Hard Water Spots

[mikespeer]

What product do I use to remove hard water spots?

[CieraSL]

Re: Hard Water Spots

to MOL!




What are you working on? Paint? Glass?

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Hard Water Spots

On glass I have had much success with #4. Heavy cut cleaner.

On paint #105. or #4 again.

Welcome to mol.

[mikespeer]

Re: Hard Water Spots

Black paint

[fredcandetail]

Re: Hard Water Spots

thoroughly wash the car (2 bucket method) - clay it - do a small test spot working with the least agressive product working yourself up to the most agressive.
Have fun.

[mikespeer]

Re: Hard Water Spots

Sorry, I'm new to this what is #4 and #105?

[Murr1525]

Re: Hard Water Spots

#4 and #105 are both paint cleaners.

If you are working by hand, here is what I would do:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean - You will want SwirlX and Ultimate Compound. Try SwirlX first on a test area, then move to UC if needed.
4. Wax - 2 thin coats of your favorite wax.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Hard Water Spots

Since your doing this by hand. Start out with the swirl-x. Then re evaluate the surface after. If you still need more cutting power. Step up to the Ultimate Compound.

Sorry did not mean to confuse you in my first post. Good luck.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Hard Water Spots

Water spots can be pesky buggers. They run the range from light enough to remove with a quick detail spray to stubborn enough to require rotary buffing to remove, and everything in between. That's true whether on glass, paint, plastic, whatever.

You have the extra challenge of working on black paint, where your applicator choice can play a huge role in the final outcome. Stay away from terry cloth as this material is aggressive enough that it alone can haze the paint. Use a soft foam wax applicator pad and some Ultimate Compound (available at most auto parts stores), working in small areas (about 1 foot square) with moderate to heavy pressure, and wipe the product off while still wet (allowing it to dry serves no purpose and could just make it difficult to remove). Depending on how stubborn the water spots are you might need a second application, or even a third, to fully remove them. Apply a thin coat of your favorite wax to the treated areas.

[mikespeer]

Re: Hard Water Spots

Turns out I had more issues than the water spots. The car is a Black 2003 Lexus ES 300 with low mileage, 25,000. I orginially leased the car, but decided to buy it at the end of the lease because of the low mileage. Because of this history I didn't give it the paint care it needed. The surface was really rough. I started with one coat of the Ultima, but this didn't remove the rough surface or water spots. I next used Clay. This smoothed the surface and reduced some but not all of the water spots. After the Clay I applied a coat of Ultima and it got rid of most, but not all water spots. Sounds like I need to apply a second and maybe third coat of Ultima.

I should have said more about myself in my first Thread. I owned a Black used 1982 Porsche 911 for seven years, which I gave the full Mequiar's treatment. Since I sold it I have been leasing cars so really didn't do anything special. Last summer I purchased a new Honda S2000 CR. I been using Mequiar's on it, but since it's new haven't done a lot with it yet except wash, wax and leather treatment.

[Murr1525]

Re: Hard Water Spots

Claying first is definately good.

A second or third coat of UC is also quite possible.

Try to get one panel looking good before moving on.

[mikespeer]

Re: Hard Water Spots

Before I try it I what to make sure it won't make things worse. Can I use SwirlX on my windows to remove hard water spots?

[Murr1525]

Re: Hard Water Spots

You can try it.

It may or may not be strong enough.