Water spots on windshield won't come off? I Just Found the Fix!

So, you have been parking your car too close to your water sprinkler or maybe your gutters have been leaking rainwater onto your car’s windshield for some time without your knowledge. Whichever the case, now you have plenty of water spots on your windshield that won’t go away. Well, don’t panic! Yes, it is possible to remove water spots from your windshield, but it largely depends on their severity. In this article, we will define water spots and discuss the various ways in which you can remove water spots from your windshield.

Water Spots: How are they formed?

Water spots are formed when water droplets laden with impurities or minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium are allowed to sit and dry out on a car’s surface. When the water evaporates, it leaves unsightly, white-ish deposits of these impurities or minerals, hence water spots.

What Types of Water can Cause Water Spots?

Basically, all types of water that have not undergone a purification process can leave water spots on your car’s windshield, so that includes rainwater, well water, and soft/hard tap water. That is why professional car detailers recommend the use of distilled water when rinsing vehicles. With distilled water, you are more assured of a water-spot-free finish.

Types of Water Spots

Water spots can be categorized in various ways, but for the sake of this article, we’ll categorize them based on their levels of severity.

Surface-level Water Spots

These are water spots that are just on the surface of your car’s windshield (they haven’t yet corroded the surface of your windshield). Such water spots are often fresh, e.g., 1-2 days old, and do not cause serious damage. You can easily remove them with the help of a high-quality car window cleaner.

Etching Water Spots

The longer water spots sit on your car’s windshield, the harder they are to remove. The obvious reason is that they cake up and harden with time, but there is also no denying the sun’s role in this process. If left exposed to the sun’s UV rays for long enough, the mineral deposits in water spots can chemically bond to your car’s windshield. When that happens, they become etching water spots that erode the surface of your car’s windshield glass. Such water spots can permanently damage your windshield and are a lot harder to remove.

Not all Spots are Water Spots

Also worth considering is that the spots on your car’s windshield may not be water spots at all. If at some point, you gave your car a new paint job (maybe after collision-related repairs) and then got back on the road before the new paint coat had the chance to dry completely, the spots on your windshield may be clear coat overspray. The same is true with wax jobs; if you don’t give them the chance to dry fully, they may leave you with overspray stains and spots that are exceptionally stubborn. Other contaminants may have also caused the spots in your environment, so be sure to carefully examine the spots on your windshield to confirm whether or not they are water spots. That will help you determine how best to remove them.

Ways to Remove Water Spots from your Windshield

1) Best METHOD in 2022 - The Water Spot Remover

Our customers have been BEGGING us to release a water spot remover and finally...we have one!

We formulated a very careful acid based cleaner that's sure to decimate those water spots while leaving your car's paint unharmed.

It's nice and easy but you must follow the instructions correctly for good results. Take your time and the results will be worth it.

The first step is giving your surface a wash and dry. We recommend Decon Soap for a thorough wash. Dry with a clean microfiber towel.

Next, spray a bit of the Water Spot Remover on a microfiber towel. Gently rub. Do not let the product dwell on your windshield for more than 30 seconds to be safe. Clean your surface with water. If it is still there, repeat the Water Spot Remover application.

Our customers have been blown away from their results using Torque Detail Water Spot Remover!

"After trying to wash of the water spots,with no results. I applied the water spot remover and was amazed at how easy the spots disappeared. The rest of the car only took less than a half hour to finish."

"Works great like you guys said it would 😎😎😎!"

"The water spot remover works incredibly well. The Graphene Tire Shine works remarkably well also. I was inpressed with the level of shine and how the dirt doesn't cling to the tires! Will purchase again"

After examining your car’s water spots and the extent of the damage they may have caused, you can commence on the following straightforward water-spot-removal methods:

2) Wash and Dry Your Car

The first thing you need to do is give your car a thorough cleaning. The whole car? Yes! If your windshield has water spots, the rest of your car is likely also to have them. Use Torque Detail’s Decon Wash Pack for the soap, which includes decontamination soap and a wash mitt. Torque Detail’s Decon Soap is specially formulated to remove stubborn surface contaminants that regular car soaps have a hard time removing, e.g., the mineral deposits in water spots. It also strips prior coats of sealants and waxes.

