SilverBullet01
Senior Member
anyone have some good methods of removing water spots on the windows?
water spots?
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MikesToy
Banned
wool scouring scotchbrite pads. j/k lol :lmao:
Here's my experience. I've used Windex, Rain-X, wax, zymol polishing with no results. I also tried pure white vinegar with no water mix and it didn't take all of my hard waterspots off. Next day, i used my bathroom shower cleaner (Bubbles something) and it took most of the hard water spots off. I didn't want to mix buncha chemicals on my windows and windshield so i waited for two more days. Then i used oxyclean and Mr. Clean dry eraser to get the rest of the BIG circle-like waterspots off. Be careful when using oxyclean. I mean wear some gloves because oxyclean can eat up your skin. Now there were tiny waterspots left where you cannot notice from a distance. After 3 days, i re-washed my rig. Dried it off to see where and how much is left. There wasn't that much left but you can't see the waterspots unless you're really really close to the windows. So i said, "heck with it, my rig is an '03 (5-yr old vehicle)". Same day i happened to be at Home Depot and i found and bought SPOTEX from the cleaning section. I used that to get the tiny bubble-like waterspots and it worked like a champ. Then i polished my windows with Meguiars Window Glaze. Now my windows look like new.
Here's my experience. I've used Windex, Rain-X, wax, zymol polishing with no results. I also tried pure white vinegar with no water mix and it didn't take all of my hard waterspots off. Next day, i used my bathroom shower cleaner (Bubbles something) and it took most of the hard water spots off. I didn't want to mix buncha chemicals on my windows and windshield so i waited for two more days. Then i used oxyclean and Mr. Clean dry eraser to get the rest of the BIG circle-like waterspots off. Be careful when using oxyclean. I mean wear some gloves because oxyclean can eat up your skin. Now there were tiny waterspots left where you cannot notice from a distance. After 3 days, i re-washed my rig. Dried it off to see where and how much is left. There wasn't that much left but you can't see the waterspots unless you're really really close to the windows. So i said, "heck with it, my rig is an '03 (5-yr old vehicle)". Same day i happened to be at Home Depot and i found and bought SPOTEX from the cleaning section. I used that to get the tiny bubble-like waterspots and it worked like a champ. Then i polished my windows with Meguiars Window Glaze. Now my windows look like new.
SilverBullet01
Senior Member
do you think if i used spot-x the first time around i wouldnt have to do the first 32 stepps? 
this too is an easy one. Im a professional detailer. its going to sound crazy and i dont recommend doing it yourself. but..what i do...alot...believe me when i say this...alot. i charge $50 to get water spots off windows and it takes me 10 mins. ok, so what i do is wash the car to get any dirt off it. while the car is still wet, and in the shade (very important to keep it wet at all times!!!!!) I have a 5 gallon bucket with about a half gallon of water in it. i put a couple clugs out of my wheel acid container in it and soak a terry cloth in it for a minute. i spray the area and around the area with the hose, take the rag out and quickly run it over the window. you can feel the window get smoother as the acid eats away the deposits. i rinse and check for any spots i missed and hit it again if needed. after doing all the windows i was the truck using alot of soap. soap neutralizes the acid that may be left over in any cracks.
I stress keeping the vehicle wet at all times
I stress keeping the vehicle wet at all times
SilverBullet01
Senior Member
huhh........ very interesting.......... i may actually give that a shot!
KarenCaren
New member
Try using meg hard water spot remover. When I have that problem this stuff help me removed it.
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004Gunner
New member
KEEP IT SIMPLE!!!
The easiest thing to remove hard water spots is steel wool. Steel wool comes in all different grades of coarseness and I use 0000 on my windows. It will not scratch and it cleans the windows better than anything else. 00 and 000 will not scratch either but I use the 0000 because I also use it for fine wood finishes. It also works great for removing over spray from glass. I just buff the glass with steel wool, follow up with a window cleaner and I'm done. Pick it up at home improvement store and stop wasting money on bs cleaners. Acid used by a professional detailer? No thanks. I doubt that the acid is neutralized before causing some damage to the rubber weather stripping.
The easiest thing to remove hard water spots is steel wool. Steel wool comes in all different grades of coarseness and I use 0000 on my windows. It will not scratch and it cleans the windows better than anything else. 00 and 000 will not scratch either but I use the 0000 because I also use it for fine wood finishes. It also works great for removing over spray from glass. I just buff the glass with steel wool, follow up with a window cleaner and I'm done. Pick it up at home improvement store and stop wasting money on bs cleaners. Acid used by a professional detailer? No thanks. I doubt that the acid is neutralized before causing some damage to the rubber weather stripping.
i posted this on a honda forum(my prelude):
same thing happened to me and ive spent the last year trying different things. The only thing that ended up working was a solution called "bio-clean water stain remover". I picked it up at a local commercial solution store for $15. Took it home and got to work.
here is a before pic, and it really doesnt do it justice for how bad it was:
i did the drivers window in about 10 minutes but dont get me wrong, its alot of work.
