lcjarrett

iTrader: (12)

How do you get rid of Hard Water Spots on the Car, Windows, and Mirriors...
I am asking this because I always wash my car and these hard water spots keep popping you in the same place...

PLease Help...Tell me what you do or what you use

LOrenzo

iik9ii

iTrader: (1)

use water spot remover or acid to take it out

inspire420

iTrader: (5)

i use really fine steel wool and a lil wax

thunder_sti

iTrader: (5)

I use Metal polish!!! Works great and easy...

Deraj_53

iTrader: (5)

a buffer and some buffing polish, finish with some good wax and voila no water spots
for glass use some glass polish which has some abrasives to help remove built up minerals.

ipozestu

iTrader: (18)

Steel Wool!!!! Yikes. Try vinegar, the acid will lift the minerals.

bpang1

iTrader: (25)

Clay Bar for me...then a good polish/paint sealant like rejex.

javendan

i second 50/50 vinegar and water.

i had a black nissan maxima that i had to park outside for a year and the sprinklers were killing my car - hard water spots.

i went to wash the car and the hard water would NOT come off.

i could use my finger nail to scrape individual spots off but that wasn't a good solution.

i tried wax - no joy.

i went to napa auto parts and the guy there recommended a mcquire <sp?> product - cost $7/8 and didn't do it.

i searched the net and found a auto detail guy and he suggested using the 50/50 solution with elbow grease... worked wonders and cheap!!!

spray and let sit for a bit then go at it.

good luck.

i clean everything with that 50/50 solution now... windows, stainless steel, counter tops - everything.

*** first post - yay yay ***

i enjoy reading all you posts and try to visit the islands when i can - you guys are lucky!!!

joel

oldmansan

iTrader: (4)

Vinegar won't remove nasty hard water spots. Been there done that. Steel wool? Not a chance that's touching my car. Clay bar won't do it either if it's nasty hard water spots. Call Joey at Midas Touch and he'll hit your car with acid. That is the ticket. Period. Argue amongst yourselves if you want but I have a 2002 WRX that's black (MBP) and lived next to an idiot that couldn't prevent his sprinkler from spraying my car. If I wasn't military I'd have choked him to death.

San

ipozestu

iTrader: (18)

It does work well doesn't it? When I lived in HI I made a bunch of grip taking water spots off of peoples cars with vinegar and water.

Dirteeboy808

iTrader: (11)

Pac Pro on Dillingham has a product called Krystal Kut, it works wonders....

Live in a townhouse and my stall is right next to sprinklers it gets nailed every night.....A couple of passes and the spots come right off, if it's bad maybe a 3 to 4, but requires no hard rubbing...highly reccommend it

make sure you get a polish as this thing strips all previous protectants <sp> offs, ask the guy they have different products for differents paints and conditions

anyway GL with taking the spots off

inspire420

iTrader: (5)

i detail cars where i work and the steel wool works fine for me. i live in ewa, the water over here is my cars worse enemy

BigHonu

Before you do a panel with whatever method you choose, do a small 1'x1' test spot to make sure your products and methods work. No sense do the whole car only to find out your technique doesn't work, or worse case your products/methods were too aggressive.

Just some suggestions from me:

The 50/50 vinegar/water should take out the white ring the waterspot leaves. If you have etching on the paint, then you will have to go the compound/polish/top route with a TON of elbow grease. Your entire car may take a few hours from wash to buff. Always follow with your wax/sealant.

If your car is a dark color, you may get some micro-marring from the compounding and polishing steps and may need to add a final polish stage in there before you top off with whatever wax/sealant you like. Lighter colors hide the micro-marring very well even in bright sunlight.

On exterior glass you can use the fine grade steel wool (000) or the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser with your favorite glass polish/polish. DO NOT use on the inside glass!

On mirrors DO NOT use the steel wool as it can leave micro scratches that will drive you nuts when the sunlight hits the mirror just right.

After you get the waterspots out just remember that frequent washings (minimum once per week) and keeping your sealant/wax fresh goes a LONG way in preventing the waterspots and virtuallly eliminates the etching.

IMHO, while sealants last longer (6mo+) I'm a little old school and like carnauba waxes. To me, they look better in general and a multiple layer job protects better against bird crap and water spot etching.

4080wrx

iTrader: (38)

^^^^Freakin San LOL!!!

juniorsti

iTrader: (19)

yea, i use a professional use only acid wash.... this stuff easily burns glass tho, paint has a bit more tolerance to the stuff. burns your hands nicely too haha.