How to Get Rid of Stubborn Water Spots on Your Car's Finish

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A guide to removing & preventing water spots on your car
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Water spots might seem like a minor hassle, but they can damage your car’s paint finish if you ignore them. This is especially true if you park your car in direct sun during the summer. This article includes the best ways to remove water stains from your car’s paint finish, interior, and glass. Plus, you’ll learn how to prevent future water spots from forming on your car.

Remove Hard Water Spots from Your Car

  1. Rinse and dry your car when you notice water spots.
  2. Wash your car with the 2-bucket method.
  3. Scrub the spots with rubbing alcohol, WD-40, or diluted baby shampoo.
  4. Spray water spots with a vinegar and water solution.
  5. Remove spots with a commercial spot remover.
  6. Rub the spots with a detailer's clay bar.
  7. Remove water stains on seats with a cleaner and a steamer.
Section 1 of 4:

Best Ways to Remove Water Spots from Your Car

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  1. If you notice water spots when they’re still fresh, you may be able to get rid of them with a quick rinse. Just be sure to dry your car thoroughly with a soft microfiber cloth for cars to prevent new spots from forming when the rinse water evaporates. [1]
    • Some dealerships recommend washing and rinsing your car with deionized water, but this isn’t necessary if you dry the car’s paint finish thoroughly.
    • There is some thought that blow-drying water spots with a hair dryer helps remove them. While this can help remove water spots on wood floors, there’s no evidence it works on car finishes.
  2. Giving your car a good wash using a 2-bucket car wash method removes most superficial water spots. With the 2-bucket method, fill 2 buckets with water. To wash a car by hand , mix a few squirts of a gentle car wash or baby shampoo in the first bucket. Use only clear water in the second bucket. With a sponge or car washing mitt , apply the soapy water to your car. Rinse and wring out the mitt or cloth in the bucket of plain water before saturating it with soapy water again. [2]
    • Using a separate bucket of plain water to rinse your mitt or cloth prevents you from wiping the minerals from the water spots back on the car.
    • This method also helps you avoid rubbing grit across your paint, which may scratch or dull the finish.
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  3. Apply the rubbing alcohol directly to the water spot, and then scrub away the spot with a clean cloth. If the spot doesn’t come off immediately, repeat the process. However, only use rubbing alcohol in moderation and not over large areas. Repeated exposure to undiluted rubbing alcohol can cause paint damage. [3]
    • Don’t use rubbing alcohol on fresh paint jobs.
    • Rubbing alcohol is also effective at removing tree sap and adhesive from your paint finish.
  4. Combine equal parts of vinegar and distilled water in a spray bottle to make a vinegar cleaning solution . Spray the mixture onto the water spots and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes is up, rinse the area with clean water and dry thoroughly. Or, try wiping undiluted vinegar onto the spots and then washing with a gentle car shampoo. [4]
    • The acid in the vinegar helps loosen the minerals.
    • Vinegar also removes wax, so make sure to rewax your car after washing it.
  5. There are many automotive water spot removers on the market. Most of them are sprays or liquids you apply to the water spots to remove the minerals. Then, you wipe away any residue. These products work best when they’re used on fresh water spots.
    • Auto Detailing Expert Chris Zani says, “You can do a two-stage or three-stage bath, where you'll use a heavy compound to remove the damage, which could be anything from a hard water spot to scratches from driving your car through a tunnel wash.”
    • Always refer to the directions on the product to ensure the best results.
  6. Spray WD-40 onto the water spots on your windshield or side mirrors. Allow it to sit on the spots for 1-2 minutes. Then, wipe away the excess with a clean microfiber cloth. [5]
    • According to WD-40 , their multi-use product is safe to use on your car’s paint finish, so it may also remove water spots on other areas of your vehicle.
  7. Spray a detailing spray on the water spots to act as a lubricant. This prevents loose grit from scratching the paint. Then, use the clay bar by gently rubbing or rolling it over the spots. [6]
    • As you use the clay bar , knead it to expose a fresh surface to avoid putting the minerals back on your car.
  8. To clean car upholstery , start by vacuuming any loose dirt or debris off the seat. Then, lightly spray the seat with a car upholstery cleaner and scrub it gently with a soft brush. Blast the entire seat with a steam cleaner , making sure to keep the nozzle moving so no part of the seat gets saturated. Finally, wipe away excess moisture with a clean cloth. [7]
    • Use as little cleaner as possible to avoid getting the seat too wet.
    • Make sure the seat dries completely before closing up the car to prevent mold and musty odors.
    • to clean leather car seats , use a cleaner specially formulated for leather seats .
    • If you use a steam cleaner on leather seats, it may cause damage and cracking in the leather if the heat is too high.
  9. If you’ve tried several DIY options to remove water spots and they won’t budge, it might be time to call a professional detailer. A full-service car detailing costs $150-$500, but your final price depends on your location and the condition of your car. [8]
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Section 2 of 4:

Preventing Water Spots on Your Car

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  1. Water spots not only make your car look dirty, but they can also cause etching to your paint job if they bake in the sun. The best way to avoid this is to keep mineral-heavy water from drying on your paint job. Here are a few tips for keeping your car spot-free: [9]
    • Avoid lawn sprinklers spraying on your car.
    • Don’t park your car under leaks in parking garages.
    • Regularly inspect your car for fresh water spots.
    • Use distilled or deionized water to wash your car regularly.
    • Always dry your car thoroughly with microfiber towels or compressed air.
    • Waxing your car after every wash to protect the paint job.
    • Keep your car in the garage or park out of direct sunlight.
Section 3 of 4:

Why do water spots form on cars?

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  1. Unless it’s distilled, water naturally contains tiny amounts of sediment and minerals like sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, bicarbonate, and sulfate ions. [10] Water can only hold a certain amount of minerals. As it evaporates, the mineral particles left behind form mineral solids that stick to the surface of your car. [11]
    • When water has a high amount of minerals – over 7.5 grains per gallon (gpg) – it’s called hard water. Under 3 gpg is soft water because it has a low concentration of minerals.
    • Hard water doesn’t pose any health risks. [12] However, the mineral buildup it leaves causes corrosion on appliances and, if you use it to wash your car, your paint finish.
    • Most of the water in the US is classified as hard. [13] This includes tap water from wells and municipal water supplies.
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Section 4 of 4:

Why do water spots damage your car?

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  1. When a water drop sits on your car, it starts evaporating, leaving the minerals behind on the finish. These minerals chemically etch into the clear coat, making small divots on its surface. As more water gets into these divots, it leaves more minerals that etch deeper into the paint. [14]
    • If water spots are still on your car after you have tried washing and other DIY methods for removing them, they have done permanent damage.
    • The good news is that it’s possible to remove permanent damage from water spots with wet-sanding and polishing (after making sure all of the minerals have been removed). [15] If the damage is bad enough, though, it may require repainting your car.

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      Warnings

      • Some recommend polishing your paint finish to remove water spots. If the minerals aren’t removed first, polishing can push them deeper into the paint finish, and the water spots will resurface. [16]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.thevehiclelab.com/water-spot-removal/
      2. ↑ https://www.thevehiclelab.com/two-bucket-car-wash/
      3. ↑ https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/will-rubbing-alcohol-damage-paint/
      4. ↑ https://guidetodetailing.com/damage-repair/how-to-remove-water-spots/
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/T138FstJv9A?t=12
      6. ↑ https://www.thevehiclelab.com/water-spot-removal/
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/e0D8Jpz7BH8?t=162
      8. ↑ https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-detail-a-car
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/JFzSymiB5ko?t=72
      1. ↑ https://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/1535g/report.pdf
      2. ↑ https://sgshome.ca/pub/GeoscapeFiles/LessonPlans/Mineral%20Formation%20Presentation.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3775162/
      4. ↑ https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/hardness-water
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/X9KG9Q0JxlE?t=59
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/X9KG9Q0JxlE?t=521
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/X9KG9Q0JxlE?t=95

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