Howdy; I live in Northern Indiana's Amish country. Anyone out there have any ideas how to remove dried on horse manure from the sides of their car before waxing. And you folks out there think all this Amish stuff is quaint. Try your 2 stall garage on a hot summers day, quaint isn't the word for it.
Horse Poo
- Thread starter jcwit
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Put a sign on the car that says, "Free fertilizer available!"
I would spray with a degreaser and let it sit for a few minutes. Then spray with a pressure washer. Clay bar before waxing. In the future a good layer of wax will keep it from sticking so bad.
Originally Posted By: santov
I would spray with a degreaser and let it sit for a few minutes. Then spray with a pressure washer. Clay bar before waxing. In the future a good layer of wax will keep it from sticking so bad.
I know , but this is the first wax job of the "season"? Have been unable to get to it till now. Am trying Bug & Tar remover, it works so-so. Going to try the degreaser now.
I would spray with a degreaser and let it sit for a few minutes. Then spray with a pressure washer. Clay bar before waxing. In the future a good layer of wax will keep it from sticking so bad.
I know , but this is the first wax job of the "season"? Have been unable to get to it till now. Am trying Bug & Tar remover, it works so-so. Going to try the degreaser now.
I don't think I'd use a degreaser on your paint. What does not come off with a wash and use of bug/tar remover will come off when you polish. I would clay bar, polish and then wax. You may even have to use a light abrasive cleaner on those spots.
Tried degreaser on a small area,less than 6 inches of the rocker panel, No Workee, So Sorry. Man that stuff is almost baked on. This is really getting up close and friendly to the "fresh country air".
Have you tried soaking it for a long time with water?
Or find out what horses eat and use something that will break it down. It probably be something acidic or basic. Or go to the pet store and see if they sell something that cleans animal poop.
Or find out what horses eat and use something that will break it down. It probably be something acidic or basic. Or go to the pet store and see if they sell something that cleans animal poop.
On an only slightly related note, I'd like to know why the P word in the thread title makes it through the censor, but the synonymous C word c-r-a-p is censored?
On a serious note. I've never had to clean this particular substance off of my vehicle before, but this is one case where I would recommend using a power washer on a vehicle. Don't get carried away but lots of water may be the only thing you can use. You can't scrub with anything or you may scratch. I would also try to pre-soak with something to soften it up. Perhaps sudsy water or the P21S clean sprayed on liberally beforehand? Work in the shade to slow drying.
On a serious note. I've never had to clean this particular substance off of my vehicle before, but this is one case where I would recommend using a power washer on a vehicle. Don't get carried away but lots of water may be the only thing you can use. You can't scrub with anything or you may scratch. I would also try to pre-soak with something to soften it up. Perhaps sudsy water or the P21S clean sprayed on liberally beforehand? Work in the shade to slow drying.
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I'm thinking warm soapy water, and just keep soaking it. It should soften it up, if you go the power washer route, be very careful.
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I'm thinking warm soapy water, and just keep soaking it. It should soften it up, if you go the power washer route, be very careful.
The only reason I recommend a power washer is that it's touch-free, not that it should be configured for stripping paint and blast with brute force. I wouldn't go scrubbing at the poo with anything if I could help it (both because it's poo, and to prevent scratches).
I agree if warm, soapy water can be applied repeatedly to soften and then take it off with a modest spray from a power washer it might work OK. Perhaps a hose-end sprayer (ie. pesticide mixing type) could be used to apply the copious amounts of soapy water?
I'm thinking warm soapy water, and just keep soaking it. It should soften it up, if you go the power washer route, be very careful.
The only reason I recommend a power washer is that it's touch-free, not that it should be configured for stripping paint and blast with brute force. I wouldn't go scrubbing at the poo with anything if I could help it (both because it's poo, and to prevent scratches).
I agree if warm, soapy water can be applied repeatedly to soften and then take it off with a modest spray from a power washer it might work OK. Perhaps a hose-end sprayer (ie. pesticide mixing type) could be used to apply the copious amounts of soapy water?
I have an 11 hp power washer, and have seen first hand what kind of damage these machines can do in the wrong hands. That is the only reason why I suggested being very careful. I wouldn't scrub it off either, maybe I should have said that, but I figured the OP already knew that, I hope. 
I think repeated soaking with a good hot soapy mix followed by a garden hose blast might be the ticket.
A little OT but maybe worth mentioning, for at least entertainment value. It made me smile! I had a customer call me about doing a cedar deck. Power wash it and re-stain. I quoted a price, and didn't get the job, IIRC I was told my price was double the competition. Typical in this economy. About a month later I get a call back, "can you fix my deck?" Well curiosity got the best of me, and I had to have a look. A new guy low-balling, going to set the world on fire, wrecked her deck. My suggestion to her was get an attorney.
I think repeated soaking with a good hot soapy mix followed by a garden hose blast might be the ticket. A little OT but maybe worth mentioning, for at least entertainment value. It made me smile! I had a customer call me about doing a cedar deck. Power wash it and re-stain. I quoted a price, and didn't get the job, IIRC I was told my price was double the competition. Typical in this economy. About a month later I get a call back, "can you fix my deck?" Well curiosity got the best of me, and I had to have a look. A new guy low-balling, going to set the world on fire, wrecked her deck. My suggestion to her was get an attorney.
