How To Remove Water Spots From Paint?

bizzle · February 16, 2009

ok so i waxed my truck today.....before waxing i used a clay bar kit to remove the water contaminants and tar on what not....well after waxing the sun came out and i realized that there are still spots on the paint....not raised spots that make the surface rough but like visible water spots that you cant feel.....spots that the clay bar kit won't take off......and im wondering if anyone knows any tricks on how to get them off ? i was about to take a pic but they can only be seen in direct sun light

BuckFeverZ · February 16, 2009

I'm not sure if a cleaner wax would work or not. Otherwise try buffing it.

Bostonsfavson · February 16, 2009

ok so i waxed my truck today.....before waxing i used a clay bar kit to remove the water contaminants and tar on what not....well after waxing the sun came out and i realized that there are still spots on the paint....not raised spots that make the surface rough but like visible water spots that you cant feel.....spots that the clay bar kit won't take off......and im wondering if anyone knows any tricks on how to get them off ? i was about to take a pic but they can only be seen in direct sun light

Try a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar. If that fails, use straight vinegar. This almost always works. The next option would be buffing, but I think you'll be good with vinegar. Good luck

Spurshot · February 16, 2009

There is probably the best resource of paint care over on the Meguire's forum. They have a specific thread on waterspots with the real pros from Meguires on how to deal with waterspots and a scientific exam of what they are.

Zembonez · February 16, 2009

Standard mineral deposit type water spots should come off with a clay bar. I have seen stubborn water spots that had to be wet-sanded out. Beaded water and intense sunlight on a hot day can etch the paint surface (leaving spots that are actually small eroded spots in the clear coat). Luckily they are very shallow and can normally be removed by lightly wet sanding with 2000 and polishing.

VMax2007 · February 16, 2009

I get nasty, baked on water spots on my boat from my sprinkler system overspray that gets baked on in the sun.

I use this and it works awesome!

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...v%3D2%26hl%3Den

Zembonez · February 16, 2009

I get nasty, baked on water spots on my boat from my sprinkler system overspray that gets baked on in the sun.

I use this and it works awesome!

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...v%3D2%26hl%3Den

Cool! If it takes spots off of fiberglass, I want some.

VMax2007 · February 16, 2009

I get nasty, baked on water spots on my boat from my sprinkler system overspray that gets baked on in the sun.

I use this and it works awesome!

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...v%3D2%26hl%3Den

Cool! If it takes spots off of fiberglass, I want some.

Yep, works great!!! I just wash the boat, spray this stuff on, rub it around with my bare hand, wait a few minutes and then rub it off with a towel....spots are gone! And these spots are from 17-grain hard city water.

Zembonez · February 16, 2009

Yep, works great!!! I just wash the boat, spray this stuff on, rub it around with my bare hand, wait a few minutes and then rub it off with a towel....spots are gone! And these spots are from 17-grain hard city water.

I'm buying some then. Water here is like liquid limestone.

Thanks.

JoshRDavis.84 · February 16, 2009

I agree with Will try the water/vinegar

Lincoln30 · February 16, 2009

ok so i waxed my truck today.....before waxing i used a clay bar kit to remove the water contaminants and tar on what not....well after waxing the sun came out and i realized that there are still spots on the paint....not raised spots that make the surface rough but like visible water spots that you cant feel.....spots that the clay bar kit won't take off......and im wondering if anyone knows any tricks on how to get them off ? i was about to take a pic but they can only be seen in direct sun light

Try a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar. If that fails, use straight vinegar. This almost always works. The next option would be buffing, but I think you'll be good with vinegar. Good luck

+1

I've never had a water spot that I couldn't remove with straight vinegar, but most come out with a 50/50 mix. I've needed to do this frequently over the last 5 years since my parking garage had concrete ceiling that frequently had very hard water dripping out of it.

bizzle · February 17, 2009

yeah these spots are clay bar proof.....as far as that ducky stuff goes....is is safe to use on clearcoat?i might try the vinegar thing.....i tried it before on my mirrors and glass and had no luck.....i had to use 3m rubbing compound and 0000 steel wool to remove the water spots on my windows... it worked awesome but will destroy clearcoat...thats how bad they were.....i bought this truck with 10K on it and the water spots were there when i got it so.......the water spots aren't bad and no one but me can see em....but you know how that is

Jnk · February 17, 2009

yeah these spots are clay bar proof.....as far as that ducky stuff goes....is is safe to use on clearcoat?i might try the vinegar thing.....i tried it before on my mirrors and glass and had no luck.....i had to use 3m rubbing compound and 0000 steel wool to remove the water spots on my windows... it worked awesome but will destroy clearcoat...thats how bad they were.....i bought this truck with 10K on it and the water spots were there when i got it so.......the water spots aren't bad and no one but me can see em....but you know how that is

I have heard about using 0000 steel wool on windows but was scared that it would scratch them up. Is that not the case? The water spots on my windows look hideous, at least to me.

c4cruiser · February 17, 2009

yeah these spots are clay bar proof.....as far as that ducky stuff goes....is is safe to use on clearcoat?i might try the vinegar thing.....i tried it before on my mirrors and glass and had no luck.....i had to use 3m rubbing compound and 0000 steel wool to remove the water spots on my windows... it worked awesome but will destroy clearcoat...thats how bad they were.....i bought this truck with 10K on it and the water spots were there when i got it so.......the water spots aren't bad and no one but me can see em....but you know how that is

I have heard about using 0000 steel wool on windows but was scared that it would scratch them up. Is that not the case? The water spots on my windows look hideous, at least to me.

0000 steel wool and some glass cleaner will work to remove most water spots. you can also use straight water from a garden hose running over the steel wool as you rub the window. That helps rinse away any metal particles from the steel wool.

Another good trick to use is Bon-Ami cleanser. Get the powdered stuff and mix some up in paste. Apply with a sponge or a kitchen scotch-brite pad. Rub gently and rinse.

C. Charles Hahn · February 17, 2009

I get nasty, baked on water spots on my boat from my sprinkler system overspray that gets baked on in the sun.

I use this and it works awesome!

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...v%3D2%26hl%3Den

Have you ever used that stuff on clearcoat paint? I'm willing to bet your boat's finish is gelcoat, which is most certainly NOT the same thing.... and many products designed specifically for marine use are NOT safe on automotive clearcoat.