Anyone know how to remove these? They're like little rings remaining of standing water that have "stained" the glass. Is there anything that removes this? I've tried window cleaners but to no good end...

Help!

 

there are more agressive things out, but you don't want to go there. Detailing clay will do a great job.

Matt

 

Vinegar is also an option - the acidity eats through the minerals.

 

I went the glass polish way from Griot's. it is agressive, it is awesome, it worked better than clay on the front windshield. not needed on the other windows. It has harsher chemicals and a grinding polish. good stuff.

 

Just like water spots on paint, it's hard to determine exactly which product and/or method will work best in your particular case until you try one or more methods.

Most of the most effective methods have already been mentioned, but I'd like to elaborate on each just a bit...

Clay: In some cases, a little claying will do the trick. In many cases though, you will need to spend some time claying. In other words, you may have to keep moving the clay over the area you're working on for a few minutes at a time (just keep adding more clay lube spray as it dries).

Glass polish: There are a some glass polishes out there that can be very effective at removing water spots. I haven't tried them all personally but here are some brand examples: Zaino, Griot's, 1Z/Einszett, etc. In most cases they don't require a long time working them. However, they sometimes do- so if it isn't immediately effective, keep working the area or use your PC polisher. You can't hurt the glass with a glass polish and sometimes a longer time working it is key.

Vinegar: For tough water spots, I'd have to say that I've had the best rate of success with vinegar.
**Here's a tip for using vinegar on glass: Saturate a large towel (or several small towels) with white vinegar. Lay the towel over the windshield and leave it there for 10-20 minutes. This usually loosens and breaks down the water spots quite effectively.

-Heather

 

Thanks everyone for the quick replies!

I'll try some if not all of these tips ASAP and let you know the results!

 

That reminds me... ASAP is a great idea! As with water spots on paint, the sooner you remove them the better. They become even more stubborn and etched in as time goes by.

Good luck! Please do report back on how you make out.

Heather

 

Nice advice on using the towel.

The acid of vinegar on paint isn't a great idea and usually you dilute the vinegar at least 1:10 with water before applying to paint and only leave it on as long as is needed to remove the water spots (test in a small spot). I've heard times as short as 10-20 seconds necessary to get waterspots off of paint.

 

If you use clay to get water spots off the body of the car (such as the bonnet, in particular) would you then have to go back and re-wax? Doesn't clay take off the wax coat (I use EPIC by the way)?????

 

I would have to say that in theory clay does not remove the wax since it should never actually come in contact with the wax. There should always be a layer of clay lube between your wax and the clay. In practice, I guess I always just assume that if I'm going to clay, I'm going to re-wax. I seldom spot clay anyway and so when I clay it is the whole MINI and I usually precede it by stripping the wax.

 

Clay is an abrasive and will remove the wax. There is lubrication, but it does strip contaminants from the surface and the wax will come off with those.

 

Indeed, I do not suggest the vinegar-saturated towel trick on the paint... only glass! Usually on paint, you can just apply some vinegar to a cloth and wipe (rather than allow to sit/soak).

-Heather

 

I agree with agranger...

Clay usually removes some degree of your wax, if not all. Since there is this variation and it's pretty much impossible to determine how much wax has been removed when you clay, it's our rule of thumb to assume that your wax is gone after you clay. Better to be on the safe side!

-Heather