Materials Needed

• Decon Soap
• Wash mitt
• Pressure washer
• Foam cannon
• Several microfiber towels
• Two 5-gallon buckets
• Water hose
• Distilled water
• Leaf blower (optional)

1. Pre-Wash
   Start by spraying your car with plenty of water to wash off dirt, debris, and other contaminants that may be sitting loosely on the car’s surface. After waiting a few minutes to allow the water to soak the dirt on your car, pour 500 ml of distilled water into your preferred foam cannon and add 2 ounces of Torque Detail’s Decon Soap. Screw back the foam cannon bottle onto its head unit, attach your spray gun (which is connected to your pressure washer), and spray a thick layer of foam onto your car’s surface, giving special attention to crevices and hard-to-reach areas. Decon Soap delivers thick foam that will sit on your car’s surface for some time. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes to allow its active ingredients to encapsulate and lift dirt off the surface of your car.
   
   
2. Washing the Car
   The next step is a full-on contact wash. Fill two 5-gallon buckets with water and pour 4 ounces of Decon Soap into the one you have designated as the soap bucket. Dip your wash mitt into the soap bucket and then use it to gently scrub all your car’s surfaces using both back-and-forth motions to dislodge dirt and mineral deposits. Work your way from top to bottom, stopping periodically to rinse the wash mitt in clean water and dip it back in the soap bucket. That way, less dirt will get trapped within the folds of the wash mitt as you will be scrubbing. Hence there will be less risk of leaving scratches and swirl marks.
   
   
3. Rinsing
   After giving your car a good wash-down, rinse it with plenty of water. As mentioned above, it will be in your best interests to use distilled water when rinsing. Pour plenty of water onto your car to remove all the dirt, especially onto your roof, because the last thing you need is droplets of soapy water streaking down your windshield after you have already rinsed it. Also, give special attention to hard-to-reach areas like door jambs. You can wash the car a second time if necessary.
   
   
4. Drying
   Car drying may seem like a straightforward, foolproof step, but many people get it wrong. The way you have been doing it may be the very reason why your car’s windshield has water spots. Sun-drying is a no-no, especially if you want to get rid of water spots. You should also avoid using old rags or towels because they will likely leave quite a few scratches on your car.

   Towels: If you intend to use cloths or towels to dry your car, a chamois drying towel will do, and so will regular microfiber towels. However, for the best value, get premium waffle-weave microfiber towels. They are better than most other types of cloths or towels at trapping and lifting dirt and moisture. They deliver the best results when damp, so dip them in clean water and then wring them out before you start wiping.  

   When using these towels, fold them once or twice and slowly wipe the water off a section of your car’s exterior; wipe in straight lines, preferably in one direction. When that side of the towel gets saturated, flip to another side and continue. When necessary, switch to another towel. Do not skimp on these towels; use as many as you need to get the job done well. If the towel accidentally drops to the ground, do not use it again; get another towel.

   One last thing to consider when you are using towels to dry your car is the use of a drying aid. Drying aids add lubrication to your car’s surface to help reduce the risk of leaving scratches or swirl marks.  

   Machine Air Dryer: You can also use a machine air dryer like a leaf blower to dry your car. This option is sure to save you time and energy, and it will also guarantee you a water-spot-free finish.

   This comprehensive washing and drying process is likely to remove most fresh, surface-level water spots and also reduce more severe scratches in size significantly.

3) Clay Your Windshield

The idea of scrubbing your windshield with a clay bar may seem a bit too aggressive, but you should know that most clay bars on the market are safe for car windows and windshields. Torque Detail’s Clay Decon Kit is perfect for this application. It is designed to remove the deepest layers of contaminants on a car’s windows or painted surfaces. Therefore, you can count on it to remove iron or calcium deposits as well as all forms of overspray, even those that are not plainly visible. This kit comprises a Clay Lube and a reusable clay pad that you can use even up to 100 times.

Materials Needed

• Clay Lube
• Clay pad
• Microfiber towels

1. Prepare Your Windshield’s Surface
   Claying should only be done on a clean, dry surface, so it should follow immediately after washing and drying your car. Ensure that the surface has fully dried.
   
   
2. Claying Your Windshield
   Spray a generous amount of Torque Detail’s Clay Lube onto your windshield, and then use the clay pad to scrub the surface gently. Make sure the dotted side of the pad is facing downwards when scrubbing. Use back and forth motions and apply a bit more pressure on areas that have stubborn water spots. When patches of your windshield start to dry out, spray a bit more Clay Lube and continue scrubbing. If the clay pad drops to the ground, you must clean it thoroughly before reusing it.
   
   
3. Wipe It Off
   When you are done, wipe off the clay lube and all dislodged contaminants using high-grade microfiber towels. Again, where towels or cloths are concerned, damp microfiber towels are the best at lifting dirt and absorbing moisture, so they are the way to go in this application. Wipe gently in straight lines. Use one towel to wipe off the excess lube and contaminants and another to buff the surface to clean shine.

