How to Remove Rubber from Car Paint (5 Effective Ways)

Rubber can be a real pain to remove from your car’s paint. Whether it’s from a leaking tire or an improperly installed windshield wiper, rubber marks are just about the most difficult thing to remove from your car’s paint job.

Luckily for you, there are quite a few different methods you can use to get rid of these unsightly marks.

Here are some of the best ways to remove rubber marks from your car’s paint job:

How to Remove Rubber from Car Paint

If you have a rubber car part like a bumper or tire that is rubbing against your paint, it’s going to cause scratches. You can remove rubber easily with some common household items and some elbow grease.

Use WD-40 as a Rubber Remover

Cleaning the Rubber Off Your Car Paint

The first thing to do when removing rubber marks from your car’s paint is to clean the area thoroughly with soap and water.

This will remove any loose dirt and grime that may be stuck on top of the mark itself but will also wash away any wax or silicone that might be covering it up.

Using WD-40

WD-40 can be used as an effective rubber remover when applied directly onto the mark itself, but should not be sprayed directly onto the paint as this will damage its finish over time.

Instead, spray some WD-40 onto a rag or towel and then rub it into the rubber mark until it starts to fade away before washing off with soap and water again.

Allow the solvent to soak into the spot for several minutes before wiping it away with another clean towel.

You’ll likely need to repeat this process several times before rinsing.

Use Rubbing Alcohol to Remove Rubber off Car Paint

1. Wash the Car

This should remove any loose dirt and debris from around the area that is causing the problem.

2. Apply Rubbing Alcohol and Rub Away

Using an old toothbrush or nail brush, apply rubbing alcohol onto an area of rubber that is scratching your car’s paint job.

Use a circular motion with moderate pressure until all of the rubber has been removed from the surface of the car and you can see the bare metal underneath it.

Rubbing Compound

Step 1: Clean the Rubber Marks

Clean the rubber marks with denatured alcohol or lacquer thinner, depending on what type of rubber was used. The cleaner you get this area, the easier it will be to remove the paint from underneath.

Step 2: Apply Rubbing Compound

Apply rubbing compound to a clean rag and apply it directly over the rubber mark until it disappears.

Step 3: Apply Wax or Sealant

After removing the rubbing compound with a clean rag or paper towel, apply wax or sealant over the top of the repair area.

Use Liquid Car Wash

Liquid car wash contains solvents that will dissolve the rubber residue. Make sure you use a product that’s safe for your paint job because some contain petroleum distillates, which can damage paint if they’re not used correctly.

Pour some liquid car wash onto a clean cloth and gently rub it over the affected area until all of the rubber has been removed.

Use Car Wash Shampoo Powder

Car wash shampoo powder is usually made from finely ground walnut shells or corn cob meal, which act as gentle abrasives to remove visible dirt and grime from your vehicle without scratching its finish or harming its paint job in any way whatsoever.

Sprinkle it onto a damp sponge and then wipe down your car’s exterior surfaces with it before rinsing everything off thoroughly with water.