Help! - paint spray on paintwork

[dalgleish00]

Hoping someone maybe able to help 

I had my car cleaned today and the valet guy cleaning it noticed that it had a fine spray of what looks like white paint all over it. It is literally all over the glass and the paintwork. From a meter or so away it is not really visible and almost looks like the metallic pain shimmering but close up you can see lots and lots of small specs of paint. I tried scraping one with my nail and it came off but the valet guy tried some of his polishes (t-cut etc) and had no luck. He suggested I either take it to a professional valet company (this place was one of those by the road £10 for a clean and hoover) or the dealer and see what they reckon.

I thought however that I should try the trusty forum first as someone may know a way that is easier than me spending a couple of days trying to scrape every spot with my nails!! Thanks in advance for your help!!

[wantmygti]

Isn't a clay bar supposed to be good at shifting stuff like this off paint?? I'm fairly sure it shifts overspray.

Prob have to use spirit on the glass work.

[AlanH]

Assuming that the "paint" isn't water soluble, would it be worth trying some white spirit on a small area of paintwork before resorting to T-Cut or similar?

[yan355]

Ive had a similar problem after using a garage forecourt jet wash. The rinse/wax setting at the end caused an extremely fine whitish/clear covering over the car. Was hardly visible but the paintwork felt like sandpaper. Ive used Meguiers Quick Detailing Clay Bar  - taken a bloody age to do the whole car but brought the paintwork up a treat - you can get it from Halfords - will probably work

Cheers

Yanek

[dalgleish00]

Hi Guys

Thanks for all your responses on this. Sounds like one of these should sort it. Will have a try on a small area at the weekend and then may do it myself or find a trusty valet!

Cheers

[Cass]

Try a clay bar with plenty of solution first. Should do the trick.

I've had good results with this:

http://www.meguiars.co.uk/

Cass

[dalgleish00]

Thanks Cass, will pick some of that up and give it a go. What did you use on the glass?

[Cass]

Should be safe to use on glass as well, it's obviously harder than the car paint surface.

Some tips for using a clay effectively:

*Hose and wash car thoroughly first
*Make sure you use plenty of lubricant on the paint surface to avoid swirl marks
*Use light finger pressure only
*Work in small areas of each panel 
*Turn the clay over regularly to fold the removed contaminants inside the clay (fold the bar inwards and then reshape for use) - this way you will always be claying with a clean bar
*Do the whole car then redo any areas that need a second/third treatment
*Don't drop the clay on the ground - if you do bin it and get another
*After claying, use a paint cleaner, then polish and then wax the car (claying removes all protective polish coating and leaves the paint surface exposed to the elements and harmful rays
 
Also read some of the posts here for removing paint overspray:

http://www.meguiars.co.uk/phpBB2/search.php?mode=results

Easy process but, if in doubt, get it done professionally

Good luck

Cass