How do I get rid of water spots?

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My husband at work so I'm posting this in the hope someone has a idea to help! We have a beautifull white Ram that is covered with water spots. There are even spots on the mirrors and windows that I cant get off. We have well water at our house that is full of minerals so Im thinking that it is the minerals causing the problem. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of them? By the way I spend as much time on this site as my husband does and Im learning more about our truck everyday!Thanks for the help

 

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A good quality wax may remove them. Zymol makes a prewax cleaner called HD Cleanse. It total strips the paint of all wax and does a good job of removing spots and small scratches. After using it, the paint is sqeaky clean and is very easy to wax. It does take a fair amount of elbow grease, but results are worth it. It will in no way harm or scratch the paint. I have used it on many type cars and trucks and on colors rangeing from silver metallic to black with great results. Good luck.

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2001 2500 ETH/DEE Blk/Agate 4x4 QC LWB SLT+ 3. 54 LSD, Every option except Snow Plow and Cab Lights. ARE Z-Series Cap(lined) Bedrug Mopar Blk Aluminum Tube Steps 12000 lb Warn Winch and all the right gear.

 

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Only problem is that once you wash the truck the spots return. We have fairly hard water too, and the only way to get around this is to put the house on a water softener. I have a dedicated water faucet running to the driveway for washing the vehicles. Otherwise, wash the truck at a car wash that has a water softener.

 

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I agree with the good quality wax statement. If you keep it waxed, and dry with a chamois after washing it, it should stay clean. Often, to get the spots off, a simpy appication of wax works... if not, then use a cleaner as mentioned above (Zymol or Body Scrub)should work or you may try the body clay. This is good to do (or have done) every once in a while anyway. A friend of mine uses vinegar on his fiberglass boat, but I've never used it on paint, so I'm not recommending it (should be fine for windows, though).

Worst case scenario - have it professionally detailed by a reputable shop and then keep it waxed and dry it after a wash (and keep away from sprinklers!). Let us know what works for you!

 

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Take this for what it is worth. I read in another post to use water spot remover you would use in the dishwasher. (Cascade)Have not tryed this as I have a water softner.

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Eric Pitts
2001 Properly Valved 2500 Qcab 4X4 auto Transgo shifts it
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Any wax will remove them,the trick for glass is newspaper. Just polish the glass with old newspaper,works on the mirrors to. Dry with an absorber when you wash. You might want to try a good hand wash with soap before waxing.

 

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I've had the same problem.

What I learned -

1. Don't wash vehicle in hot sunlight

2. Blow dry at 60mph ASAP

3. Finish off with towel or chamois

4. Wax when sheet metal is cool

5. Use a lot of elbow grease

I use Meguiar's Cleaner-Wax about every 6 months.

I use Meguiar's Quik Detailer Mist & Wipe about every 3 weeks.

Don't use any waxes/polishes on the windshield, but the Meguiar's products work good on the mirrors and all other glass surfaces.

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"Red Rage" - 2001 2500 SLT 4x4 QC Lowered Rear End 2. 5" 5spd, 4. 10 K&N Stock Replacement - 9,000 miles and counting! 30' 5th Wheel

[This message has been edited by bennettj (edited 07-11-2000). ]

 

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6bbl... lil of the subject but am using a wax that doest take off water spots cause it does not have any abravies in it... I was looking for a wax that took out swirl marks on black(some lot monkey must of buffed it with a chia pet) anyone that wants a shine of a show car goto zainobros.com... It takes alot to impress me,and i have no fiancal gain here, jus want to pass on a great product... JB

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99 Quad,Long bed,4x4, SLT,Auto,K&N,Mobil Super Delvac 1300,fuel line up-grade from lift pump to filter and from filter to injection pump, Suncoast coverter,BD valve body and pressure-loc,Mag-Hytec trans pan,Amsoil ATF-4,Auto meter Ultra lite gauges:Boost,EGT,Fuel Pressure,Trans Temp, "true" Jet-Hot Coated 5 inch exhaust from turbo to tail pipe(over the axle)Borla shoot-out muffler,DD stage 3 injectors and boost module,HX-40 16cm2 and ATS exhaust manifold in tranit to Jet-Hot for there 2000 series coating(Gray) Blue Box here and going on 7/19/00, Valentine 1, EZ-pass

 

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Quad try meguiars gold class or zainos on black. If someone buffed your truck and left swirls use a sponge pad on a buffer to get rid of them. My only problem with zaino or meguairs is they are a pain to remove when it is humid. But that seems common with the high reflective waxs. Have you ever tried a product called Race Glaze? It goes on and off like a dream,I use it on my black car. I even put it on the grill and hood before going on a trip to make the bugs come off easy. Even after a week in the sun it comes right off. Does'nt last as long as zaino. I have only been able to buy it at body shop supply houses. Also contains no wax or silicone.

