hard water spots

[mlowe6417]

Ok guys and gals,

 

Im a new forum memeber but I am a memeber of a couple other forums for different vehicles. So when I have a problem that I found a solution for I like to spread the knowledge.

 

First I had severally bad hard water spots I live on well water and the sprinkler got the truck pretty bad.

 

1.Vinegar did not work at all on the windows

2.Weimans glass cooktop cleaner worked but took alot of elbow grease and the stuff is not cheap and dries pretty quick making it harder to use

3.Windex and glass cleaners didnt have a chance I waisted my time trying.

4.toothpaste somewhat worked but very hard to use.

5.Bar Keepers friend won the battle

 

Here is what I did

cleaned the windows with windex to get the dirt off, then I got a blue shop towel I tried regualar bounty paper towels but they fell apart. I sprinkled a little filtered water onto the shop towel then sprinkled the Bar keepers friend enough to make a paste. I rubbed in onto the window gently, in a circular motion for the majority of the windows. The corners just a up and down motion. Then I used the filtered water again to wipe clean with another shop towel.

The water spots were gone. Then I used the windex to clean up any streaks left over and the windows are now spotless.

 

Keep in mind there may be other stuff that works but the BKF is the least time consuming and the least amount of actual work.

 

I did try to see if it would damage the finish of the paint on the under side of truck, It did not.

 

Hope this helps someone else in the future.

 

Thanks

mike

[TJay74]

Clay bars make short work of hard water spots, also Adams polish will take them off as well.

[nards444]

polish works pretty good as well. Might look at putting rain x on the windows, that might help. That or for 300 bucks and two hours worth of work, you could throw a softner in the house. Which if the water is that bad and you dont have one, your not doing a favor to your plumbing and fixtures.

[Strykers_Inc]

McGuires Interior Detailer Spray works wonders on getting off water spots in prep for polishing. Years ago a friend of mine had a detailing business and used a concoction that was by far the best water spot remover I have ever seen. He called it "blue stuff", and it smelled like it had wd40 in it. Anyways, after washing the vehicle you would put a bit of this on a clean cloth and rewash the vehicle using this stuff...rinsed well....then dried....and it would be absolutely mint and ready for polish. I have seen that stuff simply wash off really hard baked on water spots. Haven't seen him in 20 years, and haven't a clue where to find the "Blue Stuff".

 

I actually have a filter system I use just for car washing. Will post a picture when I get to the house and snap one.

[thefishhawk]

I haven't had a problem on the windows or paint, but the spots on the chrome have been a pain if anyone has suggestions on that.

[smrr1]

polish works pretty good as well. Might look at putting rain x on the windows, that might help. That or for 300 bucks and two hours worth of work, you could throw a softner in the house. Which if the water is that bad and you dont have one, your not doing a favor to your plumbing and fixtures.

At least where i live all outside faucets and sprinkler systems are plumbed before the softener.

polish works pretty good as well. Might look at putting rain x on the windows, that might help. That or for 300 bucks and two hours worth of work, you could throw a softner in the house. Which if the water is that bad and you dont have one, your not doing a favor to your plumbing and fixtures.

At least where i live all outside faucets and sprinkler systems are plumbed before the softener.

[nards444]

At least where i live all outside faucets and sprinkler systems are plumbed before the softener.

 

At least where i live all outside faucets and sprinkler systems are plumbed before the softener.

mine is too, I got hard water, its a little bad, but maybe not as bad as your describing.

 

If you knew where the lines that went to the hose spicket, My guess is you could easily create a by pass with a few ball joints and pex. When you know you were going to wash the car, turn it on so the softner feeds it, then when your not using the water to wash the car, bypass the softner.

[mlowe6417]

Hey guys the outside water does not go through the water softner nor the 5 filter system in my house. The house was built in 1890 so the inside has all new plumbing and water lines installed in 2009. I have yet to reroute the outside water through the house so the water isnt so bad. Like I said there is many other products that work but I was just giving the reviews of what I have tried And actually might or might not work

[PMattras]

They now have a wax special for hard water spots. It is in most auto stores and it says right on the bottle for hard water spots removal. I never used it yet.

 

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.do?q=water-spot-remover&promoCode=MEGFGS49WEBPAYPC&gclid=CMLo3_27g8YCFYIWHwodl3wAEw

[CounterMeasure]

We have super hard water here. On my water softener output line, they installed a spout. I just hook a garden hose to it when I wash the vehicles, making sure to cycle the softener the night before. I've had the sprinkler system get my black truck before, and the Zaino Z-6 spray removes the water spots almost instantly.

[mlowe6417]

McGuires Interior Detailer Spray works wonders on getting off water spots in prep for polishing. Years ago a friend of mine had a detailing business and used a concoction that was by far the best water spot remover I have ever seen. He called it "blue stuff", and it smelled like it had wd40 in it. Anyways, after washing the vehicle you would put a bit of this on a clean cloth and rewash the vehicle using this stuff...rinsed well....then dried....and it would be absolutely mint and ready for polish. I have seen that stuff simply wash off really hard baked on water spots. Haven't seen him in 20 years, and haven't a clue where to find the "Blue Stuff".

 

I actually have a filter system I use just for car washing. Will post a picture when I get to the house and snap one.

I really like this setup this is similar to the ones in my house. But just the first main one, it looks much larger than yours, then it goes through the water softer then for drinking water it passes through 4 more filters and for ice/cold water it goes through one more. Some might call it overkill but I hated the way the water looked as well as tasted.

[Strykers_Inc]

I really like this setup this is similar to the ones in my house. But just the first main one, it looks much larger than yours, then it goes through the water softer then for drinking water it passes through 4 more filters and for ice/cold water it goes through one more. Some might call it overkill but I hated the way the water looked as well as tasted.

Well this works for me for washing the trucks. Just hook up the water source and go. When done I air out the filters and then reset for the next use. The softener cartridge I recharge after a few uses.

[BRay'sGirl]

Toothpaste is a bad idea, really bad idea!

Toothpaste is like really fine sand paper and the result can be fine scratches in the windows/paint. So using that stuff you better think twice (no offence!).

 

Even some microfiber cloth can damage the paint - so I would always keep an eye on what I buy or use.

 

I polish (especially glas) using Grandma's old bed sheets...so to speak.

 

Water spots on windows can be dealt with by using a bit of (dishwasher) rinse agent. Usually less is more

 

cheers!

[ember1205]

While I respect that it worked for you, I would NEVER use Bar Keeper's Friend on my vehicles. It's generally equivalent to products like Comet as it's an abrasive. Sure, there are times when you actually need something to do a little extra scrubbing for you, but that stuff would wreck the paint (maybe right away, maybe over time - depends on how you're using it).

[caledoniadude]

I use ice wax on every single part paint,chrome,plastic.ect. I have no problems with my hard water spots car,truck,boat.