Johnhav430

For about 2 years my wife and I had no idea what this was on her car, one side....I had always tried my best to get it off, but quite difficult. Apparently they're spores from a fungus that grows in mulch! Not nice....

edit p.s. I was absolutely shocked that cleaner wax, and the clay bar, do not get it off.....

http://rayhaluchinc.com/getting-rid-...illery-fungus/

jimbosr1

That fungus has to be pretty bad for your lungs.i removed the mulch from around my house a couple years ago.

Coleroad

Good to know, I've seen those spores on siding before. I had no idea what it really was. Thank goodness I've never had it get on a car of mine.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Never heard of this before. Maybe it affects Eastern and Central U.S. more so than West coast? Good to know if I see little black spots on buildings or vehicles in the future.

arentz07

Where I work, our parking lot got infested with that stuff this summer. They've been working on removing all the mulch, still not done yet. I only got hit once, just a couple of spores that didn't rupture. Luckily - if they do rupture, there's this black tar-like stuff that is reportedly a royal pain to remove. On mine, there were small reddish-black outlines left behind where they were stuck to my car, but still kinda hard to get off.

Best thing to do is stay away from mulch if you know it's infested. I've been leaving 2-3 parking spaces minimum between my car and any mulch, and it's been clear since I started doing that.

jimmyc13

Getting hit with this hard this season. First time ever I've had this issue. Stuff is a PITA to remove, but noticed the sooner you remove it, the easier it is to get rid of it. I use a razor for the glass removal, comes off of that easily.

Freds430

At my gym, I was always parking next to a curbed island (tree and mulch) to avoid getting dinged in the door. I was getting these black spots and could not figure where they were coming from or what they were. Someone told me about this artillery fungus. Thought they had lost their mind Went home and Googled it and sure enough it exist. They like light so are more attracted to light color cars. Can project 20 feet. Very hard to get off. Have to use your fingernail and pick off each one.

Johnhav430

I have since been diligent this year, and cleaned it off every 3 days or so (very much a pita), keeping a bucket with water and a microfiber cloth in the garage. It can be taken off if it hasn't been on too long. And sometimes, in the morning, when the entire vehicle is wet from moisture, makes it that much easier....I bet folks with dark cars might not even know it's all over their cars...

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

one more reason i don't bother with landscaping...

arentz07

If I were in charge of landscaping at my office parking lot, I'd mandate those little islands just have grass and trees, nothing more. The mulch seems to attract this fungus. Fortunately I've only gotten a couple of spores here and there, but I am always having to avoid those islands...

Johnhav430

A person in the office who is an avid gardener said that mulch should be replaced every season, but most simply put more on top. Agreed likely stone is a better idea.

jimmyc13

Funny isn't it? I too had to google it. So does the fungus have a mind of it's own? How the hell does it favor a light colored car? I sometimes spray the dots with Turtle Wax Bug & Tar remover & let them marinate for 1 hour or more. Helps dissolve/soften them.

JDR76

This stuff can be pretty nasty. I disagree with the linked article recommending the use of a Magic Eraser, though.

arentz07

Yeah. Just wash like you normally would. Sometimes a credit card is nice for scraping the spores off (carefully...)

Benoit

How to know your country is at war since too long ?
You actually have a fungus that evolved to grow on artillery.

(sorry, joke of 5 in the morning)