Got some blackberry stains in my white paint. How do I clean it out?

[kenbw2]

The stains in question



I backed right into a blackberry bush on Sunday (today being Tuesday) and noticed this yesterday. Tried to clean it off today and most of it came off but I'm left with these purple streaks that won't come off. I assume it's soaked into the paint.

Been to one of those East European car wash places and they said they couldn't get it off. I don't really want to scratch the paintwork to remove it. Can I de-stain it somehow?

Ridiculous suggestion: bleach? Like, it's meant to be white, it can't decolour it? Might cause other damage though.

[GiveMeABreak]

I think that's why paint protection and a regular wax is a must - I've just noticed a mass of scratches on one of my lower door areas - and very likely brambles from the country lanes. I used Mantis scratch remover, that very gently polishes the scratches out - but in your case, I would think the dye of the blackberries has been absorbed into the clearcoat / or paint topcoat depending on your finish.

Not sure if this works, but dug it up - measurements are American, but I've added the equivalents.

1. Pour 1/4 cup (2oz or 59 ml) of water into a bowl, with 1/4 cup (2oz or 59 ml) of white vinegar. The vinegar will cut through the berry stains, while the diluted mixture will prevent the vinegar from damaging the car paint.
2. Pour 1 tsp. of dish soap into the bowl also, which will help cut through the berry texture.
3. Dip a cloth into the solution, then wipe over the stained area of car paint. Wipe in small circular motions, as you would to buff out the stain.
4. Continue until you have removed the entire stain, then clean the area once more with fresh, clean water. This will remove any remaining vinegar or berry residue.

I'd be interested to see if it works

[white exec]

Try Mer car polish - shifts most ingrained marks, although I appreciate this is a stain.
If the paintwork was porous enough to accept the blackberry stain, it might be porous enough to allow some Vanish stain remover (as used on fabrics) to do its job. Works on red wine, etc.

[Hell Razor5543]

I wonder if a clay bar might help here?

[Sloppysod]

This stuffs removes virtually anything from paintwork -....................even your wax so you will have to re-polish afterwards

[kenbw2]

I think that's why paint protection and a regular wax is a must - I've just noticed a mass of scratches on one of my lower door areas - and very likely brambles from the country lanes. I used Mantis scratch remover, that very gently polishes the scratches out - but in your case, I would think the dye of the blackberries has been absorbed into the clearcoat / or paint topcoat depending on your finish.

Not sure if this works, but dug it up - measurements are American, but I've added the equivalents.

1. Pour 1/4 cup (2oz or 59 ml) of water into a bowl, with 1/4 cup (2oz or 59 ml) of white vinegar. The vinegar will cut through the berry stains, while the diluted mixture will prevent the vinegar from damaging the car paint.
2. Pour 1 tsp. of dish soap into the bowl also, which will help cut through the berry texture.
3. Dip a cloth into the solution, then wipe over the stained area of car paint. Wipe in small circular motions, as you would to buff out the stain.
4. Continue until you have removed the entire stain, then clean the area once more with fresh, clean water. This will remove any remaining vinegar or berry residue.

I'd be interested to see if it works

So I gave this a go last night. Wiped it on, rubbed it in and saw no improvement. Left it to soak for like 10 minutes and had another go. Nothing. Rinsed it all off and resigned myself to having stains.

Then I looked at it today, and it's all gone!



Woohoo

[GiveMeABreak]

There’s one for the books! Sound job.

[white exec]

The paint is obviously porous: it took up the stain, and also that stain remover.
Quite common for cars painted in White not be be lacquered (at least no lacquer to peel!), and so no additional protective layer.
If it's completely gone, best to follow the advice and get some protective wax polish on the car.

[Paul-R]

The phantom paint polisher passed by overnight?

[Stickyfinger]

NEEDS a polymer sealer and then a hard wax and top off with a soft or liquid "polishing" wax.