4) Polish Your Windshield

If your windshield still has traces of water spots after the claying process, you will need to escalate the removal process to the next level, which is polishing. Polishing is more aggressive than claying because it involves using an abrasive compound to trim down the top layer of your car’s windshield. If done well, it should be able to remove the deepest etchings caused by water spots.

Materials Needed

• Glass polishing kit
• Machine polisher
• Water
• Microfiber towels

1. Prepare the Windshield’s Surface
   As with claying, confirm whether the windshield’s surface is clean and dry before polishing.
   
   
2. Cover all surrounding areas
   Polishing can get quite messy, so it is a good idea to cover up all surrounding areas of your car before starting the process, e.g., its hood and roof.
   
   
3. Polishing Your Windshield
   First, spray a generous amount of water onto your windshield. It is also a good idea to continue spraying the surface with water from time to time as you will be polishing the surface; the water will both cool and lubricate the surface.
   

   After that, apply your preferred glass polishing product to the areas on your windshield that have water spots. Using an applicator pad, gently spread it over those areas to ensure an even polish. After that, take your machine polisher, set it to a low-speed setting, e.g., between 800 RPM and 1000 RPM, and start polishing your windshield. Apply more pressure on all water-spot areas.

4. Wipe it Off
   Use high-quality microfiber towels to wipe off all the gunk and residue that will be left on your windshield.

5) Wax Your Windshield

One thing that comes out clearly in this entire process is that water spot removal can become costly and time-consuming. Therefore, it is wise to combine this water-spot removal procedure with a waxing procedure to prevent the formation of water spots in the future. Use Torque Detail’s Mirror Shine. It is a high-grade, dual-action, synthetic detailing product that will both wax and seal your car’s glass and painted surfaces. Its patented, polymer-based formula will bond to your windshield’s glass surface, leaving a protective layer that will repel dirt and grime while shielding against corrosion and etching. Also, this product has been infused with Silicon Dioxide (ceramic), so you can also count on it to leave a high-gloss shine and keep causing water to bead up and roll off for up to six months.

Materials Needed

• Mirror Shine
• Microfiber towels

1. Prepare the surface
   As before, ensure that the windshield is clean and dry before you start the waxing process.
   
   
2. Apply the Wax
   Shake the Mirror Shine bottle thoroughly, and then spray some of it onto a portion of your windshield. Just a small amount will do. After that, use a fresh microfiber towel to work the wax into the surface of your windshield. When you are done, repeat the process on the remaining sections of your windshield.
   
   
3. Wipe it Off
   After that, use another fresh microfiber towel to wipe off any excess Mirror Shine and buff the surface to your desired shine.

Homemade Water-spot Removal Methods

In the absence of clay kits and polishes, you can also resort to the following homemade water-spot removal methods:

1. Vinegar and Water
   When using vinegar to remove water spots, combine it with clean water to achieve a 50:50 mixture. Spray the mixture onto your windshield and let it sit for a few minutes, then spray more of the mixture, especially in the areas with more water spots. After giving the vinegar more time to soften the water spots, use a soft towel soaked in vinegar and water mixture to scrub the glass. After that, use a microfiber towel to wipe off the vinegar mixture and any dislodged mineral deposits.
   
   
2. Baking Soda
   You can also use the abrasive nature of baking soda granules to your advantage in your quest to remove water spots. Pour some water onto a small measure of baking soda in a disc and mix it into a paste. After that, use a clean towel to apply the paste and vigorously scrub the areas of your windshield that have water spots. When you are done, rinse your windshield with plenty of water and then wipe it dry using microfiber towels.
   
   
3. Lemon
   The undiluted lemon juice can also work magic against hard-water stains. Cut a lemon in half and rub the cut side against the water spots on your windshield. Continue doing so until they start to disintegrate. After that, rinse off the lemon juice with plenty of water and wipe dry using microfiber towels.

Summary

The main cause of water spots is static water beads, i.e., water droplets left to sit on a car’s surface for too long. Therefore, if you can train yourself to remove static water droplets the moment you see them, you will make things much easier for yourself. Make a point of washing and drying your car regularly using the right products and the techniques described above. Also, a coat of wax goes a long way in preventing the formation of water spots because it causes water droplets to slide or roll off your car’s windows and painted surfaces. Therefore, ensure that your car’s surfaces have a protective coat of wax at all times.