bug & tar remover stains

[Tom Claessens]

someone on the dutch (belgian) meguiar's forum complains about the bug & tar remover that it stained his front grille of the car.

I don't have the product myself, so I couldn't verify this.

He claims that there's no remark on the bottle that says you should be cautious around plastic materials with the bug & tar remover.

Now he has white spots on his black plastic front grille. Any ideas here how to remove it and if it's true there's no notification about it on the bottle?

I already told him that he should always cover "sensitive" areas when working with such products (as I tape off trim when I detail the car).

[Mike Phillips]

Did anyone on the Belgium Meguiar's forum that works for Meguiar's offer any suggestions?

Perhaps this person can post his situation on this forum and include a photo of the problem so we can better see the problem and hopefully see him through to a successful solution.

[Toady]

I agree with Phillips, without reading the original post, its hard to offer a solution. However, since I recently started using this product, I will share my observations and experiences.

The GC Bug and Tar remover is a white liquidy lotion in a spray bottle. The Remover itself is only partially water soluble, which is a good thing since bugs and tar are greasy substances.

When I used it for the first time, I simply sprayed it onto a front bumper and side mirrors that were covered with bugs. As applied to the bumper, I got some spray on the black plastic front grille, and as applied to the mirrors, I got some on the side window and black sealing trim. Yes, it did leave a residue on the grille, glass, and black trim which did not come off in the wash that followed (white spots on the black surfaces, just like the Belgian guy observed). However, it did come off when I used a bit of all-purpose cleaner on a rag and on some cotton swabs. My theory is that since the Remover has a lot of organics in it, its not very water soluble and needs some soap to remove it -- something stronger than car wash soap. It did not damage any of the surfaces in any way. I suggest the Belgian user attempt to remove the material with some general cleaners because it very well might come off.

Based on that experience, I no longer spray the B&T remover onto the surface directly. Instead, I spray it onto a "bug sponge" -- a sponge covered with nylon netting -- and apply it that way. This approach avoids overspray, especially in tight areas.