Removing hard water mineralization residue

[statikuz]

I'm relatively sure that's what this stuff is. Previous owner left them outside all the time so a lot of water and junk collected in the footwells and under the old mats. The stuff left behind is really hard and rough, and I can't get it off to save my life.

In the footwell

Along the left edge of the old back deck pad

At the back directly down from the grab handle

Another example

I've scrubbed away at them with Simple Green and a blue Scotchbrite pad, tried some 0000 steel wool with vinegar, and also tried CLR Lime Away gel toilet bowl cleaner stuff with a stuff nylon brush. Nothing really helped, except the CLR which was marginally successful. Any ideas?

 

[Dr Honda]

you can try toilet bowl cleaner. Otherwise... all you can do is buff it with a heavy compound.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

i've had good success with a combination of the following.

soft scrub & scotch brite scrubby pad from grocery store

1500 grit wet sandpaper

brake clean & scrubby pad.

elbow grease

 

[68ragtop]

Also try Lime away, or CLR. I used it to clean the hull on my GSX that had years of lake scum on it. Have to spray it on, leave it sit, then do it again. Worked great for the pond scum that was on mine.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

one thing I forgot to add, this happened on my rx and it cleaned up nicely by accident, i put it in the back yard for about a week since I was out of storage space in the garage, and between a couple of rains and the sprinklers, the footwells filled up with water and sat. when I pulled it into the garage the stuff had softened up to the point that it scrubbed right off with a brillo.... it was a pleasant surprise. so if all else fails, put some cleanser in the footwells, fill them up with water and let it sit for a day, then try scrubbing off right away while its softer.

just a thought.

but in reality, back to my first post, i've cleaned hard water spots and stains from at least 10 ski's in the past year, and 1500 grit wet sand paper ($6, ace hardware) has worked every time getting 99% of the stains out.

or if you get really creative and cheat the system,,, put turf there and make it look like you wanted it there was a garf on the footwell on the xp that my friend worked on right where your ankle would be, so I he cut a piece of turf and put it on both sides, it turned out great.

 

[Molotok]

Have you tried a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser?

 

[statikuz]

Nope, I haven't tried a magic eraser, that thought crossed my mind. I did try the CLR Lime Away toiler bowl cleaner, it kind of foamed up and looked like it was working a bit, maybe I just need to go a few rounds with it. Might try some soft scrub too since I have that laying around. If I strike out with that stuff I'll try a magic eraser or some of the regular spray CLR. Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[Spimothy Leary]

Nope, I haven't tried a magic eraser, that thought crossed my mind. I did try the CLR Lime Away toiler bowl cleaner, it kind of foamed up and looked like it was working a bit, maybe I just need to go a few rounds with it. Might try some soft scrub too since I have that laying around. If I strike out with that stuff I'll try a magic eraser or some of the regular spray CLR. Thanks for all the suggestions!

have you tried the 1500 grit paper ?

 

[Strizzo]

one thing I forgot to add, this happened on my rx and it cleaned up nicely by accident, i put it in the back yard for about a week since I was out of storage space in the garage, and between a couple of rains and the sprinklers, the footwells filled up with water and sat. when I pulled it into the garage the stuff had softened up to the point that it scrubbed right off with a brillo.... it was a pleasant surprise. so if all else fails, put some cleanser in the footwells, fill them up with water and let it sit for a day, then try scrubbing off right away while its softer.

just a thought.

but in reality, back to my first post, i've cleaned hard water spots and stains from at least 10 ski's in the past year, and 1500 grit wet sand paper ($6, ace hardware) has worked every time getting 99% of the stains out.

or if you get really creative and cheat the system,,, put turf there and make it look like you wanted it there was a garf on the footwell on the xp that my friend worked on right where your ankle would be, so I he cut a piece of turf and put it on both sides, it turned out great.

a garf you say? and why two TTO?

 

[Spimothy Leary]

a garf you say? and why two TTO?

tto tach
tto temp gauge hooked up to the head.

 

[statikuz]

have you tried the 1500 grit paper ?

Hey, I hadn't tried that since I didn't have any fine-grit paper laying around, I got some this weekend and tried it on those stains and it seemed to do the trick. Now the whole thing needs to be sanded so that's an ongoing project.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

Hey, I hadn't tried that since I didn't have any fine-grit paper laying around, I got some this weekend and tried it on those stains and it seemed to do the trick. Now the whole thing needs to be sanded so that's an ongoing project.

good to hear,,, like I said before, wet sand was always last on my list, and it has gradually worked its way up, because it works !!! and if the stuff gets softened up a bit, its even more effective.

 

[black charger]

Try some boat hull barnicle remover,cleans a full summer's worth of crud off of my boat hull.