Need advice on removing water spots and how to clean car

[BaylorCamaro]

Now that summer is over, I'm back up at college. The water up here seems to have a lot of minerals, not to mention it is Texas and I have a black car, so the water evaporates really fast. I have two questions, first how should I go about removing current water spots? I've read to clay it, but then I've also read that claying won't remove water spots and you have to acid wash it. Second, how should I go about cleaning the car in the future? Should I buy some deionized water kits, a waterless kit etc?

Any advice is welcome!

[Capthowdy]

do a search for the "junkman" he is a detail guru......

[CamaroDreams07]

Clay should take them off. If they don't you can polish them off with the PC or by hand.

What I do, since I am at college too and don't have water hookups at my apartment, is to take my car to a drive-in, do it yourself carwash. I bring all my own supplies, just use their water. Most of these places have a "spotless rinse" cycle you can use which uses filtered water.

Then, use a light mist of detail spray on the car before drying. This neutralizes the pH of the water so it doesn't leave spots, or at least Adam's Detail Spray does. It makes drying the car a whole lot easier. Just don't overdo it. At that point, all thats left is to wipe it down quickly with some good quality MF towels.

It's a pain to try to keep a car clean in a college environment. But it can be done.

[stirthepot]

vinegar will take off the water spots

[BaylorCamaro]

Originally Posted by CamaroDreams07

Clay should take them off. If they don't you can polish them off with the PC or by hand.

What I do, since I am at college too and don't have water hookups at my apartment, is to take my car to a drive-in, do it yourself carwash. I bring all my own supplies, just use their water. Most of these places have a "spotless rinse" cycle you can use which uses filtered water.

Then, use a light mist of detail spray on the car before drying. This neutralizes the pH of the water so it doesn't leave spots, or at least Adam's Detail Spray does. It makes drying the car a whole lot easier. Just don't overdo it. At that point, all thats left is to wipe it down quickly with some good quality MF towels.

It's a pain to try to keep a car clean in a college environment. But it can be done.

I have a hose at my duplex the problem is I just get the water spots from such a high concentration of minerals in the water. I think I'll try claying it to get it off and then do what you mentioned with the detail spary.

[CamaroDreams07]

Originally Posted by BaylorAirForce

I have a hose at my duplex the problem is I just get the water spots from such a high concentration of minerals in the water. I think I'll try claying it to get it off and then do what you mentioned with the detail spary.

Regardless of whether you have a water hookup, the point I was making was that those places have a filtered water cycle which would work a lot better.

[ron10]

go to lowes or home depot and get a water filter that attaches to your hose,that is what i am going to do.i have the same problem.

[Adam's Polishes]

Originally Posted by ron10

go to lowes or home depot and get a water filter that attaches to your hose,that is what i am going to do.i have the same problem.

Good advice... and a cheap/effective way to cut down on the amount of minerals in your water resulting is less spots. Also adjusting your wash routine/habits will help as well.

• Always wash early in the AM or late in the evening when the sun is much less harsh.
  
• Work in shade whenever possible.
  
• Don't blast the entire car with water until you're ready to wash the paint... start with the wheels and keep water/cleaners isolated to that area until you're done... no sense in hosing down the entire car if you're going to work on the wheels first.
  
• Using a pH neutral soap like ours, don't rinse until the entire car is cleaned. The soap can dry and not etch the surface, plus it will keep the minerals suspended. Its easier to take dried soap from a painted surface than straight water.
  
• Use a drying agent like detail spray or waterless wash as you dry to aid in removal and make drying quicker.
  
• And in the event you do get some spots, the sooner you remove them the better. If they won't come clean with a little detail spray and a microfiber try clay, and if clay doesnt' complete the job a quick polish with our Revive polish or a similar product should do the trick.