Water spots can appear on any windshield, but they can be difficult to remove them without hurting your windshield. Find out what will safely remove water spots off your windshield!
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What is a water spot?
Water spots are a mixture of water and some other contaminant (such as acid rain or soap). Once the water evaporates, all that’s left is the contaminant or mineral, which can be quite difficult to remove.
Vinegar:
Due to vinegar’s acidity, it’s able to dissolve whatever is in the water spot. The vinegar should be diluted with water that doesn’t have contaminants in itself (bottled or even distilled water are good options) so that it isn’t too concentrated. A half and half solution of vinegar and water should be used. Feel free to add more vinegar if you feel you need a stronger solution. Spray the solution onto your water spots and let them soak in. After a couple of minutes, wipe the the solution off with a soft cloth. Try this process a few times before moving onto the next step. You can also try lemon juice as a substitute for vinegar.
Steel Wool:
If the soft cloth isn’t abrasive enough, you may need to try steel wool. Steel wool is rough enough to tackle the tough minerals, but it’s not hard enough to scratch your windshield. We recommend using fine-grade steel wool to rub off the water spots as other steel wools can leave scratches in your windshield. If you’re still not having any success, move onto the next step.
Clay Bar:
Note that a clay bar (or detail bar) should only be used on newer models of cars. Older cars’ windshields have small pits in them which can result in the clay getting stuck inside. You don’t need another problem to deal with on top of your water spots. Be sure not to use the clay on the inside of tinted windows as it can cause damage to the tinting. Visit an auto glass store for the clay bar and whether it should be used on your windshield.
Additional Tips
- Try not to use regular household products as they can damage the colour or protective coating on the windshield
- Don’t park your car near sprinklers on hot summer days. The drops of water in combination with the fast evaporation can result in unwanted water spots