Well it's pollen season again and mother nature is becoming increasingly efficient at changing the car from black to green.

I washed my car last Saturday, and had it parked under cover at the airport all week. When I saw my car today, it was green. So here's my question:

Am I OK in just cleaning the car with a quick detailer to "dust" the pollen off, or do I need to completely rewash the car again? Could I just use a duster or possibly a microfiber towel to wipe the pollen off?

Or better yet, is there anything I can do to the paint to reduce the amount of pollen that sticks to the surface?

Thanks in advance for the guidance...

 

Pollen [: Micro gametophytes (pollen grains]
The yellow fine to coarse powders you see in the air is made up of small sperm cells from blooming plants and are one of the most common allergy triggers. The pollen from trees are the main concern, vehicles get hit with pollen laced trees that include: oak, western red cedar, elm, birch, ash, hickory, polar, sycamore, maple, cypress and walnut (which also leaves an oily residue). Pollen grains of pines, firs, and spruces are winged.

Pollen must be strong to protect the male gametes on their journey. The outer wall of the pollen grain, called the exine, is composed of a very unusual substance called sporopollenin which is very tough. The inner layer is made of cellulose and is similar in construction to an ordinary plant cell wall; pollen will literally ‘wear’ away wax or polymer sealants. Pollen isn't removed by air friction as you drive because it adheres to a surface with microscopic barbs that can attach to even a very slightly uneven surface, and adheres to a natural wax better than a synthetic polymer

As well as being an allergic pollen is both an abrasive and a corrosive type dust especially when mixed with water and should therefore be removed from paint surfaces as soon as is practicable.

To remove heavy dust (do not use a California Duster as the pollen will cause surface marring) instead use Optimum No Rinse (ONR) a quick ‘wash’; formulated with surfactants to keep dirt in suspension, avoiding surface contact, it also provides surface lubrication, thereby avoiding surface marring. As soon as is practical, thoroughly rinse the vehicle with a hose and clean water to ensure all acidic pollen is neutralized / removed.

No wax or polymer sealant can provide a permanent shield against: Micro gametophytes (pollen) Collinite 845 Insulator Wax is probably the most durable Carnauba wax product; but this may only provide enough of a barrier to enable it to be removed quickly before causing too much damage to the paint film surface

 

There is nothing I know of that will significantly reduce the amount of pollen. Applying a sealant to your paint will make cleanings easier and safer when using a quick detailer. I'd recommend using a product like the Poorboy's World Spray and Wipe and a clean microfiber towel.

Greg @ Detailed Image

 

Hey ATL, I know exactly what you mean. My Obsidian Black is now Obsidian Green/Yellow!! It's ugly.

My car was washed today prior to going to the airport. When I get back (I'm parked in covered), I will rinse with a firehose nozzle and then spray and wipe with either Adam's Polishes or Poorboy's and a microfiber towel. Both will do so effectively and safely.