ALT-2 How to Remove Paint Spots from a Car
There are three basic causes for unwanted paint spots on a car's surface. It can accidentally be splashed onto the finish in the event a can of paint is dropped in close proximity. Vandals can deliberately paint graffiti on your vehicle. Finally, and most commonly, it can be in the form of overspray when touching up a particular area. Regardless of how these paint spots paint got there, it is relatively easy to remove it.
While paint can be either water-based or oil-based (as in an enamel), the procedures for removal are more or less the same. While paints derived from water can be softened by applying a wet towel or rag over the area for several hours, there are much faster ways to remove it, and it will work on enamels as well.
The first method is to buy a cleaning polish formulated for cutting blemishes with a buffing wheel. Meguiar's makes excellent products for this purpose. A quality buffer will quickly remove these spots in a matter of minutes. If you choose to use this method; however, a word of caution is advised: Remove the buffer from the affected surface every few seconds to check the progress of your work. You don't want to have a wheel rotating at a few thousand revolutions per minute making contact with your car's sheetmetal any longer than you have to, for this increases the risk of burning the factory finish that lies beneath.
A fast method is to apply nail polish remover, paint thinner, or a store-bought glue and paint remover to a clean, nonabrasive rag and rub the spot out by hand. Almost every car manufactured in the past 15 years will have a clearcoat on top of the factory paint. Therefore, the factory paint will generally not be affected. However, it should be noted that nail polish remover contains acetone, which will literally suck the moisture right out of this clearcoat finish. Thus, it is prudent to immediately apply a moisturizing car wax or polish after removing the unwanted paint. In addition, products that contain acetone must never be used on surfaces made of plastic or fiberglass. Doing so will melt it, and you'll have a real mess on your hands. Read the label carefully on the container to determine if acetone is a part of the mixture. Some paint thinners have acetone while others do not. For those that don't contain acetone, it is safe to use on any surface. Again, it's still a good idea to apply polish and/or wax after you've removed the paint. If you choose to use any solution rather than a buffing wheel, never apply these products in direct sunlight.
As a final thought, this should go without saying. The faster unwanted paint is removed from a car's surface, the eaiser it will be to remove, so when you decide that it's time to touch up that scratch, look for overspray right ater the job is done. This can easily be detected by rubbing your finger across the surface. Does it feel smooth and slick, or does it feel rough and uneven? It it's rough, you have overspray. Similarly, right after paint has been tarnished following an accident or a deliberate act of sabotage, remove it as soon as possible.
A car's finish can look brand new and mirror-like for many years. Don't let a few spots of unintentional paint discourage you. It can easily be remedied.
