Washing the car in dry climate?

[Boba]

This is so frustrating! I live in sunny California and even when I wash my car in the shade, it dries up so fast, causing water spots! Is there a method that you guys use (for those that also live in dry and hot weather climate) to minimize the buildup of water spot? I try to rinse one spot off immediately after washing prior to moving to another spot, but many times the water spot will have already been left on the car and rinsing it simply will not remove it. HELP!

Edit: I know of waterless car washes but I don't want to do that lol, I'd like to stick to my traditional water and soap

[Murr1525]

Re: Washing the car in dry climate?

Optimum No Rinse gets good reviews, could be an option, or at least part of the wash.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Washing the car in dry climate?

Where in California are you? Meguiar's is headquartered in Irvine and most of us live pretty close by. Yes, it can be tricky on those summer days with near single digit humidity, especially if the wind is blowing even lightly. But most of the time we're really not fighting it too much. Washing in the shade and keeping the car as wet as possible while washing helps, but even with our very hard water here we aren't fighting too many water spots.

Now, if you live in the Inland Empire or similar, you may be facing more wind and routinely lower humidity than we do in Orange County. Still, washing late in the day or early in the morning when humidity is a bit higher and temps a bit lower should help you out.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Washing the car in dry climate?

I like using ONR for this reason, among others.

[boiler7904]

Re: Washing the car in dry climate?

I usually have to wash my vehicles after work so it's pretty warm and the sun is fading fast. I rinse the whole truck quickly and then wash, rinse, and dry sections of the truck before moving onto the next part. For instance, I start with wheels and wheel wells (no drying) before moving to the the roof and windows, front clip, each side, and then rear. It means I end up drying some edges a couple of times but I don't have to deal with water spots.

[Fly Bye]

Re: Washing the car in dry climate?

rinsing it simply will not remove it. HELP!

CLEANER WAX

[Jossy92]

Re: Washing the car in dry climate?

Edit: I know of waterless car washes but....like to stick to my traditional water and soap

I have the same problem, and was forced to play around last week.
[However, the car had been in the garage and the metal was still cool when I brought it outside. NO shade

Did panel at a time: Gold Class was still wet when immediately wiped down with No Rinse. Then an immediate wipe down with Megs waffle weave. As the metal heated up I worked smaller areas as per evaporation.

By then the paint had started to heat up so it was M21 on a 2x2' horizontal which hazed in about 2 minutes and was wiped off. I should have pulled it back in the garage...live and learn.

Don't recommend it, just because we'll both get better ideas ideas here.