Water spot remover for car windows is something that you’ll eventually have to think about in order to ensure a squeaky-clean car. Everyone desires a sparkling windscreen devoid of stains, including hard water spots. Some of these stains and hard water spots are unavoidable because you may be caught in the rain while driving. It may also result from dew/snow droplets when you park outside your garage.
These and more can leave stains and spots on your windscreen when it’s dried and may not be cleaned off easily with ordinary water, except with water spot remover for car windows. Furthermore, we’ll concentrate more on water spots, and these spots mostly occur when there are hard water droplets on your car’s glass.
However, chemicals, limescale, and some minerals like magnesium and calcium in hard water can leave marks on your car window if not wiped off immediately. Also, a mixture of water, acid rain, soap, and sodium spots from soft water can also cause water spots on your windscreen.
Consequently, you may be overwhelmed by these spots because they can become too tough to clean off. Cheer up, don’t feel awkward about those spots. This article will show you practical, proven steps to get rid of those spots with water spot remover for car windows.
- What Is A Water Spot?
- Water Spot Remover
- How To Prevent Hard Water Spots
- Minimize Water Spot Damages
- Eliminate Water Stain From Window
- Commercial Hard Water Spot Remover
- Final Words
- FAQs
What Is A Water Spot
According to Wikipedia, a “water spot” is an area of dried mineral deposit left on a surface after being allowed to air dry.
Also, these water spots are some mineral deposits in soft water like sodium and mixtures of water, soap, and acid rain that leave a mark on your glass when it’s air-dried. However, you can easily clean up sodium spots with a damp cloth or towel.
Meanwhile, hard water spots are magnesium and calcium deposits, and these stains will become more visible after the water evaporates. These stains look like chalky white deposits resulting from the excess buildup of minerals in hard water.
Hard water spots include mineral deposits, limescale, and mineral buildup. All these have similar meanings.
Water Spot Remover
A water spot remover is a liquid gel-like substance. It cleans off stains left behind by minerals like magnesium and calcium found in hard water.
This liquid substance is an acid-based chemical formulated to remove these stains, leaving no traces behind.
How To Prevent The Build-up Of Hard Water Spots
Different things cause hard water spots on your car window. And there are several ways to prevent it from building up on your car window. However, before you can prevent it, first you must understand that the droplets of water on your car aren’t the problem.
Rather, contaminants like minerals, dirt, soap, and many others in the water contribute to the stains left behind after water evaporation.
Water droplets on your car are unavoidable, but how you handle them once they drop is very important. Hence, you can prevent these stains from appearing by regularly doing the following:
1. Thoroughly Clean The Car After Wash
If you want to avoid hard water stains on your car (which you can learn more in our guide on how to get water stains out of car seats), make sure you clean and dry your car after every wash. Also, dry your car with a clean towel after water exposure, rainfall, or a splash of water.
2. Ceramic Coating
Apply a ceramic coating to your car’s surface to prevent paint damage. That will also help in preventing chemical etching that comes from water spots. However, note that ceramic coating will not stop hard water spots but will help remove water spots from car paint easily.
3. Wax Treatment
Waxing the exterior of your glass or car paint prevents any dirt or liquid from sticking to your glass or paint. Many car washers incorporate wax treatment into their car wash routine to prevent water spots, tar, and other contaminants from sticking to the car.
Also, that’s why you’d notice that after visiting a car wash, water beads running down your glass while driving tend to roll over without sticking to the windows.
There are lots of good car waxes like P21S, Meguiar’s Gold Class, and Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax. You can check them out on Amazon or other online shopping platforms.
4. Wash Your Car In Sections
The local water supply is mostly hard water with lots of minerals. And this will undoubtedly leave marks on your paint and windshield when you’re done. That’s why you must patiently wash your car section by section (as per our guide on how to wash a motorcycle) rather than wash the whole car simultaneously. Because you may not rinse and dry with a towel on time, leaving marks of hard water spots on your car.
