While parked at a friend's house some lady while watering her plants sprayed my car. I know that leaving water spots for a long time can cause permament damage to the paint. How soon do you think I should get a car wash? I can't afford to get it washed every week. But the hot California sun can really bake those spots into your paint.

 

Get it washed? C'mon bro... get some car shampoo, a wash-mit, 2 bukets and get out there! If money is your concern... do it yourself.

 

I wish I could. I have all the supplies. But I live in an apartment complex near downtown Los Angeles. There is nowhere to wash my car. Wish I had a house and a garage.

 

Why dont you goto your friends house, where you got those waterspot. And wash it there and in the mean time drown the neighbor's plants.

 

Hard water stains WILL get baked on and can be really hard to remove. If your paint finish does not have any protection, you run the risk of "etching" the clearcoat. I detailed a friend's Black 96 Accord. It was always parked outside and on occassion was a subject of a neighbor's overzealous lawn sprinkler. He was not too worried about the paint at first until he took it to the wash and found spotting on the cleacoat. It turned out to be acid rain (industrial fallout) damage that when the pollutants combine with the constant water sitting on his finish that can be fatal to the clearcoat.

Invest on a good sealant if you are parked oudoors all the time. It won't give you the phenomenal shine of wax but you could top it off with wax anytime to give the car the extra gloss.

A once a week trip to the coin op car wash will result in years of extra life of the paint. You can't do anything about the car getting dirty again after washing it (especially black), but you can do something about the dirt that was already there.

 

Thanks for your reply. I ended up taking my car to a car wash during lunch. I think I already have some permament water spots. I can see the ones on my windows.

 

For the ones on your windows some good old vinegar will take them right off. don't use it on your paint though. Before you get a sealant for your car, use a good body scrub or paint cleaner to take them out of your paint. Then seal it, and wax it. That should make your car as close to bullet proof as possible.

 

Polosport..you're right about the California sun. Since you can't wash often, I'd try and park the car in the shade when possible, but not under certain types of trees. I don't know what type to avoid in California, but ask around and someone should be able to help you. At least, get a hose and spray the car down a few times a week even if you can't use soap, bucket, etc. That will remove the pollution and car exhaust residue, and although it's not going to look pretty, it should help keep your paint in good condition between "real" washing. good luck!!

 

Would Klasse AIO help to remove some of the spots? I the same question for a 93 Vigor and read that Klasse AIO has some removal chemicals in it. How about clay bar type things?

 

~One mans opinion / observations~

Water Spots:
Alkaline watermarks (water spots) are calcium and magnesium salts that deposit on the surface after the water has evaporated, the minute crystals bond to the surface and are not re-dissolvable in water. Always use the least aggressive removal method first.

a) Paint surface water spots-
·Use detailing clay to remove any `hard' surface granules
·To dissolve the alkaline-based, surface/etched mineral water deposits use water/distilled white vinegar or a 5:1 Isopropyl Alcohol solution (adjust ratio as required) or try equal parts distilled white vinegar, Isopropyl Alcohol and distilled water.
·Wipe off any residue from glass and dry with a damp waffle weave towel
·If any `water spots' remain apply Distilled White Vinegar un-diluted to a 100% cotton micro fibre towel, using a medium/heavy pressure on glass surface, for stubborn spots use method b or

b) Surface water spots- mineral deposits can be caused by water from a light summer shower, or a lawn sprinkler system that that dries on the surface leaving a calcium / sodium deposit, these can be removed by using detailer's clay to remove any hardened surface deposits, and then using a solvent type cleaner (Klasse All-In-One)

c) Below surface (etched) water spots- are caused by acid rain or industrial fallout causing a chemical reaction, if left for any length of time they will etch the paint film surface leaving a concave circular mark.
These can usually be removed using a machine polish to level the surface, Iz Einzett TM Metallic Polish or Iz Einzett TM Paint Polish and then reapply surface protection once spots have been removed.

d) Glass surface water spots-
·Use water/distilled white vinegar or a 5:1 Isopropyl Alcohol solution (adjust ratio as required) or try equal parts distilled white vinegar, Isopropyl Alcohol and distilled water to dissolve the alkaline-based, surface/etched mineral water deposits.
·Use a clean spray bottle and 100% cotton Microfiber cloth to apply the solution to the glass surfaces
·Wipe off any residue from glass and dry with a damp waffle weave towel
·If any `water spots' remain apply Distilled White Vinegar un-diluted to a 100% cotton micro fibre towel, using a medium/heavy pressure on glass surface.
·If this does not remove the `water spots' use Autoglym Car Glass PolishTM and #0000 or #000 steel wool, use straight-line motions only (circular motions cause swirl marks)
·Below surface (etched) water spots can usually be removed using Autoglym Car Glass PolishTM and a random orbital buffer to level the surface. (See also Windscreen Protective Barrier)

The only constant is; always use the least aggressive product first, evaluate the surface,
then only if necessary, ‘step-up’ to more abrasive products.

~Hope this helps~

Knowledge unshared is experience wasted
justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ Jon