Argh! Water spots! How best to get rid of them?

ghostofjk · 04-21-2006, 06:12 PM

I live in a hard-water area. I'm paying more attention to the paint appearance on my red '06 than I ever have previous cars.

Foolishly (in retrospect) I applied a coat of Nu Finish the day after buying it. Then I got converted to Zaino, bought some and applied it to my wife's '04, but am waiting for the Nu Finish to wear off the '06 before applying it. (I've washed it too often already---with Dawn---but the Nu Finish looks as if it'll last forever!)

In any case, Zaino or no, I've got a water spot problem. No matter how carefully I wash the car in the shade, I still end up with water spots. I've tried drying the car quickly and with more pressure on the cloth, to no avail. The only way I can get them completely off (I tested a small area) is with---more Nu Funish!

Can this be remedied by adding some form of citrus to the wash water? Maybe a little Lime-Away? Juice from an orange or lemon?

I had another car that I parked too long next to a lawn sprinkler (I didn't know the car was getting sprayed every night for a few weeks), and it got terrible water spots. The car was older, so I took a chance and used some Lime-Away. With a little effort, it worked. But does it do any damage to the paint?

I'm not going to spring for a water-softening system.

Anyone had to deal with this?

BobSoNH · 04-21-2006, 08:05 PM

I think Zaino makes great stuff. Z-6 Gloss Enhancer takes care of my water spots effortlessly. Well, almost.

richard schumacher · 04-22-2006, 01:36 AM

The best cure is prevention. Wash it using the Mr. Clean Autodry system, which includes its own water softener. After two years using it the finish on mine looks new.

QuickSilver · 04-24-2006, 03:14 AM

I too would be interested in the answer to this question. The finish on my 1-month old car was lovely and smooth -- until I washed the car for the first time. Now I have lots of waterspots and the finish feels very gritty.

I didn't try to dry the car for fear of creating swirl marks which I'll then have to polish out later. Instead I have water spots to remove. Arrgh! Seems I can't win...

I know some folks love the Mr. Clean product, but I'd like to be able to wash my car just using a bucket or two of water. (Hosing it seems like a big waste of water.) Any suggestions??

ghostofjk · 04-25-2006, 04:39 AM

Since there are now two of us asking, I'm gonna *kick* this baby back up into visibility.

Another enthusiastic vote for Mr. Clean. Wish I knew someone who had it so I could try it.

Quicksilver, I think I'm going to experiment with some lemon juice in my rinse water when I wash next. I rinse from a bucket with fresh water (hardly ever hose). If that does nothing, I may try rinsing a small area using a margerine container with a little Lime-Away mixed with water. (I may get a step-stool and try this on the roof, which no one ever sees.

Catskillguy · 04-25-2006, 08:11 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ghostofjk @ Apr 21 2006, 06:12 PM) [snapback]243375[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I live in a hard-water area. I'm paying more attention to the paint appearance on my red '06 than I ever have previous cars.

Foolishly (in retrospect) I applied a coat of Nu Finish the day after buying it. Then I got converted to Zaino, bought some and applied it to my wife's '04, but am waiting for the Nu Finish to wear off the '06 before applying it. (I've washed it too often already---with Dawn---but the Nu Finish looks as if it'll last forever!)

[/b]

Hi.. Curious, why 'foolishly' with Nu-Finish?

richard schumacher · 04-25-2006, 10:51 AM

Lemon juice? Lime Away? Pouring acid on a new car doesn't sound like the answer.

Mr. Clean has flow restriction so it uses less water than simply turning a hose onto the car. But really, 10 or 20 gallons of water more or less per wash is negligible, even if you do it every week.

