This happened about 8 years or so ago, but some company painted a water tower from my old apartment complex, and light yellow overspray hit my car all over the place. Now that I bought my car back, I'd like to consider looking into removing it from the paint. What do you suggest doing to get it off?

 

try a clay bar, do the entire car, it needs it after 8 years I'm sure. I find that using the "detail spray" they give you in the kit is not enough and buying more to do the whole car costs too much, so I just hold a hose and just trickle water on the car as i clay bar it

 

Clay bar is a good first step. NEVER use just water to clay a car. Especially if you have a nice finish. Clay is specifically fabricated to be used with a LUBRICATED solution. Soap/water can work but is less than ideal. Its better to use quick detailer than water but the better solution is clay lube. There is a reason why they make it and include it with kits.

Good abrasive comp/polish with the DA after clay will most likely finish off any other over-spray. Something like the M105/205 combination from meguires.

 

i assume you've never tried it then? works every time on my black truck. the clay is not only able to use a spray exclusivly, look at any detailing site, soap and water is widely accepted especially for DIY'ers.... The reason they make the spray and say you HAVE to use it is to make $$$

I suppose some soap would be a good thing to add in though, I'll try that next time

 

If that all fails, try some 2500 grit and a good machine polish. Maybe a pro job.

 

Comments from the peanut gallery really aren't helping anyone here. If you have ever had a flawless jeweled finish on any of your vehicles I assume you would know why not to use water. ESPECIALLY if you have "hard" mineral infused water.

You ever try using clay without any liquid lubrication? Doesnt slide very well does it? Well when you use water it allows it to skim over the surface taking off most of the surface contaminates with it. Good right? Think again, water has zero lubrication property's and zero cleaning properties so while you are pulling that oh so slippery/sticky peice of clay across your paint job you are also introducing micro mars and small pulled peices of clay that you might not notice on paint that is less than flawless. Not a big deal you say? well do that while detailing a priceless vehicle and somebody is not going to be a happy camper.

Do yourself a favor and do it right the first time, Using a quick detailer or a clay lube introduces plenty of lubrication as well as cleansing properties. Allowing you to slickly slide over the surface and allowing you to pick up more due to the fact that the detailer or lube helped loosen most of the harder contaminants.

Ill let you know what I use. Poorboy's spray and lube. I buy it in a gallon container and dilute portions of it 1:1 for clay bar. If you didn't buy a kit with the bar there is no point in going out and buying just a clay lube, you can get any quality paint shampoo and dilute it in a 1:30-1:60 ration depending on the shampoo. Easy and better for your paint.

I have been professionally detailing for many years. Take the info or leave it. Not expecting that you paint is flawless or jeweled but its good to leave bad habits behind while going forward.

 

8 years, guessing clay won't do it. But start there and try it. If it doesn't work compound and buff. If that doesn't work wet sand then buff. I'd test some areas with each method and see what it takes. It's just a matter of seeing how far you're going to have to go and what you're comfortable with doing. Start with claybar then get more and more abrasive until you find what works. But I suggest test areas, don't try one and do the whole car and waiste your efforts.