How to Get Water Spots Out of Car Paint

Water spots on cars can be removed with a simple polishing.

Water spots on cars happens when the paint gets slightly oxidized due to the natural elements, including heat and water. These spots can destroy the pristine look of your car, but they are easily remedied with a quality swirl polish. When polishing cars, you should begin with the least abrasive polish and buffing pad, and then move to a more abrasive polish until you find one that works. The more abrasive the polish and buffing pad, the more risk you run of damaging the paint, which leads to having to repaint the car panels.

Things You'll Need

• Swirl car polish
• Hand buffer
• Soft buffing pad

Instructions

1. Plug in the hand buffer and attach the soft buffing pad. The process of attaching the soft buffing pad is relative to the buffer, so read the manual instructions thoroughly. Generally, clips are provided to hold the pad in place. Place the cord over your shoulder to keep it out of the way while you are buffing the car.

2. Squirt some polish on the worst of the water spots. For starters, begin with a light drizzle. This will provide enough polish to see how thick or thin the mixture is, and how much you will need to do the entire surface of the car. This will save you money in the long run because you won't waste any polish.

3. Turn the hand buffer on low and place the pad on the car even with the surface of the car. Buff the car in an up-and-down, side-to-side motion, stopping when the polish is clear but not dry. If some of the water marks remain, add a bit more polish. Keep buffing in small areas around 2 feet by 2 feet at a time.

4. Test the worst oxidized area on your car before doing the rest of the car. This will tell you whether or not you need a slightly more abrasive polish or pad. You will know you need a more abrasive polish if none of the water marks improve. You will know you need a slightly more abrasive buffing pad if the water marks improve, but only slightly.

5. Polish the car until the car is rid of water marks. Allow the car to dry completely for about an hour before driving it.

Tips & Warnings

• For the best results possible, buff the car in the shade and then move it into a sunny spot. This will dry the car evenly and completely. This is not necessary, but doing so will give a slightly better shine to the vehicle.

References

• "Autotopia Car Care: How to Use Paint Polish and a Paint Polisher for Long-Lasting Shine"
• "Autotopia Car Care: How to Machine Polish Your Car's Paint: Remove Defects Like Scratches, Swirl, and Oxidation"