HybridVigor · 04-25-2006, 11:06 AM

Water deposits are caused by the presence of everything other than water in your rinse water. Thats why distilled water is such a good rinsate. For that reason, I find it hard to believe that lemon juice, lime-away or almost ANY additive would be effective. The exception would be the additives which cause water to sheet rather than bead. Beaded water will concentrate all of the dissolved things (primarily carbonate species, and particulates/dust in the southwest by YMMV) into one spot. When the water leaves, the dissolved bits will not evaporate, but remain as a residue. Sheeting will prevent the dissolved bits from concentrating, causing them to either run off the car with the water, or at least spread themselves out so that they are not as noticable. Seems to me that if you don't want spots, your best bet is to A) rinse with distilled water, B.) dry your car really quickly, C) use something that causes sheeting, or D) dry with something alcohol based that will allow you to pick up the impurities in the cloth, allowing the alcohol to evaporate when you're done. Lemon juice? I strongly suspect that won't work.... but I've been wrong already once this morning.

Rancid13 · 04-27-2006, 04:39 PM

I try to wash my car in indirect sunlight: the CA sun causes just-washed cars to air dry very quickly, leaving water spots all over the car. I've found that washing it in early morning or late afternoon, or on an overcast day, is key to getting no water spots. We unfortunately have hard water here too...

I clean the car in sections and try to move quickly so it doesn't dry on its own. First I hose it down, use the soft brush + car wash cleaner, then hose it down again. Then when I self-dry it just after rinsing the suds, I use a large lint free towel and dry in sections, beginning from the first section I cleaned. Sometimes I go over the car with a slightly damp lint-free towel should any visible water spots remain.

And believe me, on a black Prius, those water spots definitely show up. I'm not sure which is worse: a dirty black car, or a clean black car with water spots. My former car was also black, so I've kind of lived and learned how best to wash a black car outside.

QuickSilver · 04-27-2006, 10:43 PM

I had an inspiration while in the automotive aisle yesterday...

I bought the refill bottle of Mr Clean polymer car wash "stuff" and will try using it in a good ol' fashioned bucket of water (without using the fancy spray gizmo).

I'm hoping this will help the water fall off when I hand rinse the car (again, I'm trying to avoid having to use a hose since it is a hassle and I hate sending so much water down the drain). I figure I will still have to do some hand drying but a lot less than otherwise.

Think it will work? Anyone else try this low-tech approach??

04-21-2006, 06:12 PM	#1
ghostofjk Unrepentant Nattering Nabob of Negativism (V.P. Spiro T. Agnew) Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 981 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I live in a hard-water area. I'm paying more attention to the paint appearance on my red '06 than I ever have previous cars. Foolishly (in retrospect) I applied a coat of Nu Finish the day after buying it. Then I got converted to Zaino, bought some and applied it to my wife's '04, but am waiting for the Nu Finish to wear off the '06 before applying it. (I've washed it too often already---with Dawn---but the Nu Finish looks as if it'll last forever!) In any case, Zaino or no, I've got a water spot problem. No matter how carefully I wash the car in the shade, I still end up with water spots. I've tried drying the car quickly and with more pressure on the cloth, to no avail. The only way I can get them completely off (I tested a small area) is with---more Nu Funish! Can this be remedied by adding some form of citrus to the wash water? Maybe a little Lime-Away? Juice from an orange or lemon? I had another car that I parked too long next to a lawn sprinkler (I didn't know the car was getting sprayed every night for a few weeks), and it got terrible water spots. The car was older, so I took a chance and used some Lime-Away. With a little effort, it worked. But does it do any damage to the paint? I'm not going to spring for a water-softening system. Anyone had to deal with this? __________________ Imagine the "Desiderata" here. Pointy-headed ex-hippie elitist liberal '04 silver, '06 red

04-25-2006, 11:06 AM	#8
HybridVigor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 96 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Water deposits are caused by the presence of everything other than water in your rinse water. Thats why distilled water is such a good rinsate. For that reason, I find it hard to believe that lemon juice, lime-away or almost ANY additive would be effective. The exception would be the additives which cause water to sheet rather than bead. Beaded water will concentrate all of the dissolved things (primarily carbonate species, and particulates/dust in the southwest by YMMV) into one spot. When the water leaves, the dissolved bits will not evaporate, but remain as a residue. Sheeting will prevent the dissolved bits from concentrating, causing them to either run off the car with the water, or at least spread themselves out so that they are not as noticable. Seems to me that if you don't want spots, your best bet is to A) rinse with distilled water, B.) dry your car really quickly, C) use something that causes sheeting, or D) dry with something alcohol based that will allow you to pick up the impurities in the cloth, allowing the alcohol to evaporate when you're done. Lemon juice? I strongly suspect that won't work.... but I've been wrong already once this morning. __________________ Tideland Pearl '05 Prius Imperial Jade Mica '01 4wd Tundra

