If you've ever parked your car outside, chances are you walked out the next day and noticed a bunch of whitish stains all over it. These stains come from hard water buildup from nearby sprinkler heads or even light rain. Worse still, these small dots are difficult to remove from the paint and can be very damaging if left on. Here's what you can do to remove them.
How to remove water stains from your car
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Those pesky little water stains can be difficult to remove, but it's not impossible. That first step in the removal process, according to Vehq , is to clean the car with a mild cleaner using the two-bucket washing method . Once the car is clean, dry it with a microfiber drying towel. A thorough wash like this should remove most if not all of the water stains. If not, you can try the following methods:
- Use a finishing spray and microfiber cloth to remove water stains.
- You can soak a sponge in distilled white vinegar and use it to remove water stains. Leave the vinegar on the water stain for a few minutes, then rinse with water and dry the car with a microfiber towel.
- After cleaning the car, you can treat the areas that still have water stains with car polish.
- Use a precision putty bar on areas with residual water stains
After the car has been washed and dried you can apply a fresh coat of wax to the finish to protect the paintwork. The wax can also prevent future accumulation of water stains.
How do water stains form on your car?
As you might have guessed, water stains are caused by water. Specifically, dry water that has left minerals and impurities that were once there and cannot evaporate, hence the white patches.
Can water stains damage your car's paintwork?
Whether or not water stains are harmful depends on the type of contaminants that water leaves in your car. It also depends on how long the water stains remain on the car. Fortunately, when it does get damaged, it's usually because of the car's clear coat, not the deeper base coat.
Remaining stains can be due to lime or calcium and magnesium from hard water in sprinkler heads. But acid rain, which typically contains sulfuric and nitric acids, can also leave water stains . If any of these types of contaminants remain for too long, the paintwork can be damaged.
How to avoid water stains
Knowing where to park is important if you want to prevent water stains from accumulating on your car. If you must park outdoors for long periods or overnight, try not to park near grassy areas as the sprinklers could activate and spray your car.
If you live in an apartment complex that requires you to park outside, consider covering your car with a car cover . Additionally, if you notice your car has gotten wet from sprinklers or rain, try to dry the area as soon as possible to avoid staining.
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