Got Spots? Well, quite literally, it is the water. The same water we use to bathe our cars can also damage our car'1s paint. The spots and damage are caused by the minerals in the water. When water evaporates off of your car's paint, it leaves behind the trace elements it contains. Calcium and metals are the most damaging elements found in your tap water, whereas rainwater contains damaging acids from air pollutants.
Getting rid of water spots can be easy if you chase after them. The best solution is to use a quick detailing spray after you wash, or as soon as you discover the spots (i.e., when your neighbor's sprinkler gets you).
If the spots sit for a while, they will attach to and harden on your paint. When this happens, you need to use a mild acid to get them loose. Believe it or not, the best acid is also the least expensive and most available: a gallon jug of distilled vinegar.
Expert car detailers have known this secret for years. If you take your car to a pro, they will tell you about the "magic acid bath" and charge you $60 or more for the pleasure of smelling like a pickle. Save the $60, put on some gloves, and get to it.
To give your car the magic acid bath, first wash your car with your normal car shampoo, rinse, then use the distilled vinegar. Just wipe it on with a sponge, and rub it in. Do one section at a time, let it sit 30 to 60 seconds, then rinse. When you're done, wash the car again with shampoo and rinse. By the way, vinegar will remove your wax. So, be prepared to rewax your car after the vinegar treatment.
If your hard water spots are bad, they will etch the paint. So, even though the minerals are gone, the paint still has spots. In this case, it is necessary to use a polish or heavy-duty paint cleaner.
Again, to keep spots to a minimum, try using a detailing spray after you wash. A good detailing spray contains wax. The wax will condition your paint and reduce hard water deposit spot formation. My favorite combo is the Miracle Towel and Pinnacle Crystal Mist (but that's just me). For more info, follow this link: http://www.autopia-carcare.com/autopia/quickmiracle.html. Other's seem to think the Eimann Fabrik is the way to go.
