[DML] What's on my stainless?

[ComposerZelgadis@xxxxxxx]

I, for one, love my stainless steel, as does the next guy, I'm sure.   So 
far, it's been extremely low maintenance, though I'm only about three months  
into ownership here.
 
Something, though, has seemed to "stain" my stainless.  It all began  with 
hard city water, a cramped garage, and a sprinkler system.
 
Unfortunately, I have to park the car outside (no, I cannot change  this).  
To counter-act this problem, I'm working on a product to help  alleviate some 
of the problems we get with a car parked outdoors.  But  I digress.
 
If it's a clear night, and the forecast looks good, I'll leave the car  
without a cover.  If there's so much as one cloud above, the cover goes  right on.  
But on a few of these clear nights, the sprinkler system ran on  the car.  I 
wake up the next morning, and there are dried water spots all  over the car.  
I take some warm water & dish soap to it, and I can  clean up everything... 
except for the outer rings.  You simply cannot  notice them--at all--at 
distance, but they stand out like a sore thumb if you  get close enough.  It's almost 
as if the sun has cooked it on there.   The rings vary from color.  I've seen 
light grey to almost black  (thankfully, those are few).  I've tried using 
Windex, Dawn Oxidation Dish  Soap, DMCH's SS Glo++, white vinegar, Coca-Cola (for 
the phosphoric acid), and a  handful of other things I can't seem to 
remember.  Nothing has even put a  dent (so to speak) in these rings.  The SS Glo will 
"hide" the rings, but  once the polish dries or is washed off, the rings come 
back (in the exact same  spots: I've checked).  The only things I haven't 
tried so far is gasoline,  and straight-up phosphoric acid.  And of course, 
regraining the panels, but  even that's unsatisfactory.  I can take pictures and 
post them later, but I  was hoping someone out there has already faced this 
problem and dealt with  it.  What's in our city water?  Not a clue!  But it did 
something  to my stainless...  And yes, we have a water softener installed.  Two 
 of them, in fact.  Any advice?
 
Thanks in advance.
 
Regards,
William Fries
#1366


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