[madpacket]

How do yall keep from getting water spots? I live in the PNW and cannot believe how bad the water in my neighborhood is for washing cars. Here is my procedure:

1) Wash car after 7pm, to keep out of direct sun.
2) Try as hard as possible to keep entire car wet the whole time
3) Run all water through a filter and softener that I bought here:
http://autogeek.net/clinhofianda.html
4) Final rinse with Mr. Clean system on "filter" mode (note I don't use their waxy soap, read too many complaints)
5) Immediately knock off most of the water with leaf blower
6) Immedialtely wipe down car with drying towel to completely dry

=
STILL MAKES FRIGGIN SPOTS

Especially on the glass, but I can see it a little on some places on the paint. I can get rid of the spots on the glass by polishing it off with my 7424 and Auto-Glym kit here:
http://www.properautocare.com/glpokit.html

I have a fresh coat of wax on it as well. Guess I just have to move. Am thinking about going to my folks place but that is 15 miles each way, seems like a pain. Is there any filtration method or equipment that works better? Can I get the water tested somewhere to find out wtf is in there that makes cars look so bad?

thanks for any advice....

[reeksti]

ask darksti

[DARKSTI]

Originally Posted by reeksti

ask darksti

Ok, heres my take:
Thats a great procedure, but dont bother with Mr.Clean ... it really isnt that good, it leaves a film on your car. Some of the waterspots may be already there. If you havent polished, the spots will stay even after washing. Get a good waffle-weave microfiber (you may have one after reading your posts.), my favorite is the Cobra from Autogeek. Use "detailcity" at checkout to get a discount. I wouldnt do the leaf blower, it can blow dirt back up onto the car and leave scrathes when you are drying.

To get the spots off, either:
1. Use vinegar and dab on the spots, then wipe off.
2.Use a clay bar
3.Polish

To keep the spots off, do a good claying/polish/wax. Then each time when you wash use a QD/Spray Wax like Optimum Car Wax to keep the wax "fresh"

If you need anymore help, check out http://autopia.org

[madpacket]

Originally Posted by DARKSTI

Thats a great procedure, but dont bother with Mr.Clean ... it really isnt that good, it leaves a film on your car.

Yeah I don't use their soap- only the "filter" setting.

Originally Posted by DARKSTI

Some of the waterspots may be already there.

Not the ones on the glass. Just the other day had the glass gleaming clean after polishing. One wash and I have noticable spots

I wouldnt do the leaf blower, it can blow dirt back up onto the car and leave scrathes when you are drying.

I proceed from the top down, and do so only on the driveway; not really any dirt there.

To get the spots off, either:
1. Use vinegar and dab on the spots, then wipe off.
2.Use a clay bar
3.Polish

Just bought a gallon of white vinegar. Will try that.


But what about preventing the spots? Do you use filters of any kind? Or is your water decent to start out with?

[DARKSTI]

Originally Posted by madpacket

...
But what about preventing the spots? Do you use filters of any kind? Or is your water decent to start out with?

No, my water is hard also ... I have no problems with waterspots once I polish and seal the car. I just use a waffle weave on everything. If I get caught in rain, once I know it wont rain more, I try to wash the car or at least give it a wipe down with poorboys spray and wipe.

[KarlSTI]

Our water is probably the hardest of them all. Mr. Clean system works perfectly for me. I've used it for the last few years. It was a must on the wife's black car. I don't skip any steps and I don't hand dry the car either. Drips dry with no spots. HOWEVER, when the filter turns brown I have to change it because the dang spots appear.

If used correctly it works great!! The high lubricity soap is fantastic. Consumer's Reports tried them all and Mr. Clean's system rates at the top.

Awhile back I read that using an electric leaf blower was the way to go. Didn't work for me. Instead of water spots I got water stripes.

[fullerton]

california squeegee thing works great on my car. (you'll have to search, sorry) it is made of silicon and supposedly creates much less friction to remove the water then a regular towel. less friction=less swirls.

i use it to get 90% of the water off, then use a microfiber cloth to remove the rest.

[madpacket]

Originally Posted by DARKSTI

No, my water is hard also ... I have no problems with waterspots once I polish and seal the car. I just use a waffle weave on everything. If I get caught in rain, once I know it wont rain more, I try to wash the car or at least give it a wipe down with poorboys spray and wipe.

So what you are saying is that once it is good and waxed, finish is more resistant to the water spots?

I notice you said polish. I don't understand why that would make a difference. If it is already good and waxy, isn't that about the same? Still being rather new I haven't polished the whole thing with my PC yet. Are you saying that an all-over polish, then a glaze and a wax (Menzerna FMJ) might get diminish the tenacity of the water spots?

Thanks!

[madpacket]

Originally Posted by KarlSTI

Our water is probably the hardest of them all. Mr. Clean system works perfectly for me. I've used it for the last few years. It was a must on the wife's black car. I don't skip any steps and I don't hand dry the car either. Drips dry with no spots. HOWEVER, when the filter turns brown I have to change it because the dang spots appear.

No wierd waxy buildup from the soap? I presume "no" since you like it.

Awhile back I read that using an electric leaf blower was the way to go. Didn't work for me. Instead of water spots I got water stripes.

Mine does a great job of getting water out of the tight spots. Maybe it is contributing towards the water spots, however as it tends to do a lot of "drying" at the same time it is pushing the water off the car.

Thanks!

[KarlSTI]

No problem with any soap build up at all. I scrub the car with a mitt with plenty of excess soap and then do a very thourough rinse using the MC system before doing the final de-ionizing step.

Yeah, the leaf blower seemed like such a good idea but didn't work for me. Tried it a couple of times.

[madpacket]

Originally Posted by KarlSTI

No problem with any soap build up at all. I scrub the car with a mitt with plenty of excess soap and then do a very thourough rinse using the MC system before doing the final de-ionizing step.

When do you do the final filtered rinse step? I was going to the trouble of wash panel, rinse regular, then rinse w/ filter; repeat next panel. Do you do that or as the last final rinse the entire car once over on the filter setting?

Thanks!

[KarlSTI]

Originally Posted by madpacket

When do you do the final filtered rinse step? I was going to the trouble of wash panel, rinse regular, then rinse w/ filter; repeat next panel. Do you do that or as the last final rinse the entire car once over on the filter setting?

Thanks!

Yes you save the final step for dead last for the whole car. I do wash the car in sections, soaping, scrubbing, and rinsing. When done I do a full car rinse to make sure every bit of soap is gone. Then I do a full car deionizing rinse from top to bottom. Then I let it sit outside for an hour or so.

I wipe up the excess water only at the wing(under), and with the trunk open (water spills out onto back window), and inside the doors.

[twigg107]

I live in vancouver, wa too and use the Mr. Clean system without any problems. Infact I washed my car on the 4th without one waterspot and use the same steps as KarlSTI. The only bad thing is on the 5th they tore up the road to my house so my 3hr car wash went out the window.

Here are my steps
- rinse car with ragular nozzle (to get the big stuff off)
- Fill a CLEAN bucket with car soap and HOT water
- start scrubing and keep the whole car wet ( when you rinse the soap off spray down the whole car to keep the water from drying)
- Spray down the whole car again to get all the soap off
- use the final step mr clean thingy.
- I usually let it sit for about 15mins and then use one of those car towel thingys to get all the standing water off.
- sit back and be amazed

[solbergfan]

I usually go to one of those do-it yourself places that has an option for the "Spot-Free Rinse". It seems to eliminate water spots, because the water is highly filtered (same idea as the Mr. Clean system).

[scubadiver424]

i guess warm water is best to use when washing a car, not Hot