Grease is a popular lubricant used in different car parts. It protects the moving parts and prevents wear and tear. But it’s a pain when it gets on your car paint. Due to its sticky nature, grease can discolor your car’s exterior.
So, how to remove grease from car paint? First, wet the surface with water. Put a small amount of liquid dish soap on a soft cloth, then rub the cloth on the surface of the paint. Lastly, rinse the area with clean water.
However, soap is not the only way. There are many techniques to remove grease from paint. Read on to find out.
Tools And Materials Required To Remove Grease From Car Paint
Different methods require different tools. When cleaning grease from car paint, you must use the right tools. The following are some of the common tools and materials:
Mandatory item –
- Liquid dish soap
- Soft cloth or sponge
- Clean water
- Baking soda
- Degreaser
Optional item –
- Hand gloves
- Damp cloth
- Bucket
- Paper cloth
How To Remove Grease From Car Paint?
There are several different methods for wiping off grease from car paint. These range from dish soap to degreaser fluids and differ in effectiveness and cost. Here are a few methods you can try:
Method 1: Dish Soap And Water
The combination of soap and water is an excellent method for removing grease. Dish soaps remove grease without damaging paint. To perform this method, follow these steps:
Step 1: First, wet the area that is covered with grease.
Step 2: Add some dish soap to the cloth.
Step 3: Rub the cloth across the grease stain.
Step 4: Rinse the soap.
This method is effective because the dish soap breaks the grease, and the action of rubbing keeps it from drying on paint.
Method 2: WD40 Spray
WD40 is a good alternative to dish soap. It can easily wipe the greasy fingerprints away. Spray the WD40 onto a microfiber towel and rub it. Rinse with water when you’re done.
Method 3: Use Degreaser
Degreaser fluids are products that work in much the same way dish soap does. The main difference is that degreasers usually contain chemicals that dissolve grease better.
Step 1: First, remove excess oil or grease with a damp cloth.
Step 2: Mix the degreaser solution with warm water.
Step 3: Now, rub the affected area.
Step 4: Rinse with clean water.
Step 5: Clean the area with a dry cloth.
Method 4: Using Baking Soda
You can use baking soda to clean grease from car paint. Mix one spoon of baking soda, ⅛ cup of salt, and ⅜ cup of water, then pour it around the grease stain. Leave it for a couple of minutes and rinse the area with water.
Method 5: Clay bar
Clay is an excellent grease remover from car paint. You must follow the steps below to clean your car with clay:
Step 1: Clean the car with water, then dry it.
Step 2: Put some clay bar on a microfiber towel and create a circular motion in the affected area.
Step 3: Wash your car with water and soap.
What Degreaser Can You Use On Car Paint?
There are many different brands of degreaser for car paint on the market, but their mechanism is similar. They usually contain a surfactant, some solvent, or oil and dissolve grease by emulsifying it. The surfactant helps to keep the grease in the solution until it’s rinsed off.
Degreasers are available in liquids and powders. Both types can be used as a grease remover. The powder form is a more concentrated solution, so dilute before using it. Otherwise, the solvent might damage the paint.
Here is some degreaser for car paint:
- Chemical Guys CWS Degreasers
- 3D Orange Degreaser
- POR-15 Degreaser
- Goo Gone Automotive Cleaner
- Autobrite Bug Detector Degreaser
However, is degreaser safe on car paint? Degreasers are safe to use. They do not contain harmful chemicals that can cause permanent damage to your car’s paint. However, degreasers can break down protective coatings in your car’s paint if the cleaner is left on the paint for too long.
This led to permanent discoloration of the car’s paint. To get around this problem, you should always wash your car after using a degreaser.
Will rubbing alcohol hurt car paint?
Rubbing alcohol is not harmful to car paint. However, high concentrated use of isopropyl alcohol might remove the protective coating that keeps your paint shiny and new.
So, use a ratio of 80 to 90 % of water and 10 to 20% of alcohol for cleaning car paint.
Is Vinegar Safe For Car Paint?
Vinegar is a natural disinfectant. However, it is widely used as an automobile parts disinfectant but is not safe to use on paint. It has a pH of 3 .0, which can cause damage to car paint.
To use this cleaner, dilute it with water and then use a soft cloth to wipe the stain off your car’s paint.
Conclusion
Grease will ruin car paint if left on the surface for a long time. So it is wiser to remove grease from car paint before it’s too late. You can use typical household or industrial products to clean up the greasy mess.
However, you must be careful in deciding which one is convenient for you. If you use the wrong product, it will make the situation worse.
Dish soap is the most inexpensive way to remove grease from car paint. It’s also the easiest clean-up method. You can also use WD40 and degreaser solutions. Just spray the solution on a soft towel and wipe off the grease.
