Deel
Tar and industrial fallout on your car? Here's how to remove it without damaging the paint
Removing rust or tar from your paintwork? After a few months of driving, you often see them appear: small orange dots or black splatters along your sills. This is not ordinary dirt. These are metal particles and asphalt residues that cling to your paintwork. A normal wash won't remove them. But with the right approach, you can.
What are rust film and tar?
Rust film is caused by microscopic metal particles from brake dust or railway tracks that adhere to your paintwork. As soon as these oxidize, you see small orange dots. Tar comes from asphalt, tires, and road markings and appears as black dots or streaks, especially near wheel arches and sills.
Both types of contamination penetrate the paintwork if not removed in time.
Why removing rust film is important
If you leave rust film or tar on your car, it will penetrate deeper and deeper into the clear coat. This causes discoloration, a rough feel to the paint, and reduced shine. New dirt adheres more quickly, and your paintwork becomes increasingly difficult to clean.
Step-by-step removal of rust film and tar
1. Pre-clean with foam
Always start with a thorough pre-wash. Use the RUSH Foam Cannon Pro in combination with RUSH Snow Foam. Let the foam work for 5 minutes so that sand and road dirt come off safely.
2. Remove rust film with RUSH Iron Remover
Spray RUSH Iron Remover on cool, clean paintwork. Within seconds, the product turns purple. This means it is dissolving metal particles. Let it work for a maximum of 3 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
This formula is safe for paint, rims, and glass.
3. Remove tar
Stubborn tar stains can be treated locally with Iron Remover and a soft microfiber cloth. Always work carefully and do not use aggressive solvents. These can damage your clear coat.
4. Wash car with pH-neutral shampoo
After removing rust film and tar, wash the car completely with RUSH Gold Wash. This pH-neutral shampoo removes product residues and restores the shine.
5. Dry and protect
Use the RUSH Master Drying Towel 1200 GSM to dry the paintwork streak-free. Then apply a protective layer such as RUSH Nano Wet Coat. This makes it harder for dirt and metal particles to adhere again.
Common mistakes when removing rust film
- Working in direct sunlight
- Leaving the product on for too long
- Using harsh brushes
- Not applying a protective layer after cleaning
Prevention tips
- Use RUSH Iron Remover every 4–6 weeks
- Wash regularly with RUSH Gold Wash
- Protect your paintwork with Nano Wet Coat
- Also read: Polishing your car
