
PAINT STAIN
When you notice a paint stain on your car, don’t panic! It’s not the end of the world. In fact, chances are the blemish isn’t even ingrained into the paint itself, but merely stuck upon the clear coat surface that has been layered over the paint.
This is one of the primary purposes of clear coat applications, as they serve as the first line of defense against smudges and splatter.
Typically, a healthy car clear coat will make stain removal a cinch, as it repels the unsavory contaminant, and merely requires a quick wipe-down with a clean microfiber cloth and a spritz of detailing spray.
However, there are a few car paint stains that are tougher to remove than others. Here are a handful of the most common automotive “stubborn stains,” along with the pro-approved cleaning chemicals and removal methods that make their elimination far less of a hassle.

PAINT SWIRL MARK
Another misunderstood stain is a scratch. Also commonly referred to as “paint swirls” or “spider webbing,” these minuscule surface scuffs are little more than etchings or scratches embedded within the vehicle’s clear coat.
If allowed to be dirty, or stained, these blemishes can become quite unsightly, and over time may lead to paint oxidation.
Typically, swirl marks are caused by using rough towels or overly abrasive car washing supplies, along with improper washing and drying techniques.
Automated car washes are also a common cause of spider webbing paint damage, hence the old-fashioned hand wash method being the most widely approved method of car cleaning.
Swirl marks can range in size and depth depending upon the amount of exerted pressure, as well as the texture of the cleaning material being used.
Here, paint protection products like a 9H-rated coating will do wonders, as they are extremely resistant to surface scratches.
TREE SAP
The next round of paint stains is caused by the mother “Nature,” Yes, we’re talking about tree sap.
When a tree gets pruned, damaged by wind, threatened by insects, or exposed to rot, the afflicted area oozes this sticky stuff to neutralize the threat and place a protective “gauze” over the wound.
Once dried, the area resembles a scab-like surface, hence the aforementioned “lifeblood” analogy.

While sap stains can come from many kinds of trees, and is instantly recognizable due to its glue-like, spotty appearance, certain kinds of tree sap can be more challenging to remove than others, allowed to eat into a car’s clear coat, results in a recognizable stain that has literally been “etched” into the surface.
Like oxidation, this is one of those contaminants that is best detected and removed right away. Allowing tree sap or resin to sit for prolonged periods of time will only give it further cause to permanently affix itself to your car.

BIRD DROPPING/BUG SPLATTER
Much like tree sap and resin stains, bird droppings and bug splatter damage paint surfaces via acidic contaminants within their molecular structure.
Damage can occur within just a matter of hours, and is often accelerated when direct sunlight, excessive heat, and the diet of the bird who just took a dump on your car is called into question.
Bug splatter has a similar effect, but is typically magnified not by the insect’s diet, but the genetic makeup and size of the critter in question.
Bugs also tend to have exoskeletons, so they not only splatter when they hit your vehicle, but they have the ability to crack into the clear coat too.

All of the stains listed above can be quite difficult to remove too, some of which require the application of specialized cleaners, degreasers, or deep cleaning products like polishing and cutting compounds.
WATER SPOT
A water spot essentially is a stain. Fortunately, these top layer stains won’t always etch into the clear coating, but rather develop atop them.
So despite their prevalence, water stains tend to be much easier to remove. This is because the majority of the time, water spots are caused by mineral deposits suspended within the liquid, which when dried, has nowhere to go but onto the clear coat.

Milder water stain marks can oftentimes be removed with little more than a microfiber towel, while more serious spotting requires the application of a chemical cleaning agent or approved automotive soap.
WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THE STAIN
Determining where a paint stain originated can tell you a lot about the fixes that are ahead.
For instance, if the paint stain has been caused by something extremely acidic, the stain has more than likely dug deep into the clear coat, and will likely require professional paint correction.
We suggest going to a pro for something like this, because an inexperienced, heavy-handed approach will more than likely result in the removal of the clear coat, and potentially, the paint beneath it.
HOW TO PREVENT PAINT STAIN
There is no other way to spin this: Removing paint stains is a process that can be easily avoided.
Opting to apply a high-quality surface protective product like a paint protection film (PPF), or a coating is going to make a massive difference in the amount of strain spent on removing surface stains.
Paint stains aren’t the only thing a coating repels either. Surface scratches have become a problem of the past, and UV ray worries suddenly disappear, so forget fretting over clear coat and paint oxidation or the threat of spider web surface scratches.