Nothing can ruin your car's look more easily than a bit of misplaced paint. Whether it's a vandal's spray can, dollops of house paint or some other kind of stain, paint on your car can be an unsightly mess. Luckily, there's always a way to clean up your car's surface and return it to its original sheen and color.

1. Step 1

   Move your car out of the sun. You'll want to have the freedom to remove the paint without it drying out again or baking back into your car's surface.

2. Step 2

   Wash the affected area with soap and water. Though it's unlikely, paints will occasionally come off with this action, particularly if it's a water-based paint.

3. Step 3

   Soak a rag in cold water, then place it over the paint for several hours. Make sure your car stays out of the sun so the rag stays wet. Water-based paints will degrade with the continued soaking and should be easily scraped off after a few wet hours.

4. Step 4

   Pour nail polish remover or acetone into a cotton ball or swab. Dab the cotton directly on the paint. Nail polish remover should remove the offending paint spot without removing the underlying paint job.

5. Step 5

   Dab up excess nail polish remover with dry cotton and wash immediately. Wipe up any remaining paint residue with a paper towel, then rinse with plenty of water.