How to Get Rid of Shoe Polish Off of Cars Without a Razor

Many people use shoe polish to write messages on their cars to let others know they have recently married, had a baby, what sports team they support and various other messages. The problems start when you can’t get the shoe polish off of your car after the event has passed. You may damage the window glass and the painted surface of your car if you use a razor blade to scrape the polish off. There are ways to safely remove the shoe polish without harming your car’s surface.

Things You'll Need

• 00 steel wool
• Automotive glass cleaner
• Paper towels
• Clay bar
• Spray detailer

Instructions

Glass

1. Rub the shoe polish off of the window glass with a 00 steel wool pad. The steel wool is not harsh enough to put scratches on the glass, but removes all paint, water spots or debris stuck on the window. Rub as hard or as gentle as necessary to remove all of the shoe polish.

2. Spray the window glass with automotive glass cleaner. Do not use household glass cleaner as it can harm the tint and visibility of your car’s window.

3. Wipe the window with a dry paper towel until no streaks are seen.

Painted Surface

1. Use spray detailer to wet a 1 foot by 1 foot area on the car’s surface. You can spray the detailer directly onto the shoe polish.

2. Rub the clay bar over the lubricated area. Rub the bar back and forth to pick up the shoe polish from the surface of the car.

3. Move to another section of shoe polish and repeat the steps. Do this until all of the shoe polish is gone. Knead and fold the clay bar to expose a clean side to the car. The clay bar can be folded several times and used on the entire car if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Never use razor blades to clean shoe polish off of your car. The blades can cut into the clear coat or paint on the car and expose the bare metal to moisture, causing rust damage.