hard water stains on my window

[chelbanger]

Ok hopefully this isnt too long of a story. So yesterday i ride with my parents to a family get together, and i leave my car at my parents house. Their sprinkler was going, i didnt think anything of it, it was hitting half of my car, i thought cool, i'll get a rinse lol. Anyway we get back and it looks like dirty water stains all over my windshield and half my hood, and roof. My car is black so it really shows up. It looks like greyish white streaks where the water had been and i can barely see out of my passenger side windshield. I,m guessing from being in the sun all day, it must have baked on or something like that. Please! can anyone help me figure out how to get this off my car. I went to a car wash today, and to no avail stains were still there. It was only water, i dont understand what happened. Anyone ever here of this, or have this happen? Any ideas of a product or anything that will get this stuff off, it looks really bad, like the car sat in the sun for years. Any help is appreciated Thanks all in advance.
Adam

[LakevilleSSEi]

A good wax on everything (windows and all) will take it right off. Worse case you use steel wool pads to get the spots off the glass. May need more than one application. Otherwise find a body/detail shop and get the buff n shine treatment. A lil pricey but looks awesome buff'd n wax'd.

[ga93sle]

Worst case scenario buffing will take it off the paint, and white vinegar may take the spots off the windows.

[00Beast]

I've heard vinegar works well on the glass, otherwise #0000 steel wool and a good glass cleaner should do the trick. Try hand-washing with some dish soap (Dawn, Joy, etc) mixed in with good car wash solution and a good mitt, that should help remove the stains. Otherwise you might need to use some polishing compound. You need friction and scrubbing action to remove the spots, just applying chemicals won't likely remove them. You will need to wax after washing with dish-soap, as it strips all the wax off, and don't make it a part of your car-washing routine, except when you want to get down to bare paint and start over with wax.

[Grimm]

Your parents have hard water? Water spots happen because of minerals and dirt in the water. Let the water bake in the sun and you are left with all the deposits on your paint. Waxing isn't going to work unless you use a cleaner wax. That might do the trick. Clay bar might as well. Otherwise you are probably going to need it polished to really remove all traces.

[01bonneSC]

Your parents have hard water? Water spots happen because of minerals and dirt in the water. Let the water bake in the sun and you are left with all the deposits on your paint. Waxing isn't going to work unless you use a cleaner wax. That might do the trick. Clay bar might as well. Otherwise you are probably going to need it polished to really remove all traces.

Its outside spicket water, its gonna be hard.

Try a bucket of water with a splash of ammonia and use newspapers to wipe it on. Dont use the NY Times though, there ink is diff than others and doesnt work as well. This is how you should clean all your windows, inside and out. Old detailer's trick.

EDIT: I should say wipe it on with a rag/towel and dry with the newspaper.

[chelbanger]

ok thanks all for the replies, i will try everything mentioned until it works! i knew i'd get some answers here. So i'll start tonight when i get home and see if i can get this stuff off my car! thanks again
Adam

[LakevilleSSEi]

Your parents have hard water? Water spots happen because of minerals and dirt in the water. Let the water bake in the sun and you are left with all the deposits on your paint. Waxing isn't going to work unless you use a cleaner wax. That might do the trick. Clay bar might as well. Otherwise you are probably going to need it polished to really remove all traces.

I've had good luck with the cleaner waxes. Or Meguiers or however the f you spell it Rubbing compound followed by meguiars cleaner wax.

[chelbanger]

My parents have well water, so i assume it is hard water. Any way slowly but surely im making progress. I tried windex last night, and it worked a little, cleared up a bit, but the streaks on the windshield remain. So i guess vinegar is next? Do i spray it on, or pour it on? Maybe mix with water? I dont know someone probably said in an earlier post, i'll go back and check lol. Yea right now its the windshield i want to clear up, then i'll tackle the paint on the hood. Thanks for all the advice! I have actually heard of that meguires stuff you mention lol
Adam

[SSEiMan01]

You can in fact use claybar on windows... Might be worth a shot. Otherwise, I've done wonders with glass cleaner and a razor blade.

As for the paint, compound, polish, wax 2x is my method of choice.

[chelbanger]

ok, razor blade huh, that didnt even dawn on me. i'll try that. Anyway, forgive my ignorance, what exactly is claybar? Sorry

[SSEiMan01]

It's literally a block of clay, used with a quick detailer. It's used to remove contaminants from paint before polishing/waxing.

[chelbanger]

ok thanks i'll remember that

[00Beast]

http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-07240-Cal ... B0002U2V1Y

That's a clay-bar kit, you can pick it up at any auto-parts store. Meguiar's also makes one, only difference is price.

[chelbanger]

Im going to have to get one of those kits. So i used some vinegar on the windows and i think it worked pretty well. It was getting dark and the car wasnt dry, so i wont know till the morning when everything has a chance to dry. Then i'll know if it worked for sure.

[nickburgundy]

if you pay the shipping I can send you some awesome glass cleaner. I install auto glass and it takes everything off, imo. pm me

[chelbanger]

oh sorry i would have been glad to try that glass cleaner, but i used vinegar last night, and now my windows are clear again! So now onto the hood. I got some compound and cleaner wax, washed it and tried the compound on a small area, but those water streaks are not going without a fight.

[00Beast]

Could try mixing some semi-truck acid with your wash. It won't damage your paint, but will remove all the crap. Just be sure to rinse well.

[ga93sle]

I was gonna say acid, but I was afraid I would be shunned. If acid won't take those spots off, they won't come off lol. Also works well on white cars with rail dust, and for removing the dust that gets on cars when the brake pads start cutting into the rotors.

[chelbanger]

ok well i havent finished with the compound and waxing yet, we had a wedding to be at this weekend. Next i will try this truck washing acid if i can find any. Thanks alot again for the suggestions
Adam