However, when you wash a section, rinse immediately, dry it with a towel, and then wax it before moving to another side. In that way, you’d have a clean and neatly waxed car without traces of spots at the end of a wash day.
Also, if you wish, you can visit a car wash expert to properly remove hard water stains from glass and the car paint.
5. Properly Cover Your Car
You can park your car under a garage or a well-covered parking lot to prevent droplets of rainwater and hard water from splashing on it. Or you can use a quality car cover to cover your car, especially when parked outside a garage.
6. Rain-X
Another good way to prevent or minimize hard water spots is by applying the rain-x solution to your windshield. Rain-x has been in existence for many years with good records.
It’s a liquid-based solution applied the same way as wax, but you’d have to frequently apply it since it doesn’t last long on a single use.
How To Minimize Water Spot Damages
Seeing some water spots on your windshield after a thorough wash day is frustrating. The reason is that these spots don’t easily get off your windshield without any extra effort.
1. Proper Treatment Of The Glass
Treat your car’s glass with a quality glass treatment to make it cleaner. This treatment will also prevent the debris of specks of dirt, oil, and water spots from sticking to the glass. That makes for easy cleaning of the water spots.
When applying this treatment, apply it in a horizontal pattern, not vertical, to avoid a vibrating and noisy wiper blade (it helps to learn how to change wiper blades and how to install windshield wipers).
2. Keep The Windshield Wiper Clean
Always keep your windshield wiper clean to avoid the buildup of dirt in the gaps that can easily transfer onto the windshield. Also, replace it with a new one once it becomes weak or worn out.
3. Avoid Water Splashes On Your Windshield
As much as you can, avoid getting water splashes on your windshield. It may be impossible to control or avoid, but you can minimize going to places where you’d get splashed with water.
Remove Hard Water Stains From Glass
Do you know you can get stubborn hard water stains off your car? Instead of visiting a car wash shop or considering replacement of the glass, why not try these simple DIY procedures below? You’d be amazed at how it instantly removes hard water stains from your glass.
Water Spot Remover For Car Windows, DIY Solutions #1: Lemon Juice
Lemon juice contains some acids (citric and acetic) that help to combat hard water stains. It is good for removing hard water stains from glass caused by calcium and other minerals. And also good for cleaning the inside of the car as well. It also has a pleasant smell. Follow this procedure if you want to try lemon juice as a water spot remover.
Get a fresh lemon, slice it into two, and squeeze out the water. Put it into a spray bottle and evenly spray on your windshield and other affected parts of your car’s paint. Then, allow it to soak in for a few minutes before you scrub gently with a soft bristle brush.
Once all the spots are cleared, rinse your windshield with clean water and wipe dry with a clean towel. Lemons are quite easy to come by, and they’re cheap as well; why not give this a try? The process may not be the best, but it’ll surely go a long way toward removing those hard water stains.
Water Spot Remover For Car Windows, DIY Solutions #2: Vinegar
Vinegar is a versatile component that solves many household problems, from cleaning the tiles, eliminating weeds, helping cut flowers last longer, and serving as a water spot remover for car windows. It is acidic and can combat any alkaline component. Give it a shot. The guidelines below will assist you.
You can mix white vinegar and water equally, but you can increase the quantity of vinegar if you desire. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and shake well. Then, spray evenly across the glass and other affected areas and wipe clean with a towel. Or you can apply the mixture onto the towel and clean the glass thoroughly.
Once you’ve successfully removed the stains, get a clean, dry towel to mop dry the glass and other wet areas. However, instead of spraying directly onto the glass, you can pour the mixture into a clean towel and wipe off every water spot on your car window and paint. The white vinegar and water mixture is the best hard water stain remover.
