How to Remove Water Spots on Cars & Windshields
Water spots, while minor, can turn into major annoyances if they are not removed. Left unchecked on your car's paint and glass work, they can even cause permanent damage if the spots are caused by hard water that has chemicals in it from the environment. Prevent and remove water stains with the right steps and supplies.
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Things You'll Need
- Car wash detergent
- Wax
- Water and vinegar mixture or water spot remover
- Lint-free microfiber towels
- Steel wool
- Glass polish
- High-speed buffer
Instructions
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Prevent the buildup of water spots in the first place by making sure that your car is washed and waxed frequently. A good coat of wax will discourage water spots from appearing on the bodywork, glass and chrome. Use a high-quality wax on the bodywork and chrome polish on any chrome, and keep the glass clean and polished.
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Dry your car as soon as possible whenever it gets wet, particularly in the summer, when the heat from the sun can bake the water spots onto your car's finish, making them particularly hard to remove. Eventually, hard water spots can cause permanent damage.
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Wipe water spots off paintwork, chrome and glass with a 50-50 mixture of distilled water and white vinegar. You can even mix this solution up in a spray bottle and keep it handy in your car along with a lint-free microfiber rag so that water spots can removed right when they occur. Simply spray the mixture onto the water spots and then wipe them off with the clean rag. The mixture may cause your wax to dull a little. If this happens, just wax your car again to restore the shine and polish the chrome (if your car has any) with a high-quality chrome polish. There are also commercial water spot removers (see Resources).
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Remove more-persistent water spots on glass with a very fine, 000-grade steel wool, which won't damage the glass but is just abrasive enough to remove heavier water spots. More-extreme spots will need to be removed with commercial-quality glass polish and a buffer.
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Remove water spots on your vehicle's paint that have turned into stains by using wax and a high-speed buffer. Apply the wax to the buffer, smear it onto the car and then turn the buffer on and lightly buff out the stains in a circular motion. Do not press too hard to avoid burning the finish of the paint.
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