 

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6bbl. . wow. . that sounds like a great product. . i have to look for it... I was jus blown away with the performance of Zaino. I agree with ya with the drying times in the humidity... . As i said my truck was hammer with swirls, and with one application it took alot of them out... i need to aply another coat, jus need to find time. . You dont realize how big our trucks are still you wax um... . thanks for the tips... JB

 

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I have had bad luck with swirls on black. The only solution is don't wax-on,wax-off like the Karate Kid. I use straight strokes when putting the polish on and when taking it off.

Like good Honorable Grasshoppa!
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<marquee> '99 2500HD Quad Cab 4x4,Intense Blue Pearlcoat,fully loaded w/Agate leather interior,5-speed,4. 10 limited slip,Skyjacker Leveling kit,Heckethorn Nitro 9000 shocks w/dual end to end steering stabilizers,35x12. 50x16. 5 BFG/AT KO's on 9. 75x16. 5 Eagle 589 Aluminum Wheels,9004 Cool Blue's,Silencer Ring removed,Fog Lights relay pulled,No muffler,No resonator,4" straight pipe,Northwest Customs Stainless Steel Rocker Panels,Steel Horse Stainless Steel Nerf Bars,K&N Filter,POWEREDGE W/HOT#3 PROGRAM</marquee>

[This message has been edited by WOWZY (edited 07-11-2000). ]

 

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We use a mixture of 50% vinegar and 50% water to remove waterspots from boats after using them in areas with hard water (Lake Havasu,AZ is the worst because the heat bakes them on) it has not hurt the paint on my outboard motors and they are Black, we mix it up and put it into a spray bottle then you spray it on and then wipe it off with a soft cotton cloth. It is better to just dry the vehicle off and not alow the spots to appear, I'm not good with a chamois but there is a product called a "California Water Blade" that is a real soft squeegee designed for drying vehicles, instead of 5-6 cotton towels I can use the waterblade and one towel and dry my whole boat, it's a great product, I thought it was a joke when my Mom gave it to me for Christmas but it really works. They have them at Costco and Schucks and probably some other chain autoparts stores.
HAPPY CLEAN RAMMIN!!!!!
Caleb

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1993 LE W250 4x4 CC,Auto,3. 5's,Limited slip. Diamondplate,K&N,Egt,Boost,trans temp VDO Vision series, BD 3 1/2" Exhaust, 16cm housing,Mag Hytec Diff+ Trans pans,Transgo TFOD shift kit.

 

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Sig,

I have a BLACK ram, and the water spots were bad. Like others have said, use a wax/glaze or whatever to remove them. I used a glaze. Then I asked a friend who owns a high end detailing biz, does mostly exotics for celebs. His suggestions:

1) Do NOT wash/dry in SUN... NEVER.
2) Always hand dry, they use a squeege.
3) Do NOT wax/glaze in SUN.

I wash in the shade, and wipe it down with a damp soft towel... waterspots have not returned. I keep a soft towel in the truck just for this. Hope this helps.

Dave

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2001 2500 ISB,4X4,QC,SB,AUTO,3. 55's,BLACK,AGATE LEATHER,SLT,every option except heated leather/4whl anti

 

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Back in the days when I used to enter my truck in shows, I was constantly detailing it. Nowadays, well... I use the "I live on a dirt road and it rains a lot" excuse.
Anyway, you might want to check out Griot's Garage ( http://www.griotsgarage.com ), they're a mail order company in Tacoma that specializes in premium car care products.
I had a hard water problem when I lived in L. A. , and I also had no shade. My technique was to wash the truck and constantly spray the areas that I had already washed to keep the entire truck from drying. I would then drive a few blocks to a coin-op carwash and use their "spot-free rinse", which was soft water. After that, I'd drive to an abandoned gas station, park under the canopy, and dry the truck with a chamois.
If there's a coin-operated car wash near you that has a soft water rinse, you might want to try this.

