So i've been noticing every night when i get stuck parking where the sprinklers hit i always wake up to find stains on my car. Most the time i just assume its because the water evaporates. But these stains will not come off. My sister says its because of hard water, but i always thought maybe there was a chemical used to help the plants grow. I don't know.

But my problem is no matter how much i scrub, or how much detailer spray or whatever i use it will not all come off. Has any one else had this problem, is it even hard water??? and does anyone have any suggestions. Anything would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

water spot stains?

yes, hard water. (though i thought NY had soft water) A clay bar might be able to get it off. If that doesn't work, a polish will. You gotta wake up earlier and dry your car instead of letting the water just evaporate.

or park elsewhere.

 

Alright, clay bar it the next step i was going to take. Currently i'm in NJ, never had this problem in NY. Thats my problem, like today its 4pm and i'm just waking up. Parking elsewhere doesn't work, there are only 2 spots that don't get soaked, the top of the driveway and in the garage. If my sister and her husband park there i'm sol. Tho now i've been moving their cars every night to avoid the sprinklers.

The water doesn't seem to have the same effect on their cars, is this because they drive light colored cars and its just not as noticable as it is on mine with dark blue?

 

Mystery,
Hey man, I'm not trying to be the bearer of bad news. But I have friend here at work that had that similar problem. She has a black 2004 Acura TL and like you had to park where the sprinklers would water her car everynight at her apartment. She took the car to get detailed and they couldn't entirely remove the water spots. The detailer said they were lime deposits. All I know is she threw a fit with her apartment and they ended up footing the bill to get her car repainted. $1500 later her car is fine, but it sounds to me that lime or whatever it is in the sprinklers is no joke. Perhaps you should take it up with your apartment manager. It wouldn't hurt, and I was entirely shocked that they paid the bill. When she first said she was going to complain i honestly thought she would just be wasting her breath. Good luck bro.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm going to talk with them to see if at least i'm not the only one with this issue. I get most of it off but if you look closely enough you see the spots.

 

I've got hard water too cause I live on a lake and thats where our well gets its water. I find that after I wash my car, if I don't get it dried soon enough I can see water stains. If I can dry it right away they don't seem to appear. It probably isn't as visible on mine cause my paint is white.

 

A trick thats worked for me in the past is to use a 50/50 mixture of dilute white vinegar and distilled water (the stuff you put in your iron). Take a microfiber towel and dip it into the mixture and then rub the car. Finish off with a Mr. Clean autowash.

If that doesnt work, a clay bar will take it off.

 

well when i have to park on the street i get this too, i work at lexus and i detail for a living, so i can pretty much get around it. first, spray it down with vinegar. let it soak for 20 seconds, then wipe it down with a towel. for what remains, clay it, and *sigh* now you get to buff it! hit it with a spot buff, then wax over what you did, and call it a day.