can hard water do this?

[Albertcado]

Can dried hard water streaks cause this kind of etching in the paint?
I noticed it after I wiped a long dirty water streak that started from the hood vent and it goes all the way to the edge of hood.
When I wiped the dirty water streak these scratch-looking lines remained.
I'm assuming they're just bad calcium/mineral etching from the hard water streak that dried?

I just want to be sure that hard water streaks can cause this and that I'm not dealing with typical scratches for when I correct it.

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[Biggus Dickus]

Whatever the case, you have job cut out for you. Two stages of polishing followed by sealing and waxing - I think the cause is immaterial.

 

[kilobravo]

OP: I would certainly give the liquid water spot remover a good try but in the end, me thinks you'll rub for a couple hours when perhaps a 10 minute polishing job with a fine pad and Sonax Final Finish or Mequiars's M1-205 using a DA polisher will bring it back like new. Then you gotta treat it as BD said.

 

[DFB5.0]

Have a look into this video in regards to polishing out water spots from paint and glass.

How To Remove Water Spot Etchings from Car Paint & Glass! - YouTube

 

[sirben711]

I have had some very hard water stains. Some so bad I had to wash the car two or three times.
Honestly its hard to tell from the picture. Is it just this one area? Or the whole car?

 

[Jerry Carguy]

Before doing all the hard labor, look into dissolving the calcium deposits. It is simple chemistry.... Even if it leaves witness marks they can be dealt with using a random orbital buffer. Far more easier for you in the end.

 

[20ducks]

I have used "Tidy Bowl" cleaner for hard water etchings. Sounds odd but it works. Test a inconspicuous area first. This product contains a small amount of muriatic acid and has helped me with Sea-Doo's etc in removing water spots. Muriatic acid is also supplied in many other products so, it is worth a try.

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