"Water Spots" - What is the best way to remove that is not abrasive?

[2ndAmend]

I have tiny water spots over the entire surface of the car, paint and glass. Washing and waxing does not remove them. I thought they may be calcium and tried vinegar but it does nothing. There is Chemical Guys Water Spot Remover but reviews say it sometimes makes things worse.

My well water is acidic and I add soda ash (sodium carbonate) to neutralize the acidity. I stopped using it a while back and suddenly I had copper pipes leaking. I ended up replacing a bunch of the copper with Pex. I continue to use the soda ash.

I worried the spots might be acid etching the surface but if I scrape the glass with a razor it all comes off meaning it is build-up on the surface and not etching.

So there are 2.5 problems:

1a: How to remove the spots without abrasives? Maybe clay? 1b: Does it hurt to just ignore them?

2: How do I prevent them in the future? Articles say wax, but I have been doing that. And they say ceramic doesn’t help stop it. And I'm not about to spend big $ to filter water for car washes! Remember, I'm cheap!

I would appreciate suggestions from those who have experienced this.

Thanks.

 

[Linda's Hell Cat]

I would try 50/50 White distilled vinegar and water. Gently try a test area.
It's what we use to get water spots off of everything else we house clean.

I'm sure there is some product, but that would be the cheapest way to try.

If it works then do your normal wash and wax.

 

[2ndAmend]

I would try 50/50 White distilled vinegar and water. Gently try a test area.
It's what we use to get water spots off of everything else we house clean.

I'm sure there is some product, but that would be the cheapest way to try.

If it works then do your normal wash and wax.

Thanks Linda. vinegar did absolutely nothing...

 

[Linda's Hell Cat]

I can't tell, are the spots on top of the paint or in the paint/wax?

 

[2ndAmend]

I can't tell, are the spots on top of the paint or in the paint/wax?

I know it is definitely build up on the glass because I can scrape it off. No idea if it is "on" the wax, or if it etched through. Washing, rubbing and re-waxing doesn't help.

 

[Linda's Hell Cat]

I know it is definitely build up on the glass because I can scrape it off. No idea if it is "on" the wax, or if it etched through. Washing, rubbing and re-waxing doesn't help.

I wonder what mr Clean Magic Eraser would do!
Or alcohol. I'm just thinking cheap and what you might have already.
I'm sure there is some product already good to use. But that is also an answer needed.

 

[Octanewide]

Might be time to get a pro involved. Just a thought 🤷

 

[jroyk]

If it's not going to keep repeating, a clear coat safe polishing compound won't hurt it.

 

[SilverBillet]

If it's not going to keep repeating, a clear coat safe polishing compound won't hurt it.

Or wet sanding. Talk to a custom paint shop

 

[MikeD1]

I've had this problem at my last 2 homes in FL. The only solution (long term) is to buy & use a DI filter system.
I have used this system for the last 25+ years & it works great (but not exactly 'cheap'). I do not buy their replacement resin cartridges as they are rather pricey. They unscrew so you can empty out the used up resin, rinse them out & refill with bulk resin.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072FJTX8...=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

Before you go all in you might want to give this a try:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3890874239...CassiniEmbRecall&_trksid=p2332490.c101224.m-1

I started with one of these but the resin/charcoal cartridges are small (and pricey) & only last a few washes. Forget their soap, it sucks arse.

What I'd do is get one of these & use it to wet down a MF towel till it's soaking & then put it on the car & let it sit (in a cool shady area). Rinse & resoak every 20 min or so. Should be apparent fairly quickly if the DI water is 'absorbing/loosening' the mineral deposits.

Typically if you can scrape the spots off, that's mineral deposits. Acid etching actually eats into the clear coat & can only be removed by buffing and/or wet sanding. Mineral deposits can also eventually etch the clear if left for too long or in direct sun.

 

[2ndgen]

Chemicals Guys water spot remover works great. It takes some effort to use (you have to work a tiny area at a time, then rinse+wipe with distilled water as you go), but it works 100%.

 

[MikeD1]

I wonder what mr Clean Magic Eraser would do!
Or alcohol. I'm just thinking cheap and what you might have already.
I'm sure there is some product already good to use. But that is also an answer needed.

I would NOT use the magic eraser thing on paint (or plastic), it's actually fairly abrasive and I'd bet real $$ it would haze the crap out of the clear coat !!

 

[Air’d outSRT]

Use a good clay bar and chemical guys water spot remover