04-27-2006, 04:39 PM	#9
Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Alamitos, Orange County, CA Posts: 2,455 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 2	I try to wash my car in indirect sunlight: the CA sun causes just-washed cars to air dry very quickly, leaving water spots all over the car. I've found that washing it in early morning or late afternoon, or on an overcast day, is key to getting no water spots. We unfortunately have hard water here too... I clean the car in sections and try to move quickly so it doesn't dry on its own. First I hose it down, use the soft brush + car wash cleaner, then hose it down again. Then when I self-dry it just after rinsing the suds, I use a large lint free towel and dry in sections, beginning from the first section I cleaned. Sometimes I go over the car with a slightly damp lint-free towel should any visible water spots remain. And believe me, on a black Prius, those water spots definitely show up. I'm not sure which is worse: a dirty black car, or a clean black car with water spots. My former car was also black, so I've kind of lived and learned how best to wash a black car outside. __________________ Jennifer 2006 Black Pkg #8 w/bisque leather "Max" (Prius Maximus)

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04-21-2006, 08:05 PM	#2
BobSoNH Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: South-Central NH Posts: 15 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I think Zaino makes great stuff. Z-6 Gloss Enhancer takes care of my water spots effortlessly. Well, almost.

04-22-2006, 01:36 AM	#3
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,508 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	The best cure is prevention. Wash it using the Mr. Clean Autodry system, which includes its own water softener. After two years using it the finish on mine looks new.

04-24-2006, 03:14 AM	#4
QuickSilver Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I too would be interested in the answer to this question. The finish on my 1-month old car was lovely and smooth -- until I washed the car for the first time. Now I have lots of waterspots and the finish feels very gritty. I didn't try to dry the car for fear of creating swirl marks which I'll then have to polish out later. Instead I have water spots to remove. Arrgh! Seems I can't win... I know some folks love the Mr. Clean product, but I'd like to be able to wash my car just using a bucket or two of water. (Hosing it seems like a big waste of water.) Any suggestions??

04-25-2006, 04:39 AM	#5
ghostofjk Unrepentant Nattering Nabob of Negativism (V.P. Spiro T. Agnew) Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 981 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Since there are now two of us asking, I'm gonna kick this baby back up into visibility. Another enthusiastic vote for Mr. Clean. Wish I knew someone who had it so I could try it. Quicksilver, I think I'm going to experiment with some lemon juice in my rinse water when I wash next. I rinse from a bucket with fresh water (hardly ever hose). If that does nothing, I may try rinsing a small area using a margerine container with a little Lime-Away mixed with water. (I may get a step-stool and try this on the roof, which no one ever sees.

04-25-2006, 10:51 AM	#7
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,508 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Lemon juice? Lime Away? Pouring acid on a new car doesn't sound like the answer. Mr. Clean has flow restriction so it uses less water than simply turning a hose onto the car. But really, 10 or 20 gallons of water more or less per wash is negligible, even if you do it every week.

04-27-2006, 10:43 PM	#10
QuickSilver Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I had an inspiration while in the automotive aisle yesterday... I bought the refill bottle of Mr Clean polymer car wash "stuff" and will try using it in a good ol' fashioned bucket of water (without using the fancy spray gizmo). I'm hoping this will help the water fall off when I hand rinse the car (again, I'm trying to avoid having to use a hose since it is a hassle and I hate sending so much water down the drain). I figure I will still have to do some hand drying but a lot less than otherwise. Think it will work? Anyone else try this low-tech approach??