's left will need to be rubbed out with compound. Get a $12 buffer from Harbor Freight, and a dozen buffing pads, and rubbing compound. With rubbing compound you want to be careful - the cheap buffers spin too fast - never use any pressure at all, just let it's own weight do the work, and lift buffer off every few seconds so it doesn't get too hot under the friction of the pad/compound.

I have a controller that I can plug any 120v thing into and it acts like a rheostat to reduce the speed, and I use it with my $12 buffer to decrease the speed by about 50%. But you can run it full speed, just be very easy and gentle, and let the compound do the work (no pressure). A very stubborn spot I'd probably rub it by hand, so I could use more pressure without the speed of the buffer.

When you get it done, then wax with a good wax.

 

www.detailking.com This is where I get all of my products. Not sure how bad the spot is, but there are a few choices that you have. If it isn't coming off with just using a car wash, I would try some goo gone or even a bug and tar remover. The worst this will do is strip the wax. There may also be the need to wet sand (1500-2000 grit) any marks that are in the paint.
I use a Dewalt buffer with variable speed and pads from Detail King. If you do wet sand use compound with a wool pad to remove fine scratches.
Next use a less aggressive pad and a polish. Before waxing I use an orbital polisher and Meguairs #205. Last step is to wax.

 

I tend to be able to wipe most of that brown road gunk off with wax and grease remover....If not a quick wetsand with 2000 will definately get rid of it but you will need to buff....you can even try some compund by hand. :-)