Hello, friends:

I today found a 1/4 inch wide, 18" long, line of a gummy substance on the rear door of my Lexus today, near the rear window. I think I know what it is: I applied this Meguiar's polish (not wax) to the car about a month ago, and I'm afraid I simply failed to wipe it all off as carefully as I should have. It dried, and now ... well, there it is. I did not have an electric buffer at the time and tried to remove it all with micro fiber. So I just missed it. (I won't do that again. Even the part I got off was a bear to do by hand.)

Anyway, whatever it is, I need something to rub that stuff off. Is that what rubbing compound is for?

Thanks,
Rob in Plano, TX

 

There is also the possibility that this is tree sap, but I think that's a slim possibility.

 

try goo gone

 

 

I don't think you want rubbing compound...that's way too aggressive. Besides goo gone, you could try applying more of the polish on top of it to soften it up and then clean it off. The solvents that are in the fresh polish could dissolve the old stuff. I've used that trick before on dried wax before, seems to work pretty good.

 

Polish left behind leaves the same residue that it does one hour after you put it on. It does turn gummy or slimy. It could be any number of things so I think goo gone, gasoline or something similar is all you need. Just be sure to rewax/polish after you use these products.

 

Try WD-40, and make sure you clean the area after you use it and then wax.

 

dish soap and warm water. Wax after words

 

Thanks, everyone. I'll try all those suggestions one at a time. It's not a very large area and I'm sure I'll get it worked out.

 

You should apply polish only on a clean surface and wipe any residue asap. I guess now you know.

 

Yes, now I know!

I am honestly starting to think this is something else.

Well, simple hot water didn't work. On to stage two!

 

The water has to be exactly 114.23 degrees for it to werk best

 

I would think the polish that is stuck on there could be removed by using the same polish again on the affected area.

 

Try Turtle Wax Bug & Tar remover.

 

Try all these in order of harshness... I would start with Dawn, then polish if necessary. Whatever you use, you do need to wax afterward.

 

A sponge soaked in formaldehyde .... no wait thats for something else.
Post a picture of the area you are talking about.

 

Glenn, that's a rag soaked in ether.....

 

There's a citrus based goof off in a plastic spray bottle. Do not use the goof off in the can!

 

I appreciate the responses. I took it to get washed at the dealership and told the attendant about it. He nodded in understanding and got a can of ... something ... and wiped it right off with a cloth. It did a great job. Got me all the way down to bare metal!

No, really, it came right off with this stuff and he acted like he uses it all the time for customers. Paint and clear coat look great.