Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hi Gary...I've asked a lot of people about this and I get the same answer. I'm wondering if there is a product to protect the large, heavy planters I purchased last year from hard water marks. They are dark and show the marks easily...I have washed them with a vinegar solution and it did OK, but it's messy, and of course vinegar kills greenery that it's exposed to. I can't believe that there isn't something available to protect them...thought I'd check with someone knowledgeable in these things... Thanks!!
Answer -
Cathy,
Gary...sorry about that...I really wasn't clear on my question. I do get the salt stains both inside the pot and outside of the pot. They were hard to remove...some just refuse to come off. I was hoping there was a product available to "polish" on the outside to protect the surface of the pots. My yard is not very large, so I put the pots here and there and move them, etc., for color and what not. I don't have a sprinkler system, and so it's my lawn watering that is causing the marks. Our water is very hard and corrosive. If there isn't any product that you know of to protect the outside surface of the pots, I'll just have to go with that and prepare for more careful watering habits. Just thought I'd ask, anyway...there should be...they'd make a fortune in this part of the country (if there was a product to protect outside items from hard  water damage). Thanks for your help...Cathy
You have put the pressure on me.

From your question I am making the assumption that 1) these marks are either from the water moving through the pot and leaving the salts as it evaporates, or 2) the marks are from water drying after watering.  

As for assumption 1 the only thing you could try is watering with distilled water since there are no dissolved salts in this product.  However if you fertilizer using Miracle Gro you are putting salts back into the water the problem is not solved.

As for assumption 2 be sure to water just the media in the pot to keep the water off the outside.

If I am way off base here please let me know and give me a clearer description of the problem.

Good gardening

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Answer
Cathy,

There are no products I know for that purpose.  I would leave them alone and enjoy the pot as they weather and add character toyour garden.

Good luck

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