Dont be mistaken, the first picture is of my window, what your seeing is the reflection:
same with the 2nd:
you can also find this product online. Search around though some are priced at $21 and others at $13 so price shop because they are all the same product.
It is safe also if it gets on your molding, i got some on my molding and you just wipe it off. Its only harsh when you buff it into something. Its really just like a compound with a few chemicals. And for anyone who knows these water spots im talking about, they know that 2:1 solution of water with vinegar, a razor blade, Wheel polisher, scrubbing bubbles, Simple green, Oxi Clean, magic eraser, C L R, Coca-Cola, Rain-X, or Brillo pads, None of these work. None of them are designed to work for this purpose.
Spots caused by hard water, acid rain and other staining agents have always been a problem on automobile glass. Most detailers try plain glass cleaner and go no further. Others sometimes try methods that may damage the glass itself. But there are safe ways to remove most spots.
Ill try and get a little more in depth of hard water while keeping it simple. Elements such as calcium, magnesium or iron give water undesirable characteristics we call "hardness" that cause spotting on glass (and paint). Calcium ions are formed by a reaction of calcium carbonate (limestone) and carbon dioxide in wastewater. Hard water, also sometimes called acid rain, is only part of the problem. There is also a chemical reaction between these minerals and commercial fertilizers which can leave a cement-like deposit on glass. Acid rain, a result of environmental pollution, when mixed with water creates an acid that can spot or even etch glass. A MAJOR cause of hard water is if you have a well.
Commercial window cleaners use acid-based cleansers similar to those detailers use to clean wheels. The acids can be a quick and easy way to remove many stains and spots from windows, but they do require understanding and caution in their use. There are two types of acids: organic and inorganic. The inorganic group includes hydrochloric (HCI) and hydrofluoric (HF, also called muriatic) acids. Organic acids are active or "critic" and are derived from fruit. They are used in colas. (Makes you want to put that Coke away, doesn't it?) An inorganic acid can lift, suspend and dissolve water spots.
Here is a direct LINK to my thread in the Honda Forum.
same thing happened to me and ive spent the last year trying different things. The only thing that ended up working was a solution called "bio-clean water stain remover". I picked it up at a local commercial solution store for $15. Took it home and got to work.
here is a before pic, and it really doesnt do it justice for how bad it was:
i did the drivers window in about 10 minutes but dont get me wrong, its alot of work.
Dont be mistaken, the first picture is of my window, what your seeing is the reflection:
same with the 2nd:
you can also find this product online. Search around though some are priced at $21 and others at $13 so price shop because they are all the same product.
It is safe also if it gets on your molding, i got some on my molding and you just wipe it off. Its only harsh when you buff it into something. Its really just like a compound with a few chemicals. And for anyone who knows these water spots im talking about, they know that 2:1 solution of water with vinegar, a razor blade, Wheel polisher, scrubbing bubbles, Simple green, Oxi Clean, magic eraser, C L R, Coca-Cola, Rain-X, or Brillo pads, None of these work. None of them are designed to work for this purpose.
Spots caused by hard water, acid rain and other staining agents have always been a problem on automobile glass. Most detailers try plain glass cleaner and go no further. Others sometimes try methods that may damage the glass itself. But there are safe ways to remove most spots.
Ill try and get a little more in depth of hard water while keeping it simple. Elements such as calcium, magnesium or iron give water undesirable characteristics we call "hardness" that cause spotting on glass (and paint). Calcium ions are formed by a reaction of calcium carbonate (limestone) and carbon dioxide in wastewater. Hard water, also sometimes called acid rain, is only part of the problem. There is also a chemical reaction between these minerals and commercial fertilizers which can leave a cement-like deposit on glass. Acid rain, a result of environmental pollution, when mixed with water creates an acid that can spot or even etch glass. A MAJOR cause of hard water is if you have a well.
Commercial window cleaners use acid-based cleansers similar to those detailers use to clean wheels. The acids can be a quick and easy way to remove many stains and spots from windows, but they do require understanding and caution in their use. There are two types of acids: organic and inorganic. The inorganic group includes hydrochloric (HCI) and hydrofluoric (HF, also called muriatic) acids. Organic acids are active or "critic" and are derived from fruit. They are used in colas. (Makes you want to put that Coke away, doesn't it?) An inorganic acid can lift, suspend and dissolve water spots.
Here is a direct LINK to my thread in the Honda Forum.
