From: rasta@dakine.com.invalid   
      
   "MorrisonAndBoyd"  wrote in message   
   news:Go-dnS0NO9c7ierXnZ2dnUVZ_qOdnZ2d@earthlink.com...   
   > Joe AutoDrill wrote:   
   >> "MorrisonAndBoyd"  wrote in message   
   >> news:Fe6dnew7spVwjejXnZ2dnUVZ_oadnZ2d@earthlink.com...   
   >>> My RAV4 has water stains that look like dried raindrops all over it--the   
   >>> body, windows, bumpers, wheels, everything.  These dried stains haven't   
   >>> responded to usual washing techniques.   
   >>>   
   >>> I need to know if it's safe to use baking soda and a soft scrubber   
   >>> sponge on it.  I think the baking soda would give mild abrasiveness   
   >>> without scratching or otherwise damaging the finish, but I'm just not   
   >>> sure.  And I don't want to take any chances!   
   >>>   
   >>> And what about baby shampoo?  I've read that it's a good alternative to   
   >>> commercial auto cleaning solutions.  I know that dishwashing detergent   
   >>> is [supposedly] really bad for a car's finish, but baby shampoo doesn't   
   >>> contain anything that should damage the finish...right?  So I'm   
   >>> wondering about baby shampoo, baking soda, and a very soft scrubber   
   >>> sponge.  Any thoughts on that?   
   >   
   >   
   >> I'm a former professional auto detailer (ran my own business for years in   
   >> NY-metro) who hasn't worked in the industry for a decade or so but here   
   >> are my thoughts...   
   >>   
   >> 1. That is what we used to call "acid rain" deposits.  It's either   
   >> chemicals or hard water deposits from rain drops or other water sources   
   >> that were left to dry on the surface.  Hopefully, they are build-up and   
   >> not pitting related.  If the latter is true, take it to the pros and see   
   >> what they say depending on the type of paint you have (straight color,   
   >> clear coat, tri-quad coat clearts, tinted clears, etc.)   
   >>   
   >> 2. I'm betting someone hosed off the car in sunlight or something similar   
   >> and let the water simply dry on there.  That means it is probably just   
   >> simple deposits of "XXXX" on the paint from the local water supply.  This   
   >> is the best case scenario...   
   >>   
   >> 3. Don't use the baking soda / water / scrubber.  ...Not unless you want   
   >> to go to the pros or the paint shop afterwards.   
   >>   
   >> 4. Baby shampoo is fine.   
   >>   
   >> 5. Dish washing detergent is fine in any strength whatsoever as long as   
   >> you wax the car afterwards.  The reason it's not suggested is because of   
   >> it's strength. It removes the oil that waxing the car elaves behind.   
   >> Personally, I use lemon scented Joy concentrate.  A teaspoon in 2.5   
   >> gallons of water is plenty for a normal wash.  Squirt it right on the rag   
   >> for what you are doing and rinse like crazy afterwards.  Dry the car with   
   >> a soft towel that has had it's tags removed.  Then wax the car.  Use a   
   >> good Carnuaba-based wax or something at the higher end.  Either the soap   
   >> or the waxing might remove the spots...  But no guarantees.   
   >>   
   >> 6. Did I mention avoiding the baking soda and scrubber?   
   >>   
   >> 7. If all else fails, try gasoline.  (gasp!)...  If it damaged paint,   
   >> then gas stations would be sued by motorists every time they spilled a   
   >> little bit.  I've cleaned a number of cars with gasoline including brands   
   >> such as Ferrari, Porche, Mercedes, TVR, Nissan, Toyota, Opel, etc.  If   
   >> you feel unsure about this, try it in a hidden spot first and remember   
   >> that soft cotton towel with no tags for this process too.  DO it outside   
   >> with plenty of fresh air!!!  Wash as mentioned in #5 above and then wax -   
   >> maybe twice to make sure you don't miss a spot.  Gas will remove   
   >> everything imagineable like tar, tree sap, unidentified gook, and of   
   >> course, wax!   
   >>   
   >> 8. If at any time you feel uncomfortable, stop and take it to a pro.  Let   
   >> their liability insurance cover you.   
   >>   
   >> Truth is, you probably need to use a polish or compound of some sort to   
   >> get that stuff off there, but I don't suggest that *any* non-pro do that   
   >> who hasn't at least practiced on some throw-away paint jobs...   
   >> Especially if you don't know that a soft scrubber ios a bad idea on paint   
   >> to begin with... Plus, the pros will have either an orbital or high speed   
   >> "wheel" to really work the paint as needed...   
   >>   
   >> If the paint is pitted, they will need to take aggressive steps to polish   
   >> those buggers out.   
   >>   
   >> If all else fails, remember that this advice may be worth what you paid   
   >> for it...   
   >   
   > THANK YOU for such a comprehensive, thoughtful reply.   
   >   
   > However...before you posted it I got antsy!  I decided to give the baby   
   > shampoo a try.  I did a small area of the body--and I used the scrubber   
   > sponge.  Let me clarify the type of scrubber I'm talking about: The ones I   
   > have are from the kitchen cleaning supplies area of supermarkets; they're   
   > pink (the sponge part) with a white scrubber, and they're labeled "light   
   > duty." They're fine for use on everything from fine china to shiny faucet   
   > fixtures because they don't damage anything.   
   >   
   > Anyway, I did a small area, rinsed with copious amounts of water, and   
   > dried it with a soft towel.  The next day I thoroughly inspected it--and   
   > it looked GREAT. :)  Then I tried the same method on a small area of a   
   > window (my windows are manufacturer tinted), with less stellar results.   
   > The baby shampoo alone didn't work.  I tried the baking soda (on the wet   
   > scrubber) and it worked better but still didn't thoroughly remove the   
   > stains.  (The window is fine.  The soda didn't damage it at all, nor did   
   > the sponge. However, with your warning I am NOT going to do it again.)   
   >   
   > I've now done about 1/4 of the car with the shampoo/sponge combo and it   
   > looks amazing.  Shiny, clean, really great.   
   >   
   > Just FYI: My car has basically been sitting in my driveway for the past   
   > six months.  I had to stop driving because of a brain tumor and its   
   > consequent brain surgery--and its complications and recuperation. Friends   
   > and relatives stayed with me pre- and post-op and did drive my car, but   
   > everyone was so focused on me that the car's condition really didn't seem   
   > very important by comparison.  I only resumed driving 3 days ago, but only   
   > for a short trip to the pharmacy--the drive-up window, no less. I'm not up   
   > to walking around stores yet, which is why I hoped to find a homemade   
   > alternative--that I already had on hand--to store bought car cleaning   
   > products.  The 1/4 of the car's body that I've washed so far took a whole   
   > day to do--spread out in little blocks of 5-10 minutes at a time.  My   
   > stamina just isn't back yet!   
   >   
   > You're right about the origin of the water spots--I've deduced that when   
   > the sprinklers are on in the backyard the wind occasionally blows water   
   > onto the car, hence the spots.  The finish is NOT pitted at all.  Once I   
   > got the spots off the body it looked brand-new.  The spots on the windows   
      
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