How to remove iron fallout and tar spots from car paint
By Sam W - SoapX Ltd.
Run your fingertips over clean paint. If it feels gritty rather than glassy, the washing has done its job and something is bonded to the surface. On UK cars that is usually iron fallout from brake dust and rail lines, or tar spots flicked up from the road.
What iron fallout and tar are
Iron fallout is made of tiny hot metal particles from brake discs and railways that land on the paint and embed themselves. They show up as orange specks, especially on white cars, on the lower doors and around the wheels. Tar spots are small black or brown blobs, most often behind the wheels and along the sills. Neither comes off with shampoo alone.
Wash first
Decontamination works on clean paint. Pre rinse, snow foam and contact wash the car as normal, using our two bucket wash guide. Then rinse and move the car into the shade so the panels are cool.
Removing iron fallout
- Work on a cool, clean panel out of direct sun.
- Spray No.06 Fallout and Tar Remover in the Summer formula across the panel. It is ready to use.
- Watch it change colour. It turns purple where it reacts with iron, so you can see where the contamination was.
- Leave it for 2 to 4 minutes, but never let it dry.
- Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water.
The fallout remover has a strong, distinctive smell. That is normal. Wheels usually carry the heaviest iron contamination, so treat them too, as covered in our alloy wheel guide.
Removing tar spots
- Apply No.06 in the Extreme formula, a solvent tar and glue remover, directly onto the spots.
- Give it time to soften the tar. Do not scrub.
- Wipe the softened tar away gently with a dedicated cloth such as our dirty jobs cloths. Keep that cloth away from your paint cloths afterwards.
- Wash the area again with No.05 Contact Shampoo to remove any solvent residue.
The same Extreme formula lifts tree sap and old sticker adhesive.
After decontamination
Decontamination strips the surface back, so this is the ideal moment to polish or protect. Follow our polish and protect guide to finish with SiO2 sealant.
Always read the label and safety data sheet before use, and do not mix products.
Kit for this job
Always read the label. Directions, dilutions and safety advice for every product are here:
