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Did the sprinklers attack your car? Nothing can be more aggravating especially if you just washed your car or did a full detail. The good news is, if you did apply a durable wax like einszett Glanz Wax, it’ll make removing the water spots a lot easier. If your car didn’t have a coat of wax on it, it will make it harder to remove. But regardless, the solution is easy. The key is tackling the problem ASAP!
What You’ll Need:
White Vinegar
Distilled Water
einszett Paint Polish
einszett Glanz Wax
Microfiber Towel
einszett Spray Wax
Time is of the essence. Removing the hard water spots immediately after it has happened is going to be a lot easier than a car that has been attacked by sprinklers has been allowed to sit in the hot sun.
The problem is the minerals in the hard water. They etch into the surface of your car’s paint finish. Having a coat of wax helps to slow the etching of the minerals and the reason why wax is so beneficial.
Solution
Step 1
Wash the car thoroughly. This will remove road grime and dust on your car. It will also help eliminate some of the minerals responsible for the hard water spots. As always, wash in a shaded location – never in direct sunlight! Dry the car completely. For information on how to wash and dry your car properly.
Step 2
Mix a 50/50 combination of regular white vinegar with distilled water. Do not use regular tap water as this will defeat the purpose. With the car still in the shade, apply the vinegar/water solution with a spray bottle on to the affected paint finish. Allow to work for up to 10 minutes. The acid in the vinegar will help loosen the hard water minerals embedded in the paint. This is similar to running your coffee maker with a vinegar to remove the build up of hard water.
After allowing to work for 10 minutes, wash and dry the car again to remove the water/vinegar solution. The water spots should be gone at this point. If not, proceed to the next step.
Step 3
If the water/vinegar solution did not resolve your issue, the hard water has etched into the paint finish. It will be necessary to polish the paint finish to reduce or remove the appearance of the etching. Polish the surface with einszett Paint Polish. For proper polishing application, read our guide on how to apply car polish.
If the issue is still not resolved, the etching is deep enough for it to require the professional polishing only a professional detailer can provide.
Step 4
Apply a coat of einszett Glanz Wax on the polished surface to protect the finish.
The key to removing hard water spots is to not let it stand too long especially in hot summer months. We recommend you carry einszett Spray Wax and a Microfiber Towel in with you in your car in case you find it’s been attacked by rogue sprinklers or even bird droppings. A simple spray and wipe down will take care of the issue immediately before it become a problem.
Also be sure to maintain a protective coat of wax on the finish. Wax slows down any contaminants from penetrating the paint finish giving you time to remove the contaminant before it causes damage.
