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08-09-2012, 04:20 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 197274
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Greenville, SC
Vehicle:2009 Impreza WRX Black |
How do I get water spots off of my car windows?
These spots are REALLY bad and have been on there since i bought the car. Been putting off trying to get rid of them for awhile but Im finally getting around to it. So far I've tried putting some white vinegar on a wash cloth and scrubbing the hell out of it with no luck. This showed up in alot of google searches so i figured this would be a good start. Should i let the vinegar soak on the window for awhile somehow then try scrubbing it or... I also saw some stuff about 000 grade steel wool - does this work? Will my windows get scratched up if its not a certain grade? What will take these spots out?!
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08-09-2012, 05:03 PM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 253541
Join Date: Jul 2010
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Vehicle:2011 WRX 5DR Premium OBP |
Post a picture. DO NOT take any grade of steel wool to glass.
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08-09-2012, 05:11 PM | #3 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 247029
Join Date: May 2010
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Airstrip One, NJ
Vehicle:2010 WRX Hatch (02C) Proletariat |
clay bar! works everytime! in my experience, continuous maintenance of windows with claying every so often will make the windows cleaner longer, and wipers smoother
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08-09-2012, 05:11 PM | #4 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 328289
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northern NJ
Vehicle:2005 Subaru WRX OBP 2001 Suzuki Bandit 1200 |
if it was on your paint i would say claybar it....hmmm maybe use it on the windows? lol
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08-09-2012, 05:17 PM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 197274
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Greenville, SC
Vehicle:2009 Impreza WRX Black |
Where can you buy a clay bar?
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08-09-2012, 05:22 PM | #6 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 250144
Join Date: Jun 2010
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Rhode Island, USA
Vehicle:2010 WRX STi Dark Gray Metallic |
Local auto store like autozone.
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08-09-2012, 05:32 PM | #7 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 328289
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northern NJ
Vehicle:2005 Subaru WRX OBP 2001 Suzuki Bandit 1200 |
^ that and it's not sold individually, it usually comes in a kit. if that doesn't work, at least you have an awesome cleaning agent!
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08-09-2012, 05:36 PM | #8 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 197274
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Greenville, SC
Vehicle:2009 Impreza WRX Black |
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08-09-2012, 08:17 PM | #9 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 295928
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Hickory, NC
Vehicle:2005 STi |
you could get some window waterspot remover. If you have access to a detail supplier like Malco you can usually get it. I think its too harsh of a chemical to sell in the store
http://www.malcoautomotive.com/Water...r-details.aspx |
08-09-2012, 08:20 PM | #10 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 197024
Join Date: Dec 2008
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08-09-2012, 10:21 PM | #11 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 25187
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: So. CA
Vehicle:2020 Forester 2010 Challenger R/T |
Just some random thoughts....
Clay will only help remove above-surface contamination. If the glass is etched, it will do little to help. That's not to say it wouldn't hurt to try. Water spot removers may help and I've used products like Chemical Guys WSR with excellent results. It's essentially a chemical alternative and a step up from the relatively mild acetic acid (vinegar) you already tried. ...but again, depending on the severity of the issue, the effectiveness may be limited. 0000 steel wool is used by some with apparent success (NOTE: with a lubricant), but I (personally) have reservations using it on the typically softer glass these days (used it years ago though). Many even use Bon Ami in a slurry mixture. Worst case scenario, cerium oxide will help to actually remove etching/scratches but it's got it's own drawbacks which should be researched prior to use. Not for the casual DIY'er IMO. If you are trying to find a solution, I would concentrate on a small area first. Work with your products/techniques/tools there before doing an entire window/area. ....and as always, use the least aggressive method necessary to get the job done. |
08-09-2012, 11:51 PM | #12 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 8
Join Date: Jun 1999
Chapter/Region:
HIIC
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii
Vehicle:2016 WRX STi Ice Silver Metallic |
I used Diamond Magic to remove water spots from my windows. It cleaned the windows up nicely and I can also use it around the house.
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08-10-2012, 12:21 AM | #13 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 300097
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Agreed on clay bar, as long as the spots arent etched in there. Made the glass super clear.
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08-10-2012, 12:39 AM | #14 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 328669
Join Date: Aug 2012
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Reno, NV
Vehicle:2017 STI Red. Duh |
Take to a detailer to get a water spot removal. You can usually pay about $50 to just have them do it for you.
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08-11-2012, 10:30 PM | #15 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 313978
Join Date: Mar 2012
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Vehicle:2005 Outback XT GRP |
Rain-x makes a window cleaner and it is supposed to be a pre cleaner to the regular rain-x. It works great, gets rid of water spots and everything else, I use it every time I wash my car.
