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Stubborn Water spots on Windshield and Side mirrors - HELP

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Katai

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
HI I have a huge problem.

All over my windshield and one side of the car, I got hard water spots from a sprinkler my mother in law used to place on our yard, soaking one side of my car and the windshield. I didn't think anything of it but now I have a lot of hard water spots all over my glass. Its to the point where its diffulct to see at night. I tried vinegar and that didn't work. Steel wool, extra fine but it seemed like it left micro scratches.

Finally I bought Mothers California Gold Water Spot remover, excited for it to work. However the spots are still there!! :wall

The glass feels smooth but the effing spots ARE.STILL.THERE.

Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated..I have no access to a buffing machine so easy by hand techniques please.

Bout ready to try Bar Keepers friend on the glass....
 
#2 ·
I have the exact same problem from the automatic sprinklers at my workplace. Also tried vinegar, and it didn't seem to do much. I wonder if a dilution of muriatic acid might work?
 
#4 ·
Bar Keepers Friend should work on the glass but it may take more than one try. Here's some info on the paint. Scroll down to the second post (red car) as that's more what you're dealing with but it's all a good read. In short you'll need a chemical paint cleaner at the minimum or a machine polish with compound at the maximum.

How To Remove Sprinkler Water Spots - Auto Geek Online Auto Detailing Forum
 
#5 ·
That is why in the Netherlands they remove as much calcium from the drinking water as possible, making it a lot softer.
Done nationwide for years already.

You also could try and getting an reverse osmosis system to provide you with the clearest (and least contaminated) water possible and use that for washing your car, and so on. Drinking osmosis water is safe, but i am sure you will not like it (due to most people being used to drinking water which has all kinds of things mixed in). A reverse osmosis system can be acquired for about 50 dollar (cheapest one, without container).
Greetz

Pim
 
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#7 ·
No it will not but if it doesn't work go with the BarKeep's Friend. I've used it for this very purpose and it makes a mess but it works. If the spots are etched clay won't touch them.
 
#9 · (Edited)
I used SoftScrub on some very stubborn window water stains which my selling dealer failed to clean off before delivering the car and it did the job. Ordinary window cleaner wouldn't touch them. I tried the SoftScrub on a small part of a rear side window to make certain that it wouldn't damage the glass before I used it on the rest of the windows.
 
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Discussion starter · #10 ·
Invisable glass - No dice.

bar keepers friend - This actually did work. I was so happy I started doing the whole passanger side glass........only to see MICRO SCRATCHES when it dried. Applied with a microfiber cloth. What gives???? I don't see anywhere anybody mentioning that this crap scartches glass. I dampened the cloth, put the stuff on there. Wet it a bit to make a paste then went at it. I didn't press hard but I didn't press softly either...
 
#11 ·
Suggest that you use SoftScrub on the rest of the glass - tried and tested as noted, no scratches, cleaned off gunk which was like cosmoline. Just to be certain, try it on a small rear side window patch first.
 
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#13 ·
I used SoftScrub with Bleach, but basically because that's what I had on hand. Still, the bleach may have helped. I believe that the cleaning agent is the same for all of its formulations, which I understand is diotomaceous earth and will not scratch ordinary glass. But again I would try some on an inconspicuous part of the glass and I wouldn't rub too hard. It already has a lot of liquid in it so it probably works best with a soft cotton cloth. And I would be careful with mirrors - I don't recall whether I used SoftScrub on mine, but I probably did.
 
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#14 ·
Mix apple cider vinegar with water at 50-50 proportions. Soak a microfiber towel with the water-vinegar solution,place the soaked towel over the hard water spots, leave it for about 5 mins and then gently rub with the soaked towel until they vanish. Hope it helps, Good luck!!!
 
#15 ·
Blogson said:
I used SoftScrub with Bleach, but basically because that's what I had on hand. Still, the bleach may have helped. I believe that the cleaning agent is the same for all of its formulations, which I understand is diotomaceous earth and will not scratch ordinary glass. But again I would try some on an inconspicuous part of the glass and I wouldn't rub too hard. It already has a lot of liquid in it so it probably works best with a soft cotton cloth. And I would be careful with mirrors - I don't recall whether I used SoftScrub on mine, but I probably did.
Click to expand...
I wonder if Bon-Ami would work the same? The original formula is supposedly safe for glass (click here)
 
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#17 ·
doane2u said:
I wonder if Bon-Ami would work the same? The original formula is supposedly safe for glass (click here)
Click to expand...
I had thought about using that, but I wasn't certain whether Bon-Ami uses feldspar rather than diotomaceous earth (calcium carbonate), and feldspar in my experience is more abrasive. But I could be mistaken.
 
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#18 ·
Blogson: Check the link I gave.. you're right, they use feldspar, and also limestone. They mention using it on glass and mirrors, so sounds like it would work.

I'll just quote them:

"People write in all the time with interesting uses for the 1886 Formula Cleaning Powder. One of the most common is cleaning glass. The original formula is safe to use on most glass because the tallow soap means that slurry of the powder and a little water will glide over the glass surface, cleaning away dirt but not scratching. This formula leaves behind a slight, invisible film that protects the glass from salt spray making it a favorite for boats and seaside homes. This film keeps mirrors from fogging up in the bathroom too."
 
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#19 ·
doane2u - Yes, I had clicked on the link and I also checked another of their web pages as well as a consumer forum. As you note Bon Ami states that it's safe to use on glass, and it does have other ingredients apparently in part to help to mitigate the abasive quality of the feldspar - I don't know about that since I'm not a cleaning agent chemist! Soft Scrub's effective cleaning agent is only calcium carbonate and in that form one would have to work hard to make it scratch ordinary glass - the maker says that it also is safe to use on glass, and it worked for me without leaving any scratches on my RAV4's glass, but I did need to go through the cleaning process twice to remove all of the gunk and water stains.
 
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#20 ·
Katai said:
Invisable glass - No dice.

bar keepers friend - This actually did work. I was so happy I started doing the whole passanger side glass........only to see MICRO SCRATCHES when it dried. Applied with a microfiber cloth. What gives???? I don't see anywhere anybody mentioning that this crap scartches glass. I dampened the cloth, put the stuff on there. Wet it a bit to make a paste then went at it. I didn't press hard but I didn't press softly either...
Click to expand...
I've never seen it do that ever. I used a terrycloth covered sponge but I doubt that matters.
 
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