Water Spot Remover For Car Windows, DIY Solutions #3: Baking Soda
You can remove water spots on your car window with some of your kitchen materials, and one of them is baking soda or sodium bicarbonate. To achieve this, you’d use baking soda, white vinegar, distilled water, a bowl for mixing, a soft sponge, and a clean towel.
First, scoop three tablespoons of baking soda into a medium-sized bowl of distilled water, and add 3 to 5 drops of white vinegar. The vinegar helps to increase the acidity level of the solution to combat the stains easily. Mix entirely and apply onto the car window evenly.
Allow the mixture to stay on your car window for up to 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the severity of the stains. Gently scrub your car window with a soft sponge to clean every spot. Next, rinse out with clean water and wipe dry with a clean towel.
Water Spot Remover For Car Windows, DIY Solutions #4: Dishwasher Rinsing Solution
Household agents are no doubt useful in removing hard water stains from glass. And dishwasher rinsing solutions are a good way to remove hard water stains through a simple DIY procedure. You may be wondering how this is possible. Note that rinsing solutions have some ingredients that clear hard water stains from glass.
However, you can use that to remove hard water spots and limescale from your car’s windshield. Follow this brief and simple guideline to erase the hard water spots from your glass.
First, measure the quantity of dishwasher rinsing solution that’ll be enough for your windshield in a spray bottle. Then, spray it evenly until the whole glass is covered with the solution. Allow it to stay for a couple of minutes, then rinse with clean water and wipe dry with a clean towel.
Water Spot Remover For Car Windows, DIY Solutions #5: Use Toothpaste
Naturally, toothpaste tubes are formulated as cleaning agents for teeth and some stubborn stains, like hard water stains. You can use non-gel toothpaste to clean your glass of every stain due to its cutting power, leaving your glass sparkling.
You’d need non-gel toothpaste (use a good stain-removing toothpaste), 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 cup of white vinegar, a cup of warm water, a spray bottle, and 2 clean towels.
Procedure: mix toothpaste, baking soda, and vinegar with warm water in a spray bottle. Spray all over the glass till it’s fully soaked with the solution.
Allow it to stay for a few minutes to properly remove the stains, then rinse with clean water and wipe dry with a clean, soft towel.
Water Spot Remover For Car Windows, DIY Solutions #6: Hydrogen Peroxide
This cleaning chemical is another hard water stain remover from the car windshield. Apply hydrogen peroxide to a towel and gently scrub your glass with it. Gradually you’d see the spots clearing off, although it may take some time.
Also, you can add baking soda to the solution and allow it to stay for about 15 to 30 minutes, then rinse with clean water and clean dry with a towel.
Water Spot Remover For Car Windows, DIY Solutions #7: Magic Eraser
This is a general household cleaning pad for cleaning glass. You may not use it on your paint, but it’s safe for the glass without scratches. The procedure is simple. First, add some drops of liquid dishwashing soap into a quantity of water. Pour the mixture inside a spray bottle and spray all over your car’s glass windows, then scrub them vigorously with your magic eraser pad.
Rinse the soap with clean water and wipe dry with a clean towel to dry up every remaining liquid on your glass. However, I may not recommend using a magic eraser pad because it takes a very long time to achieve what other techniques can achieve over a short period of time.
Commercial Hard Water Spot Remover
Different commercial products are made especially for removing water spots from car windows and paint. The Griot’s Fine Glass Polish is one of the best products for water spot remover for car windows.
This product contains enough acids and oxides to combat every hard water spot on your windshield. It is one of the best hard water stain remover products.
Also, the Chemical Guys HD water spot remover product is another fast and effortless means of water spot remover for car windows.
It also helps to prevent permanent etching and damage to your car’s paint from mineral deposits. It is good for neutralizing and removing mineral stains from your wheels.
1. Steel Wool
Steel wool can be used as a water spot remover for car windows. It’s a very simple procedure to follow. All you need is a super fine steel wool brand. This particular brand is soft and better for your car’s windows. The coarse ones will scratch your car’s glass, so buy a soft one.