Here's another detailing tip, it sounds kind of weird, but it works! Before I washed my truck, I would clean the windows and mirrors, and then coat them with Rain-X. I wouldn't wipe off the Rain-X, I'd just let the hazy film stay there on the glass. Then I would wash the truck, and go over the glass with the wash mitt as worked my way around the truck. After the soft rinse mentioned above, and a little wipe here and there with the chamois, the windows would be spot-free and crystal clear!
Andy

 

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This is my 4th black truck... I use Meguiar'
s Gold Class wax, stright on, straight off, no circular motions, and always in the shade... When I wash it, I dry it off fast with a California Water Blade(Available at speed shops, WalMart, and advertised in Truckin' magazine) I hate chamois, it WILL scratch my paint, I've learned the hard way...
As for removing existing spots, I've always used a wax/cleaner... thankfully, I don't have any on this truck yet !

 

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Sig (or Mrs Sig),

I know the spots you are referring to. My wife's new Z3 came equipped with water spots on the windshield, mirrors and door glass. I used Dupont Polishing compound..... NOT Rubbing compound. Polishing compound has NO wax and leaves a very clean finish.
Try a small spot on a mirror or other inconspicuous place. Works great! I had tried all the cleaner waxes and miracle solutions (including vinegar and water with newspaper drying) with no success.
As a finishing touch I coated all the glass with rain-x.

Mick2500


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2001 2500 ETH/DEE, QuadCab, 4X4, SB, LSD, 3. 54, SLT+, Sport, Intense Blue PC/Agate, Tow Package, Camper Package, 'DC' Bed Cover, Sliding rear window. Ordered 5/01/00... Cancelled 5/30/00... re-ordered 6/02/00... Cancelled again by DC 6/05/00
Gauges (EGT/Boost) and A-Pillar mount Here, 4" Exhaust, Here.
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Status BX 7/11/00,
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Sig/Mrs. Sig:

Since the spots are calcium deposits from the hardness in the water, they should come off easily with the vinegar mixture mentioned by boatpuller. I also don't think that it would harm the paint, but I'm not a paint engineer. I do know it will work on the glass without harm.

I have soft water for vehicle washing and still got the spots because I washed the truck in the sun. Don't do it.

Dry the truck immediately, as mentioned by just about everybody else here too.

I didn't use the vinegar trick to get the spots off my truck. I used the Clay Magic and wax method. That's a lot of elbow grease, and it won't help the glass. I'm going to use the vinegar on the glass next time.

Good luck.

Loren

 

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As a newcomer to TDR, I felt obligated to post a reply here as my first post.
I have been detailing for several years on all types of paints and finshes.
2 years ago when I took delivery of my 24V 98. 5 I was told, "oh don't worry about waxing the truck for at least a year," right.
Waxes are horid for todays vehicles and finishes. And they don't last or protect your finish.
On our first trip to CA 2 years ago, I found a product called Perma Shield. This is a co-polymer sealer. Not a wax. It can be used on every finish, all of the glass, chrome and stainless. Keep it off of the black textured plastic trim though.
My truck and my 36' RV have only had PS used on them and I can't tell you how many people think both vehilces are brand new.
Not bad for 72,000 miles. We travel full-time with the truck and 5+ for a living.
I don't sell the product, but I can help you get in touch with the owner. It sells for $20 a quart, and one treatment lasts for 8 to 10 months, and nothing sticks to it. Not even hard water spots. It comes off like powder, and I never work up a sweat.

Thanks,
DC Miller

 

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OK- where/how do you get Perma-Shield?

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Bill Lins Wharton, TX 98 2500 QC SLT,12 (the CORRECT # of)valves,NV4500,3. 54 LSD,Manik grille guard,Psychotty Air,Amsoil everywhere, Reading aluminum utility body and bumper,Optima yellow tops- silencer ring, cat,& muffler all stolen.

 

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since we are on the subject of detailing can someone help give me an ideal in getting wax off the black plastic door handles. i would also be interested in the perma sheild .