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08-11-2012, 10:37 PM | #16 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 34773
Join Date: Apr 2003
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Charlotte NC
Vehicle:2013 WRX STi SWP |
I use this from Zaino. I've used it on very badly etched windows. It takes about 30 min a side window by hand if the are bad. After two windows you will need to take a break because you get the death grip. After you get them all cleaned up, keep on top of them and it wont take so long the next time.
You can use a machine, but you can distort glass if you put to my heat into them. Nothing that doesnt have some sort of abrasive is going to take out bad etching. http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...oduct_Count=14 |
08-11-2012, 10:39 PM | #17 |
*** Banned ***
Member#: 124663
Join Date: Aug 2006
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Nashville
Vehicle:2003 AW WRX 2008 GG Evo X MR |
I use a terry cloth towel and CLR (Calcium Lime Rust). It worked very well for my glass shower so Itried it on the windshield. Works great. I just spray a little on the towel and work small areas at a time then rinse it off. I have no idea what it will do to paint so I don't spray it directly to the window.
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08-12-2012, 10:23 AM | #18 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 295998
Join Date: Sep 2011
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Virginia
Vehicle:2006 Impreza WRX Sti blue |
there is stuff out there called bio clean. It's like a compound for glass. works amazingly well.
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08-12-2012, 10:59 AM | #19 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 141926
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Douglas, GA
Vehicle:2015 WRX CWP |
rust remover.
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08-12-2012, 12:29 PM | #20 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 305804
Join Date: Jan 2012
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Vehicle:2006 Impreza WRX OBP |
In an effort not to make either of us look too stupid, are you sure its not small bubbles under a tint film? No pics so I figured I'd throw that out there just in case. Unlikely, but you would need to go a completely different route to solve the problem.
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08-12-2012, 08:45 PM | #21 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 303658
Join Date: Dec 2011
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Greenwich, CT
Vehicle:2011 Subaru RED |
I always used to get small water spots on my windows so I started using a waffle weave micro fiber towel on all the windows inside and out everytime I dry the car off after a wash and it works great.
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08-19-2012, 01:10 PM | #22 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 323924
Join Date: Jun 2012
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I had the same problem but was lucky the clay cleaned it up nicely. I was doing some research on Autogeek and I may order this for next time. http://www.autogeek.net/dp515.html
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08-25-2012, 07:45 PM | #23 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 153088
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Arlington, TN
Vehicle:2005 Baja Turbo 95&96 Sambar 06 Forester |
Griot's Garage Glass Polish. They make a fine glass polish also. Now, they also have a clay bar specifically for glass. No clue what makes it different than their regular clay bar(or any bar for that matter), or if it works any better. They do make a glass cleaning pad that works well also. HIGHLY recommend this. It's about $15 and will last awhile.
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08-26-2012, 04:35 PM | #24 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 185105
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: near the ocean, NJ
Vehicle:2009 C63 AMG Palladium Silver |
many ways.
optimum poli seal on a hand applicator (or DA if you feel better) will get rid of light deposits and etching. clean the window well first and go at it. then, lightly buff off with a non-linting microfiber. optimum spray polish on a non to light cut pad and a DA will get rid of moderately etched spots; it depends on the glass. when you are satisfied with the results, buff it off. there is a company called Metal Wax that sells a couple grades of acid for metal work, however, they also sell it for window spot removal. it's basically an amped up version of the vinegar **** everyone suggests. an old detailers trick was taking diluted wheel acid and using a quick working and very water-filled technique to quickly and efficiently remove water spots. well, Metal Wax has made that a bit simpler but you still need to be very careful and follow the directions EXACTLY. i also suggest trying a test spot to assure it doesn't etch the glass because newer glass seems to be softer than before. it's better to work with a weaker dilution to get the hang of it. whatever you do, once it is clean, i suggest cleaning the windows often as opposed to letting stuff dwell on them and using optimum spray wax on a COOL windshield OUT OF THE SUN once the window is dry after cleaning/ washing to help "trap" the minerals from the spots and make your class less likely to etch. you can clean and reapply the wax as often as you want. the reason i don't suggest a heavy duty coating like opti-coat for the windshield is because while it is the best thing since sliced bread for pretty much all exterior surfaces, it is susceptible to repeated abrasion and wipers will do that. however, you can apply it to the rest of the windows and if done right it will permanently prevent the windows from getting etched. |
08-26-2012, 05:27 PM | #25 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 316278
Join Date: Apr 2012
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: Muskogee, Ok
Vehicle:2010 WRX Sedan WRB |
I cleaned mine with a nanoskin autoscrub, that thing blows me away. I had some bad spotting that invisible glass couldn't touch, one pass with the autoscrub and it was gone
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