Moss/algae suddenly springing up on car - any fixes?

RainbowsInTheSpray · 25 January at 10:25PM

Have had my 'new' car for 6 months but, with all the damp conditions lately, I noted today an alarming sprouting of very fine, bright green moss or algae along many of the seals and edges.

Is there a reliable way of dealing with this problem? Very grateful for any thoughts.

daveyjp · 25 January at 10:48PM

Water, soap, detailing brushes and elbow grease.

facade · 25 January at 11:12PM

The best option is to park it in the garage which keeps it dry (so moss won't grow) and safe from bird droppings*, this saves an awful lot of cleaning (or driving round in a dirty car)!

Otherwise you have to remove it, I use an old soft toothbrush and a container of water, but no doubt there are expensive brushes designed specifically for this purpose.

There isn't a Magic Fluid that will stop it growing without damaging modern "paint".

*A bit of moss is nothing compared to how much you will cry when you fail to wash off seagull sh*t within the first 0.00001 seconds. It etches straight through the "lacquer" to the "paint" and discolours it, and you can forget nonsense like T-Cut or a mop and cutting compound, the only cure is repainting the panel.

In this case, prevention is the key, coating with supposedly impenetrable sealants can give you a few more seconds to get it off.

James2k · 27 January at 7:29AM

daveyjp said:

Water, soap, detailing brushes and elbow grease.

You spelled pressure washer wrong

Arunmor · 27 January at 8:39AM

Come up to the west coast of Scotland and you will know all about it turning green. Wash it frequently and as above tooth brush for the rubber seals every now and again and you should be fine.