Hard water and spots on the window

macmonkey84 · 05-05-2006, 01:07 AM

In Albuquerque, the water I used to wash the car is relatively hard. It's so hard, in fact, that if you even let the water sit on the window for like a minute, after you dry it off, the water beads will leave a distinct pattern of calcium or something. Anybody have any idea how to get these out? I tried rubbing with a terry cloth and water, and that didn't work. Then I tried windex (on the outside). Still doesn't work. Seriously, I am no newbie to washing an Si or a car in general, but for some particular reason, the water drops just stuck like crap on velcro, and I'm lost as what to do. Help! Please!

HMCK20 · 05-05-2006, 02:08 AM

aslong as your using it strictly on glass ( the side mirrors are not glass ) use a spray wax or quick detailer sprayed on fine steel wool and that will do the trick. i run a mobile deatil business so i wouldnt steer you in the wrong direction

FFKnuckles · 05-05-2006, 07:21 AM

Steel wool???? I wouldn't touch any part of my car with steel anything! Use an old clay bar, or get a new one. That should get that right off there in no time! Plus you can use it on any part of your car afterwards unless it's filthy.

**twistedframe** · 05-05-2006, 08:58 AM

you might want to invest in one of those mr clean auto dry kits. I would use it just for the rinse stage. Use you favorite soap to clean it, but then rinse the whole car with the mr clean kit. I would still advise drying it somewhat, but any droplets of water that are left over or you miss should dry without making spots. It works on windows as well. Good luck

negativezeroz · 05-05-2006, 09:57 AM

Have you tried Invisible Glass from Stoner? Good stuff. $4-5 a can.

Kabs · 05-05-2006, 12:22 PM

just use vinegar....

HMCK20 · 05-05-2006, 09:42 PM

steel wool is your friend just dont be noob and learn how to use it correctly. i will be done in half the time you will be using glass cleaner to take off water spots on glass. it takes the residue off but doesnt touch the outline left in the pores of the glass.

06CivEXJon · 05-05-2006, 09:57 PM

I also have spots of water on my windows too, it pisses me off! I want them out!

HMCK20 · 05-06-2006, 12:56 AM

read what i posted

Rpm2 · 05-06-2006, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HMCK20

steel wool is your friend just dont be noob and learn how to use it correctly. i will be done in half the time you will be using glass cleaner to take off water spots on glass. it takes the residue off but doesnt touch the outline left in the pores of the glass.

This is true...I have a friend who owns a bodyshop and they do this all the time.

imfrom7thGEN · 05-06-2006, 01:12 AM

the mr clean autodry thing sucks, unless the dirtiest your car gets is pollen or dust thats all it will clean, any caked on dirt or bird crap isnt gonna come off, its a waste of money, i only used it twice and than threw it out

8thgenuser · 05-06-2006, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imfrom7thGEN

the mr clean autodry thing sucks, unless the dirtiest your car gets is pollen or dust thats all it will clean, any caked on dirt or bird crap isnt gonna come off, its a waste of money, i only used it twice and than threw it out

Right, it's been mentioned in other threads that the AutoDry system as a whole doesn't work well in cleaning. The problem is the soap doesn't really clean very well. The shining star however is the filter, which TwistedFrame mentioned. The filter will take most of the minerals out of the water. The minerals in the water are what actually causes the unsightly water spots. Uncontaminated water will simply evaporate without a trace.

You could also install an inline filter for your hose. This option is not really worth it IMO, but if you're a clean freak, try it out. You could probably find one at your local Home Depot. If not, I believe autogeek.net carries it.

macmonkey84 · 05-06-2006, 03:10 AM

Thanks guys. I really appreciate your help. I'll probably try something simple at first, because I have never dealt with this problem, at least as badly as it got this time. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary, except for washing it in direct sunlight. I think that was my mistake; I normally wash it during the evening, when the sun's behind the house. But, thanks again.

dlux200sx · 05-08-2006, 07:01 AM

Can Stoner's invisible window be used on the headights and taillights?

CoryB · 05-08-2006, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlux200sx

Can Stoner's invisible window be used on the headights and taillights?

Sure, Stoners if fine but use a soft cloth to clean them, not a paper towel. Paper towels will scratch the plastic lights.

CarbonLimited · 05-08-2006, 10:04 AM

glass cleaner and razor blade

martinez_josh · 05-08-2006, 01:50 PM

macmonkey!!! you're from NM! the only other person I think besides me on this forum from NM

macmonkey84 · 05-09-2006, 12:28 PM

So, i bought the finest steel wool available... #0000. What do I use in conjunction with it to get the spots out? Any brand specific suggestions? What about how I do it? Are there any specific techniques? And what about what NOT to do? Thanks.

