One common issue we see in our professional detailing service is the presence of water spots on the car’s surface. Improper methods of removing water spots often result in swirls and scratches. Let’s look at ways to properly remove water spots from a car.
Water spots are broadly divided into different categories. While roughly the same steps are followed for treating different types of water spots, some special steps need to be taken to deal with more persistent types of spots.
Water Spots From Mineral and Dirt Deposits
Mineral and dirt deposits comprise the first category of water spots. These are mostly a result of trace minerals present in rain, sprinkler systems or in the car cleaning water, which remain attached to the car’s surface when it is washed but not dried off.
Water Spots From Corrosive Liquids
This type of water spot refers to etchings or craters that appear in the paint due to some corrosive liquids coming in contact with the car surface, which can eat away portions of the paint.
To ensure a spotless finish, use the method described below to remove water spots from your car. While using your hands can take longer, the result is far more pleasing to the eye than what the other mechanical methods can achieve.
Steps For Removing Water Spots
- Wash the car thoroughly so mineral deposits on its surface loosen and rinse off.
- Make a careful visual inspection of the car surface to ascertain the presence of water spots. If needed, fluorescent bulbs can highlight spots that regular lighting does not reveal.
- Use detailing clay to rub the surface of the car. The clay will loosen the contaminants and carry them off. Remember to use fresh sides of the clay at regular intervals. You will need to knead the clay when it becomes dirty to expose fresh clay.
- Use of a mineral deposit remover may remove the spots if they are sitting on the surface of the paint. If the water spots have etched into the car’s paint, a chemical treatment will not remove them.
- Machine Polishing or Compounding may be needed to remove the water spots, or to correct the damage caused to the paint by chemical etching. In the worst cases, wet sanding may be required.
Prevent Future Water Spots on Your Car
Applying a ceramic coating to the car’s surface will ensure your vehicle’s paint is protected from any future water spots or stains from dirt or biological matter. Ceramic coatings, or nano-coatings, are hydrophobic, meaning water will not attach to the surface. If any water spots remain, they will be on the coating and not your paint. That’s great news for vehicle owners or car enthusiasts who want that new car shine even after a rain storm. This permanent protective coating is available as part of the ceramic paint protection packages offered at Details Matter. To learn more about our services, contact us. We’ve been helping car owners throughout Florida since 2010.