Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

[renegadejade]

Ok I have read countless articles on this forum about how to get rid of water spots and trying to get glass perfectly clear. I have read so much I honestly do not know where to begin. So I though I would start a new thread here to get my own advice from everyone. I have water spots on all of my windows in my truck except for the front one. I was wondering what is the best way in your opinion from least aggressive to most aggressive to get rid of them. Also, I have the water spots on my side mirrors on the truck and was wondering if I could use the same process for removing them as I would on the windows. I guess I could reword this because I am sure there really is no "best way" but you all know what I am getting at. Looking for some good suggestions here. Thanks for your time and to all who respond.

Jade

[Meticulous-Detail]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

I would first start with a water spot remover, like Duragloss Nu Glass. If that didn't work I would try a polish with a DA and a polishing pad, if that didn't work step up to a compound and a more aggressive pad. If that didn't work I would try to glass polish and a glass polishing pad. If that didn't work I would get new glass.

[Soarer5]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

Actually it's simple as using #0000 steel wool with almost no pressure with car wash soap/water.

[renegadejade]

Can I use the same method to clean my side mirrors on my vehicle?

[Detailing by M]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

Meg's new water spot remover
Steel wool
Compound on foam or wool
Cerium Oxide on glass polishing pad

[Guitar280Z]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

This is some interesting advice. I don't recommend any kind of abrasive, even 0000 steel wool. We ruined a back window on a junkyard car once with light rubbing that way. I did find some glass refinishing pads at the AP store that did work on a the same lightly scratched window, to clear it up, but I wouldn't recommend that as a way to remove water spots. The polish kit has some pads you put in your drill, wet & polish.

If you keep your glass clean regularly, you decrease the spots to begin with. I also think that a glass sealer or coating like RainX will probably help prevent water spots from forming or becoming permanent.

Question: I see cars that have "spots on the back widow, that are arranged in a kind of grid, but they aren't water spots. They look like a kind of optical imperfection?

[goldenlight]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

Steal wool scares me. Afraid of getting that stuff on my paint.

I recommend Duragloss 755. Use this product with a DA or cheep orbital buffer and your windows will be crystal clear.

[wifpd4]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

Question: I see cars that have "spots on the back widow, that are arranged in a kind of grid, but they aren't water spots. They look like a kind of optical imperfection?

The defroster grid on the inside probably "cooks" the glass in a matching grid, at a minimum water dries in that pattern where the heat is. Or the tint is affected by the heat. Those are my guesses.


As to using steel wool, Lexus and other vehicle manufacturers may too, use a product on their side windows and their owner's manual says don't use abrasives.

[1994Gen1L]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

I use Duragloss NuGlass with my DA and a 4" light polishing pad on speed 4.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

The info below is taken from a TNOG last year:

You've got water spots on glass that just don't want to budge. What do you do to fix that?



Get a little creative - grab a bottle of Ultimate Compound and kill those water spots!


And just like that, the water spots are gone.

[Guitar280Z]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

How would you prevent the future formation of water spots?

[Guitar280Z]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

Why not just use Meguiar's water spot remover? What else should be best than a product specifically created for glass, than an abrasive product used for polishing paint?

[Murr1525]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

Well, some of this was written before the new Water Spot Remover was really available. And still cant say I have seen it.

However, the Water Spot Remover is basically UC in a spray bottle.

As far as keeping them off, wax or RainX type things seem to work well, I dont know about in areas with worse fallout.

[s word]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

Mothers had advertised a Water Spot remover which I tested on my mirrors. Result was semi-decent. Less results than the UC example Mike posted.

The Mothers stuff is great for light water spotting, but the really baked on stuff required much much more. Without seeing this thread I UC/UP/Waxed a friends car that had sat in sprinkler overspray almost daily for over a year with no wash/no wax. When I saw the results I tried just UC to start on the windows. Very good results and this stuff was caked on there.

In addition to what Murr said about keeping it off I think regular maintenance and not parking in troublesome spots go a long way for prevention. Ultimate spray wax, x-press wax all are great on windows.

[STRIFE]

Re: Glass Cleaning Water spots etc.

Everyone should have a bottle of UC in their arsenal