Yesterday I was cleaning my garage, and while doing so I found a can of red spray paint where it wasn’t supposed to be. I tossed it towards the rest of my spray paints, and in doing so, it rolled down the driveway. I was in the middle of cleaning something else, and made a mental note to get that paint can later. Well later came and went…
A few hours later, my wife got into her 4Runner, which was parked next to my 08 Prius. I was waving bye to her as she begin to back up. That’s when the loud POP and then hissing started. The can of paint I forgot about! This can of red paint shot out from under her car and was dancing around the driver’s side of my car, spraying paint all over it!!! It started off near my front bumper, and headed rearward, all the while spinning and spraying gushes of paint out of the split out bottom of the can. Just past the driver’s door, it managed to roll underneath my car where it died.
All this happened right before my eyes. The whole event lasted just a few seconds, and I was frozen with shock the entire time. After the coast was clear, I went over and examined the damage, which was worse then I feared. Because the spray paint was candy apple red, and my Prius is Barcelona Red, at first glance I thought I was mostly ok. That was until I saw that where my car used to be shiny red, it was now a dull red. The entire driver’s side door was now dull. The hood was half-way splattered. The front quarter panel was also hit quite well. The windshield, driver side passenger window, and the left outside mirror, on all sides were sprayed as well.
As my wife drove off, I figured, ok, first let the paint dry so I don’t smear wet paint all over. After it dried, I attempted my first idea, that just by using my finger nail, I would be able to gently scrape the spray paint off. Nope. I tried this on a few tiny paint dots, and I could tell that the scraping force required would most likely scrape the clear coat at the same time. Next up was just a good old washing with soap and water. This did nothing at all, except remove the dirt on my car revealing that my car was even more painted then I first thought.
Next up, and my last idea, chemical warfare, Goof Off. I had this bottle from some project a few years ago, and remembered how caustic and powerful this stuff was. I was VERY nervous that the Goof Off would devour my precious clear coat. I dripped a few drops onto a Q-Tip, and found a test drop that would not be visible very easily in case of disaster. Well, the Goof Off instantly removed the spray paint, and didn’t seem to harm the clear coat. I tested this in a few more spots, and the red spray paint was coming off! A couple of nice terry clothes later, and most of the paint was off the metal panels of my car. Now on to the plastic, windows and trim pieces of my less then six month old Prius.
After my great luck with the painted parts, I figured the plastic and trim would be even easier. Not so! The Goof Off removed the paint, but it also ended up melting the plastic and removing the paint from things like the windshield wiper arms. Not good. My first effort really marred up some front cover thing below the windshield. (See Photo). I soon discovered that a tiny amount of Goof Off applied, and then immediately wiped off would remove the paint and take just a tiny layer of plastic with it. By doing an entire part at a time, I could dissolve the part equally all over so there was no sign of my cleaning.
I worked on this for a couple of hours and removed about 75%. I was tired and a bit frustrated so I saved the rest for tonight. I didn’t take a picture before, but here are two pictures taken today. The window picture shows how much was sprayed at that level. Lower was MUCH worse, especially as the door flares. The lower half of the door was nearly covered entirely.
All I all, I think I will be ok. Sharing this odd tale at least allows others to know that Goof Off removes paint. Just don’t use it on plastic, trim, or rubber.
We all can't get 45mpg and spend a mere $80 a month on gas. Don't be a hater. You know you secretly want a Prius. 
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