06 Honda Civic EX · 05-09-2006, 12:34 PM

my 06' honda civic, got bbbbaaaadddd water spots on all the windows I hafta take it the the dealership tomorrow to get them removed...it pisses me off, it makes my nice clean shining paint job look like shit

macmonkey84 · 05-12-2006, 01:36 PM

Applying the vineger with an applicator pad and then going over the window lightly with the finest steel wool seems to work very well. Now, the car is very dirty (the dealership washed it without asking me first and they didn't even dry it off!). So, I'm gonna have to put Rain-X on the windshields before I wash again, just to make sure it doesn't happen again.

05-05-2006, 01:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
macmonkey84 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Age: 24 Posts: 105 Walter iTrader: 0 / 0%	Hard water and spots on the window In Albuquerque, the water I used to wash the car is relatively hard. It's so hard, in fact, that if you even let the water sit on the window for like a minute, after you dry it off, the water beads will leave a distinct pattern of calcium or something. Anybody have any idea how to get these out? I tried rubbing with a terry cloth and water, and that didn't work. Then I tried windex (on the outside). Still doesn't work. Seriously, I am no newbie to washing an Si or a car in general, but for some particular reason, the water drops just stuck like crap on velcro, and I'm lost as what to do. Help! Please!

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05-05-2006, 02:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
HMCK20 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 101 iTrader: 0 / 0%	aslong as your using it strictly on glass ( the side mirrors are not glass ) use a spray wax or quick detailer sprayed on fine steel wool and that will do the trick. i run a mobile deatil business so i wouldnt steer you in the wrong direction

05-05-2006, 07:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
FFKnuckles Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Age: 26 Posts: 50 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Steel wool???? I wouldn't touch any part of my car with steel anything! Use an old clay bar, or get a new one. That should get that right off there in no time! Plus you can use it on any part of your car afterwards unless it's filthy.

05-05-2006, 09:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
negativezeroz Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: OK Age: 20 Posts: 1,698 iTrader: 2 / 100%	Have you tried Invisible Glass from Stoner? Good stuff. $4-5 a can.

05-05-2006, 12:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kabs Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Jersey Age: 22 Posts: 594 iTrader: 0 / 0%	just use vinegar....

05-05-2006, 09:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
HMCK20 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 101 iTrader: 0 / 0%	steel wool is your friend just dont be noob and learn how to use it correctly. i will be done in half the time you will be using glass cleaner to take off water spots on glass. it takes the residue off but doesnt touch the outline left in the pores of the glass.

05-05-2006, 09:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
06CivEXJon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Monument/Colorado Springs Colorado Posts: 4,385 Jon iTrader: 0 / 0%	I also have spots of water on my windows too, it pisses me off! I want them out!

05-06-2006, 12:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
HMCK20 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 101 iTrader: 0 / 0%	read what i posted

05-06-2006, 01:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
imfrom7thGEN Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Age: 22 Posts: 102 iTrader: 0 / 0%	the mr clean autodry thing sucks, unless the dirtiest your car gets is pollen or dust thats all it will clean, any caked on dirt or bird crap isnt gonna come off, its a waste of money, i only used it twice and than threw it out

05-06-2006, 03:10 AM	#13 (permalink)
macmonkey84 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Age: 24 Posts: 105 Walter iTrader: 0 / 0%	Thanks guys. I really appreciate your help. I'll probably try something simple at first, because I have never dealt with this problem, at least as badly as it got this time. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary, except for washing it in direct sunlight. I think that was my mistake; I normally wash it during the evening, when the sun's behind the house. But, thanks again.

05-08-2006, 07:01 AM	#14 (permalink)
dlux200sx Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 26 Posts: 312 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Can Stoner's invisible window be used on the headights and taillights?

05-08-2006, 10:04 AM	#16 (permalink)
CarbonLimited Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Minnesota Age: 26 Posts: 280 iTrader: 0 / 0%	glass cleaner and razor blade

05-08-2006, 01:50 PM	#17 (permalink)
martinez_josh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Albuquerque NM Age: 21 Posts: 328 Josh iTrader: 0 / 0%	macmonkey!!! you're from NM! the only other person I think besides me on this forum from NM

05-09-2006, 12:28 PM	#18 (permalink)
macmonkey84 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Age: 24 Posts: 105 Walter iTrader: 0 / 0%	So, i bought the finest steel wool available... #0000. What do I use in conjunction with it to get the spots out? Any brand specific suggestions? What about how I do it? Are there any specific techniques? And what about what NOT to do? Thanks.

05-09-2006, 12:34 PM	#19 (permalink)
06 Honda Civic EX Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NOR*CAL Posts: 53 iTrader: 0 / 0%	my 06' honda civic, got bbbbaaaadddd water spots on all the windows I hafta take it the the dealership tomorrow to get them removed...it pisses me off, it makes my nice clean shining paint job look like shit

05-12-2006, 01:36 PM	#20 (permalink)
macmonkey84 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Age: 24 Posts: 105 Walter iTrader: 0 / 0%	Applying the vineger with an applicator pad and then going over the window lightly with the finest steel wool seems to work very well. Now, the car is very dirty (the dealership washed it without asking me first and they didn't even dry it off!). So, I'm gonna have to put Rain-X on the windshields before I wash again, just to make sure it doesn't happen again.