Parking under the trees Sticky honeydew is harmful to car paint
Bonn · Those parking their cars under trees in summer could have a nasty surprise. A sticky substance is covering vehicles in some places and can be harmful to car paint. Where does it come from and how do you get rid of it?
Summertime is aphid season. And those parking their car under trees will almost inevitably become acquainted with the tiny insects – or rather with what they leave behind on the car. The sticky, sugary substance the lice excrete is called honeydew. It drips from leaves, especially lime and maple, onto the car and forms a dark, slimy coating, especially in strong sunshine.
“Especially when cars stand for days under trees, as is often the case in the city, they are sometimes almost completely covered,” says Heinz-Gerd Lehmann, an engineer with ADAC Nordrhein. It is reassuring for drivers that the honeydew itself does not attack the paint and is water-soluble. However, those who discover it on their car should not wait long to go to the car wash, warns the expert. “If the honeydew is not removed as quickly as possible, it may harden, depending on whether it is mixed with other substances, and then remove the paint as well.”
Those wanting to prevent this should seal the paint (or have it sealed) with hard wax after washing the vehicle. If the lice have already struck, then the affected areas should first be treated with a high-pressure hose, advises Heinz-Gerd Lehmann. “In this way, the dirt can more or less be removed before it goes in the car wash.” Those washing by hand should also make sure to dampen the sticky coating well before the actual wash.
“Things become drastic when aggressive tree resins are involved,” says the expert. “You should be particularly careful with pine and acacia,” he says. You should carefully soften any hardened resin with a cloth soaked in kerosene. “Then you can carefully remove them with a plastic scraper,” explains Lehmann. Those wanting to be on the safe side should go directly to a professional: “Otherwise it could get expensive.”
Cabriolet owners whose car has a soft top should be especially careful. “You should carefully brush out the dirt with water and a soft brush in the direction of the fibres,” recommends Heinz-Gerd Lehmann. To do otherwise could damage the fabric.
(Original text: Anna Maria Beekes / Translation: kc)
