Rain, sprinklers, and dew strike your car on a regular basis. It’s a fact of life. You park your car and allow the moisture to evaporate away. This habit creates problems, however. Water spots form on your car. You might try to wipe them away, but they seem to forge a presence on your paint job. Don’t discount the power of water spots and their negative effect on your car’s paint. Learn about the science behind water spots and how to avoid them.
Hard-Water Science
Most neighborhoods have hard water. It’s a low-cost resource that’s perfect for your home’s plumbing. You wash clothes, water the lawn and shower in hard water. This water type is full of minerals that are typically healthy for people, animals, and plants. They aren’t, however, good for your car.
Minerals are what water spots are made out of as the surrounding water evaporates away. It may look like a simple stain, but these minerals latch onto the paint as they dry up. At this point, damage to the paint has already occurred.
The Worst Offenders
Within hard water and water spots are metals and calcium. You’ve seen these minerals before in the bathroom. They latch onto plumbing fixtures and essentially grow out of control. The minerals damage the underlying surfaces, which is exactly what happens on your car’s paint.
These minerals are particularly harmful to your paint because of their molecular structure. They have a strong connection to the paint and metal on your car. Rubbing them away will only create more damage to the underlying layers.
Tough Solutions
You can’t just wipe the spots away. Their circular imprint remains as you simply scratch the paint even further with a rubbing motion. Detaching those minerals requires an acid. You can find paint-approved acids at your local, auto store. However, find a simple solution in distilled white vinegar.
Apply this vinegar to a newly washed car by focusing on small sections. Rinse it off after about one minute. The vinegar dissolves the minerals, which leaves the vehicle looking brand new once again. Be sure to use a sealant or wax afterward to further protect the finish.
Avoiding Water Spots
Park your car away from any sprinklers or trees where dewdrops are possible. Be aware of any moisture on the car as you go about your day. Wipe away any fresh moisture with a rag so that spots can’t develop in the first place. Your car is an investment so treat it with care. Its resale value will be substantial with the original paint job.
Some car enthusiasts turn to covers for their vehicles as a way to avoid the weathering elements. Ideally, don’t cover the car with any material. Water spots may be frustrating, but reducing the evaporation off of the car’s paint with a cover creates even worse problems. Pull your car under an overhang or clear out the garage. Preserving your paint job requires some effort as the car gleams beautifully for years to come.