Also, don’t forget to wear hand gloves for protection when handling it, to avoid strands of this wool firmly lying on your skin.
Fold the steel wool into a ball-like or square-like shape, add some soapy water to the windshield, and begin scrubbing with the steel wool. Once you’re done scrubbing, rinse with clean water and wipe dry with a clean towel.
2. Clay Bar
Quality clay bars are good for removing tar, oil spots, and hard water spots from the windshield. Mothers and Chemical Guys produce good quality clay bars (once you’ve figured out how to clay bar a car) that will remove hard water spots from your car windshield. This method may not work perfectly in severe cases of hard water spots. It may only remove light spots of hard water deposits.
Best Way To Clean Car Windows
Cleaning your car windows should be a daily routine, requiring extra carefulness and patience. And the best way to clean car windows is to clean them last after you’re done washing your car. That is to avoid droplets of debris on your windshield while washing the car.
Also, use automotive glass cleaner spray to clean your windshield to give it a sparkling look after washing. If it’s highly concentrated, dilute it with water before use.
Another best way to clean the windshield is to clean the outer and inner parts to give a brighter and sharper view while driving. Again, clean your wiper blades thoroughly to avoid staining your clean glass.
Don’t forget to roll down the side windows to clean the upper part where the glass slides into when it’s rolled up.
Water Spot Remover For Car Windows: Last Words…
This article has carefully discussed reasons for hard water spots, how to prevent them, and different water spot removers for car windows. If your car window is messed up with a hard water spot, try any of these techniques to discover the ones that best work for you. Simple DIY procedures can also help you save money if you can’t afford commercial products.
FAQs On Water Spot Remover For Car Windows
How To Remove Hard Water Stains
If your car or wheels are stained with hard water deposits, then you’d need to remove these stains through this simple DIY technique below. First, mix equal amounts of white vinegar and water. Then pour the mixture into a spray bottle and distribute it evenly over the affected areas. Allow it to soak in for a few minutes, rinse with clean water, and wipe dry with a clean towel.
How To Remove Hard Water Stains From Glass
You can remove hard water stains from your glass with white distilled vinegar and baking soda. You may not need to mix them; apply them separately, one after another. Spray the vinegar on the glass, then apply the baking soda mixed with water. Allow it to stay for a while, then rinse with clean water and dry with a clean microfibre cloth. Or, you can purchase any water stain remover product from Amazon, like the Griot Garage Glass Polish water spot remover, the Chemical Guys HD water spot remover, or the Duragloss 755 water spot remover. And a host of other good products that can remove water spots.
How To Get Water Spots Off Car
With the help of white vinegar and distilled water, you’ll eliminate every water spot on your car. You can also use WD-40 to remove water spots with this method. First, pour WD-40 onto a clean towel, rub it firmly on the affected spot, allow it to stay for a couple of minutes, and wipe dry with a microfiber cloth or a clean towel.
How To Remove Water Stains From Fabric
First, mix 2 cups of distilled water with one and a half cups of vinegar in a bowl. Test on another cloth to ensure it won’t leave any more stains on the fabric. When you’ve ascertained that, place your stained cloth on a towel. Dip a white cloth in the solution and dab it on the affected area. The towel under will help to drain the water. Repeat this process until every stain is removed, and then dry with a hair dryer.
How To Get Window Paint Off Car
For water-based paint, a mixture of warm water and liquid soap with a soft brush to scrub the paint is all you need. And for oil-based paint, you can either use WD-40 or Acetone. For WD-40, apply on the paint and allow it to stay for some minutes before you scrub with a soft brush, rinse with clean water, and wipe dry. For Acetone, apply and wipe off immediately.
What To Use To Clean Car Windows
You can use a non-ammonia-based auto glass cleaner or a mixture of equal amounts of alcohol and water (50%) with a capful of vinegar and pour it into a spray bottle.
