Something Splashed Over My Car?

Streaks on the side of a red car. I parked my car and came back to find this on my car. It's dried on the window and the door and across the back passenger side. It feels bumpy and looks powdery. Tried soapy water and sponge no luck, any advice?

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Anonymous

November 9, 20210 found this helpful

Best Answer

Try baking soda and water. I know it sounds odd, but it has great cleaning strength. Make a paste and apply to the area that has been compromised. Works great for cleaning inside too.

DianaHM
Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 440 Answers

November 23, 20210 found this helpful

Best Answer

I think you parked in an underground parking garage where water dripped on your car. This is limescale.
Limescale deposits are left behind from hard water.

You need:
water
white vinegar
soft cloths or paper towels
soap to wash car
good quality wax
spray bottle (optional)

Combine 1 part water with 1 part white vinegar in a spray bottle or bucket.

Spray it onto the affected areas or moisten a cloth with the mixture.
Wipe the area with a clean, soft cloth.
If the lime is not easily wiping away, moisten a cloth with the mixture.
Allow it to soak for 5-10 minutes.
Remove the cloth and wipe the loosened lime away.
Repeat as needed until all of the limescale is removed.
Wash the car as usual once you are finished removing all of the lime.
The vinegar in the mixture will remove the wax that was originally on the car.
Apply a good quality wax to protect the finish.

If the limescale is thick or stubborn, increase the amount of vinegar in the solution. I do not recommend using vinegar without water. Vinegar in this case is acidic. White vinegar, the type that is most commonly used in cleaning households has a PH of 2.5. When sprayed on your car at full strength, vinegar will corrode or burn into your car paint. So, vinegar can damage car paint.

You can use extract of juice from lemons instead of vinegar: spray on the affected area, leave for 5 mins, then wipe it off.

There are commercial cleaners available as well. Check the labels carefully to ensure the product is safe to use on automotive finishes.

If vinegar didnt work on the glass, use glass polish on the window.

Rinse the car with distilled water when you have finished washing.
There are filter attachments that you can get for a garden hose to soften the water.

Drying the car by hand with a cloth can also help to prevent the deposits from drying on the car.
Do not use abrasive cloths or scrubbers as they will scratch the surface and could remove the paint.

Clean spots as soon as possible. The sooner they are removed, the easier they will come loose from the surface.

Judy
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts

November 9, 20210 found this helpful

I would try a Magic Eraser in an inconspicuous spot. If it doesn't come off, go to an auto body place and ask their advice.

CDC
Bronze Tip Medal for All Time! 59 Tips

November 11, 20210 found this helpful

Maybe try vinegar in an inconspicuous area and see if that works.

Ana
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 140 Posts

November 16, 20210 found this helpful

Contact car detailers , to see what they use for stubborn stain removal. A really goood one has seen it all, and knows what to use and not harm your finish.

WorlDA

November 26, 20210 found this helpful

This sort of stain is commonly caused by hard water with excessive amounts of calcium, chlorine, and other trace chemicals and minerals. You can often remove this sort of stain with a microfiber towel, or by using a mild detailing spray.

But if it was allowed to sit on the painted surface for prolonged periods of time, then removing the stain is already more difficult due to being permitted to eat into the clear coat. This type of H2O stain requires chemical removal in order to be completely cut from the surface.
If having been permitted to fully embed within the vehicle's clear coat, the mineral deposit has become so deeply embedded in the painted surface, that it will require aggressive removal procedures in order to be safely lifted.
So, the longer a stain is allowed to sit on a surface, the more difficult it will be to remove.

Once your car has been completely washed and dried, make a 50/50 distilled water and vinegar mixture, shake the bottle and spray the solution onto the stained surface.

Allow the homemade liquid to sit for about 30-seconds before wiping away the vinegar spray solution with a clean microfiber towel. If the stain remains, conduct one more application with the vinegar spray. It can also loosen-up bird shit or bug guts, berry stains, and various kinds of road grime.
Always be sure to use distilled water and vinegar as it will guarantee that you are creating a concoction that is devoid of impurities. Just dont let this solution sit on a painted surface for too long, as its intense pH levels can quickly damage a clear coat.

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