How do you remove old car wax residue?

[barrys]

I clay bar-ed the Ranger and then followed up with their thick paste wax. (I usually use car polish and never had a problem.) I must not have done my wipe off very well because now I have little spots of what seems like wax residue all over the truck that pick up dirt. They don't want to come off easily -- certainly not with a terrycloth towel.

Is there anything that anyone recommends to remove that wax residue without hurting the paint?

 

[daniel3507]

clay bar usually removes old wax if you want to do that again. i would wash it with dawn, clay bar again, then do a isopropyl alcohol wipe down (dilute it 50/50ish with distilled water) and that should get it all off. just be sure and apply wax thin.

 

[lindsay_elaine]

When I worked in a sign shop I used denatured alcohol to get all the wax off a vehicle before applying vinyl letters, it works great! Never had any damage happen except on finishes that were already very oxidized (color came off on rag, didn't really "damage" anything)

 

[barrys]

I was thinking the clay bar would work. The clay bar is mildly abrasive though which must be why they only recommend doing it once a year. I'm wondering if undiluted isopropyl alchohol might do it. I'll try a test area with that.

Also, for anyone reading this...
Don't we have to be careful using any kind of alcohol -- especially denatured -- near our glued on side stripes? I think that might be an issue. Perhaps others can commen on that.

 

[Jon581]

yea i would be careful and those area's

 

[barrys]

> If Speed Kills Then Import Driver's Will Live Forever.
I just got a CR-V for "the girls." It's a slug, but I hope that means they'll live forever.

 

[Jon581]

i'm just making fun of all the retards that buy civics and integra's and think they have race car's

 

[lindsay_elaine]

Also, for anyone reading this...
Don't we have to be careful using any kind of alcohol -- especially denatured -- near our glued on side stripes? I think that might be an issue. Perhaps others can commen on that.

It depends on what kind of stripes you have. If you have plain old vinyl pinstripes (the vinyl is actually a solid color, NOT white with a printed design) that are in good shape (not shrunken, cracked, or peeling anywhere) then I wouldn't worry too much. It generally takes a bit if actual rubbing with denatured to get vinyl glue off. If you have fancier stripes/graphics with a printed design, then I would stay away as the alcohol will most likely remove the ink.

If you're careful I don't think you have much to worry about.

Also, if you want to check if you've removed ALL the wax, run your fingertip along the surface. If it squeaks, you're wax free.