Appearance matters. It is often said that the first impression is the last one. The first thing one notices in a car is the exterior. Do you also have a car with stubborn water spots on it? Water spots are an eyesore and hard to remove. They can often make your new, clean car look old and dirty. If not taken care of quickly, they can damage your car’s surface permanently as they will build up over time.
Fret not, for this article will provide you with all the info- right from why water spots are formed to how to prevent or get rid of them.
1. What Are Water Spots?
Water spots that appear on the car body are a result of water hitting the surface of a car and then evaporating. As this happens, the water droplets, whether it is during a car wash or during rain, leave behind mineral deposits that form spots on car surfaces. Simply, water evaporates and leaves water marks on a car’s surface.
2. What Causes Water Spots?
Have you ever wondered how your car gets these stubborn water spots? There are numerous reasons which may result in water spots on vehicles. This is evident even after an expensive professional car wash. The most common reasons are listed below:
2.1. Direct Sunlight
Yeah, you heard it right. Cars washed under direct sunlight are more likely to develop water spots. This happens as the water evaporates or dries because of sunlight before the excess water can be soaked in by a towel.
2.2. Hard Water
As you take your vehicle for a car wash or just wash it at home, it is exposed to hard water. This hard water is high in mineral content, which could damage your car and car paint over time. Hard water, which is high in calcium and magnesium content, leaves behind more water spots than soft water. This mineral-filled water leaves hard water spots that are frustrating to remove.
2.3. No Paint Protective Coating
Your car is more prone to developing water spots if it does not have car paint. The car paint acts as a protective layer. The protective coating or car wax protects the car’s surface from developing water spots, as it prevents the water from sitting on the car’s surface for long.
2.4. Wind
If you take your vehicle to a car wash on a windy day, it will have a similar effect as washing your car under direct sunlight. The wind will dry out the water beforehand, which will result in water spots on your car surface.
3. How To Prevent Water Stains On Cars?
Though it is very hard to protect your car from water spots, there are some preventive steps that you may take that will lower the chances of water spots developing on your car’s surface. They are listed below:
3.1. Rinse
Once you are done with your car wash, rinse it quickly, so as to avoid any dirt being stuck on the car and forming water spots while the surface is wet. Clean wipes or clean cloth can be used to rinse the surface. Use a microfiber towel for best results.
3.2. Avoid Direct Sun
Avoid washing your car under the direct sun or leaving it out under the sun, before properly rinsing the excess water from the vehicle’s surface. This will automatically prevent water spots from developing on your car.
3.3. Avoid Wind
Just like avoiding washing your car under the sun and taking it out under it after a car wash, avoid washing your car during a windy day.
3.4. Avoid High-Pressure Water
Stop using water hoses or pipes with high water pressure to wash your car. The high-pressure water will result in tiny water spots. Low to medium water pressure should be used during a car wash to avoid and prevent water spots on the cars.
3.5. Avoid Hard Water
Avoid water with high concentrations of mineral deposits such as magnesium carbonates, as the affected area will develop hard water spots over time. Instead, use soft water or water with low mineral content to wash your vehicle.
3.6. Avoid Frequent Car Waxing
Car waxing protects the car’s paint. You may also apply ceramic coatings routinely to prevent water spots. This helps in repelling the water, and hence, vehicles with paint protection rarely develop water spots on their surfaces.
3.7. Avoid Parking or Driving
Do avoid parking under the rain directly after a car wash. Also, try not to drive under the rain as well after washing your car to save it from acid rain. Even if the situation forces you to do so, remember to dry it off properly, mostly with clean mitts, as soon as possible after the drive to prevent water stains.
3.8. Avoid Dirty Water
Never use dirty water to wash your car. This is obvious as it is, and dirty water will worsen everything. The loose dirt contained in this water should be replaced by clean water or distilled water for a good wash.
4. Restoring Your Car’s Shine
The easy ways to remove water spots from your car are listed below.
4.1. Wash Your Car Regularly
The very first step that will be good for your car is to wash it on a regular basis with some car-suitable shampoo and soft wash clothes. It will help remove all the dirt and spots from your car, making it shine like a new one. Don’t forget to clean the mirrors too!
4.2. Use Water Spot Removers
You can find any brand’s water spot remover on Amazon or your nearest motor repair store. This helps in removing all the minerals from the affected areas by hard water. This is the fastest way to remove water stains from a car. Read the instructions carefully before using it. Usually, you need to apply it on a piece of cloth and gently rub it on the affected area.
4.3. Clay Bar
Make the car’s surface wet before using a clay bar to get rid of watermarks. Rub it over the affected area by folding it gently. This is the best solution for stains that are not on the pores of your vehicle. For the highest effect, regularly give your car wax or matte surface paint jobs. This will also help remove water spots caused by acid rain as well as mineral deposits from hard water.
4.4. Car Polish
Use car polish on the water spots caused by acid rain. Your clean car, which has often been a victim of acid rain, will heave a sigh of relief if it is properly polished on the affected area and spots. It will bring the surface to the same level after being dented by acids on the car body.
4.5. Pressured Water
Use medium-pressured water to remove water spots swiftly. It will also remove any loose dirt present on the surface and give the vehicle a clean surface again. The pressured water will lessen the effect of mineral residue left by the mineral-filled water.
Make Your Result Last!
According to my research, in a survey of 2,000 American drivers conducted by OnePoll and the Meguiar’s Company, 78% of people said that a clean car makes them feel more relaxed and happy. Water spots can be annoying, but it is not hard to prevent them. The easy steps in this article will help you remove stubborn water spots from your car and also prevent them from occurring again.
Last Updated on by Arnab