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How to Get Rid of Water Spots on Your Car
A Guide to Tackle Water Spots on Your Car’s Exterior
Water spots on your car can be seriously frustrating. They leave behind unsightly, chalky, white marks that ruin your car’s clean look, and if you ignore them too long, they can actually damage your paint and glass. These spots are caused by minerals in water, and once they dry on your car, they don’t go away without some effort.
You can try removing water spots using a few simple but laborious steps. If you’re trying to remove fresh spots before they harden, a quick rinse and thorough drying using a soft microfiber towel can get rid of them from your car. For more stubborn spots, you can try using a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water to dissolve the mineral deposits, followed by rinsing and drying once more.
DIY or Professional Fixes to Get Rid of Water Spots on Car
It might require more work if the spots have been etched into the paint and are not getting removed by washing or a vinegar solution. You can try a clay bar treatment to remove difficult water spots. If that doesn’t work, use a quality automotive polish and buff it up to restore the smooth finish of your car exterior, followed by a protective coat of wax to prevent water spots from recurring soon. You can also seek professional services to remove severe or persistent water spots and fully restore your car’s exterior to its former glory.
Mizzoni’s Auto Body is a leading auto body repair center serving Lodi and the surrounding areas of Bergen County, NJ, since 1967. We offer expert solutions to eliminate water spots and restore your vehicle’s pristine finish in our 14,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility featuring Accudraft and Global Finishing Solutions paint booths, operated by ASE and I-CAR® certified technicians. All our body and paint work is backed by a lifetime warranty, which is why we are the preferred choice for automotive paint surface restoration and professional vehicle repairs in New Jersey.
In this post, we’ll walk through what causes water spots, how to remove them, and how to stop them from coming back.
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The team at Mizzoni’s Auto Body is here if you need any help with repairing or maintaining your car paint. Our dedicated team of experts will make sure that your car looks its best and stays protected against all odds. Don’t let these potential paint hazards spoil the beauty of your car. Take action to protect and maintain your vehicle’s paint for years.
What Are Water Spots and What Causes Them
Water spots are one of the most common issues faced by both car owners and auto paint service providers. These unsightly marks occur when water evaporates and leaves behind mineral deposits like calcium and magnesium. Tap water, especially hard water, contains these minerals in varying amounts and can leave behind these stubborn water stains on your car’s paintwork. The higher the mineral content, the worse the spots are.
Water spots worsen if water dries on your car in the sun, as heat bakes the minerals into the paint, making them even harder to remove. Soft water has relatively lower mineral content, but it can still cause spots if the surface isn’t dried properly. You should also watch out for environmental sources of spots like sprinkler systems, salty sea air, bird droppings, and even tree sap, as they can leave behind spots and potentially harm your car’s paint.
Can Water Spots Damage Your Car?
Yes, water spots can really mess with your paint job. Over time, water spots can etch into your car’s clear coat, leaving permanent marks. They make it harder to remove other dirt and debris to get your car completely clean, and can be visible right after a wash. If you leave them untreated, they will worsen the overall appearance of your vehicle and can even reduce its resale value.
How to Remove Water Spots from Your Car
Here are a few tried and tested ways to get rid of water spots on the car surface. You can start with the first one and gradually move to the next, depending on how severe the water spots are on your car.
Rinse Your Car and Dry Quickly
If you catch water spots early before they’ve had time to bond with the surface, a quick rinse can save you time and effort. Use clean water and preferably a high-pressure washer to flush away dust, dirt, and any loose contaminants present on your car’s surface. Then dry the entire car surface quickly with a soft microfiber towel. This step is crucial, as leaving water droplets to air dry on your car’s surface allows minerals to settle and harden as they evaporate. This method works best for freshly formed water spots that haven’t yet etched into the paint.
Use White Vinegar Solution Spray
If a quick rinse and drying did not get rid of the water spots on your car, vinegar is a safe and effective way to break down the mineral buildup and remove water marks from your car’s surface. White vinegar is a weak acid and will not damage your paint or clear coat, but it can effectively dissolve the minerals responsible for water spots.
Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and distilled water, spray the affected areas generously, and let the solution sit for two to three minutes so the vinegar can start dissolving the mineral deposits. Use a clean microfiber cloth or soft detailing brush to gently scrub the area while applying light pressure. Then rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water and dry the surface right away to prevent new spots from forming.
When stubborn water spots resist the above methods, it’s time to call in the big guns. You can DIY the following steps, or hand over the job to professionals.
Make the Right Choice for Your Wallet
Try Clay Bar Treatment
If you want to remove stubborn water spots yourself, start with a clay bar. A clay bar is a specialized clay-like product used by professionals and car enthusiasts to remove embedded surface contaminants from a car’s paint. We recommend that you wear gloves if you’re using an abrasive clay bar or if you’re prone to skin irritation.
First, wash your car with a pH-neutral car shampoo to remove surface grime, and rinse it thoroughly. Then apply a clay bar lubricant and glide the clay bar across the area using light, even pressure to pick up the bonded contaminants as you work. Always work on small sections of your car’s surface. Once the surface feels smooth, rinse again and dry completely. This treatment is especially effective for water spots on clear coats or glass.
Polishing and Waxing Can Remove Hard Spots
If the water spots have really etched into the paint, polishing and waxing are your next moves. Choose a high-quality automotive polish designed for your car’s paint type. Apply a small amount to a foam or microfiber applicator pad and buff the surface in circular motions, focusing on the problem areas. The polish will gently level the paint, removing the etched spots. Once the paint looks clean and even, follow up with a high-quality wax. Wax acts as a sealant, adding shine and creating a protective barrier against future water spots.
Many car owners wonder if both polish and wax are necessary, or if using just one will get the job done. Polish and wax serve two different purposes. Polish removes the water spots, while wax creates a protective coating and protects against future water spots. It’s best to use them together for the best long-term results.
Seek Professional Auto Paint Services
If you aren’t feeling confident with the last few steps, or if the water spots are proving to be too stubborn and DIY just isn’t cutting it, consider calling in the pros. At Mizzoni’s Auto Body, we offer expert auto body services in Lodi and the surrounding areas in Bergen County. Our ASE and I-CAR® certified technicians use professional tools and products to safely remove hard water spots and restore your vehicle’s finish.
How to Prevent Water Spots in the Future
Prevention is your best defense against water spots, as removing them can be time-consuming and costly.
- Wash your car regularly with a pH-neutral shampoo and soft water. If your car isn’t too muddy, you can try using a waterless car wash instead of regular washing. Waterless car wash products are cleaning solutions that encapsulate dirt and grime in an emulsion and prevent them from scratching your car, but they mostly work if your car isn’t too dirty.
- Dry your car thoroughly after every wash, using a clean, high-quality microfiber towel to dry the entire surface. Leaving even small droplets can result in mineral deposits bonding to the paint or glass.
- Direct sunlight will cause minerals in the water to bake onto the surface, so if your car is wet from rain, washing, or sprinklers, try to move it into a shaded or covered area.
- If you live in an area with a hard water supply, install a water softener or use a filtered water system for washing your car