Jeez - I'm a lucky guy... I was driving into town this morning, and the guy in the lane next to me hit a plastic bottle that flew up and although it didn't hit my car, sprayed what I thought was something just 'wet' onto my left-front QP, a little on the hood, all over the headlight cover, left fog lamp cover, lower left windshield and a little spray onto the front of the left rear-view mirror and driver window. I know that it's got to be shelac (sp?) or varnish or something similar, because vinegar, alcohol, bleach and anything like that won't even touch it.

I know I can probably with great care get this off the glass surfaces with something petroleum-based (like gas, maybe?) but what the heck can I use to remove this crap from the painted areas of the vehicle without taking the paint off at the same time?

Same question about the plastic lenses - I don't want to make a freakin' mess of them, either.

 

Try using a claybar. You can get a kit for like maybe $7 at walmart that includes the bar and detailer's lube in a spray bottle.

I've used it to remove paint, bugs, etc. It's a miracle worker.

 

clay bar would work well. also go to autozone or pepboys and grab a can of the turtle wax bug and tar remover. has always worked great for me

 

Thanks for the help, folks! Both the clay bar and the Turtle Wax bug & tar remover along with one of their (TW) sponge did the trick. I guess if I had plenty of time on my hands (and it wasn't raining every day with temps around 90) I'd go ahead and claybar the whole front end. It sure picks up a lot of small 'junk' out of the finish, and after you use a good high-quality polish - you get a really nice, smooth shine!