Unless the horses were on a high fat diet
a degreaser is the wrong approach.
Soaking it with warm soapy water should loosen it up, just soaking it with any water several times should soften it enough to wash off.
Park in the shade and get it wet with a hose, then go back and repeat every 10 or 15 minutes until it's soft and loose, then blast it off.
if it was mine I would pre-soak it at home a few times then immediately drive to a nearby pressure wash and blast it off.
Soaking it with warm soapy water should loosen it up, just soaking it with any water several times should soften it enough to wash off.
Park in the shade and get it wet with a hose, then go back and repeat every 10 or 15 minutes until it's soft and loose, then blast it off.
if it was mine I would pre-soak it at home a few times then immediately drive to a nearby pressure wash and blast it off.
Maybe this stuff would work
http://www.krudkutter.com/horsetrailer.asp
I think the answer might be found with people who deal with horse poop all the time; horse trailer owners.
http://www.krudkutter.com/horsetrailer.asp
I think the answer might be found with people who deal with horse poop all the time; horse trailer owners.
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I have an 11 hp power washer, and have seen first hand what kind of damage these machines can do in the wrong hands. That is the only reason why I suggested being very careful. I wouldn't scrub it off either, maybe I should have said that, but I figured the OP already knew that, I hope. I think repeated soaking with a good hot soapy mix followed by a garden hose blast might be the ticket.
A little OT but maybe worth mentioning, for at least entertainment value. It made me smile! I had a customer call me about doing a cedar deck. Power wash it and re-stain. I quoted a price, and didn't get the job, IIRC I was told my price was double the competition. Typical in this economy. About a month later I get a call back, "can you fix my deck?" Well curiosity got the best of me, and I had to have a look. A new guy low-balling, going to set the world on fire, wrecked her deck. My suggestion to her was get an attorney.
All of your points are important for the OP to take into account if he uses a power washer. You want to leave the paint in place and only remove the poo
I would probably use a 15* or 40* tip on my lowly 5hp power washer (probably not even at full pressure) if I was doing this job.
I have an 11 hp power washer, and have seen first hand what kind of damage these machines can do in the wrong hands. That is the only reason why I suggested being very careful. I wouldn't scrub it off either, maybe I should have said that, but I figured the OP already knew that, I hope.
I think repeated soaking with a good hot soapy mix followed by a garden hose blast might be the ticket. A little OT but maybe worth mentioning, for at least entertainment value. It made me smile! I had a customer call me about doing a cedar deck. Power wash it and re-stain. I quoted a price, and didn't get the job, IIRC I was told my price was double the competition. Typical in this economy. About a month later I get a call back, "can you fix my deck?" Well curiosity got the best of me, and I had to have a look. A new guy low-balling, going to set the world on fire, wrecked her deck. My suggestion to her was get an attorney.
All of your points are important for the OP to take into account if he uses a power washer. You want to leave the paint in place and only remove the poo
Horse poo is the best kind of poo in the world .Leave it on the car.
Originally Posted By: XS650
Unless the horses were on a high fat diet
a degreaser is the wrong approach.
Soaking it with warm soapy water should loosen it up, just soaking it with any water several times should soften it enough to wash off.
Park in the shade and get it wet with a hose, then go back and repeat every 10 or 15 minutes until it's soft and loose, then blast it off.
if it was mine I would pre-soak it at home a few times then immediately drive to a nearby pressure wash and blast it off.
Yep, park it over your lawn and tackle two jobs at once. Unless the horses have been eating super-glue, it's going to come right off when it gets hydrated. Then get some soapy water, a sponge, and use your own arms to power it off.
Unless the horses were on a high fat diet
Soaking it with warm soapy water should loosen it up, just soaking it with any water several times should soften it enough to wash off.
Park in the shade and get it wet with a hose, then go back and repeat every 10 or 15 minutes until it's soft and loose, then blast it off.
if it was mine I would pre-soak it at home a few times then immediately drive to a nearby pressure wash and blast it off.
Yep, park it over your lawn and tackle two jobs at once. Unless the horses have been eating super-glue, it's going to come right off when it gets hydrated. Then get some soapy water, a sponge, and use your own arms to power it off.
Tried that about keeping it hydrated. Don't work with amish horses. Finally got it off using the old method of scrubbing with a sponge inside a nylon hose, like we used to use for stubborn bugs on the windshield back in the 50's and 60's.
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Tried that about keeping it hydrated. Don't work with amish horses. Finally got it off using the old method of scrubbing with a sponge inside a nylon hose, like we used to use for stubborn bugs on the windshield back in the 50's and 60's.
What do they feed those beasts?!?
Did the bug scrubber leave any fine scratches/swirls?
Tried that about keeping it hydrated. Don't work with amish horses. Finally got it off using the old method of scrubbing with a sponge inside a nylon hose, like we used to use for stubborn bugs on the windshield back in the 50's and 60's.
What do they feed those beasts?!?
Did the bug scrubber leave any fine scratches/swirls?
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