Car mirrors and windows help you see out for safe driving, so keeping them clean is essential.
Although water spots seem relatively innocuous, they can ultimately amass and fog up the entire glass, or worse, render your window structurally unstable and susceptible to breakage.
All car drivers must know how to get water spots off car windows and mirrors if they don’t want to face these consequences.
This article will provide you with some effective ways to do it. Let’s keep scrolling down to put the most suitable method in your pocket.
What Causes Water Spots On The Glass Surface Of The Car?
Apart from yellow spots on cars, water spots are also a common pet peeve among drivers.
Hard water spots on windshield are produced by mineral deposits such as calcium and magnesium. Moreover, it can also happen due to improper cleaning processes.
Mineral Accumulation
When your car gets stuck in the rain, or you wash it with plain old tap water from the local water system or a well, minerals in the water begin to build up.
Water stains will be harsher in locations with naturally “harder” water than others.
While it may appear absurd, even if you scrub your car’s glass windows after each rain or wash, these particles will still accumulate.
Close inspection reveals that each of these “spots” is the contour of whatever shape the water beads up as.
The minerals will then have gathered around the circumference of the oblong form.
Wrong Cleaning Processes
Hard water spots windshield can become “etched” into the glass of your car’s windows as the temperature rises.
That’s why you must completely dry your automobile after washing it. Do not let it dry out in the sun.
Etched stains are challenging to remove and may require expert help or some abrasive removal procedures, like wet sanding.
How To Get Water Spots Off Car Windows And Mirrors
How do I get water spots off my car windows? There are many methods to clean stubborn water spots off car windows.
Depending on the stain type, you might apply a suitable way to remove it quickly and effectively.
Glass Cleaner
Find an excellent window or glass cleaner by doing some research. Scrub the hard water spots car windows away using a microfiber cloth.
This procedure usually works better with regular areas since you won’t mistakenly wear down the glass substance.
We recommend using a microfiber towel because it leaves no fabric residue and does not harm the glass.
Vinegar
White vinegar is a cheap option. Thus, mixing it with water helps erase watermarks.
If done correctly, this mixture will neutralize the minerals in a water spot or stain without destroying the glass beneath. Make careful to clean it with a microfiber cloth once more.
You should use a spray bottle loaded with vinegar and water to ensure you apply enough amount to the glass.
Moreover, ensure that the solution contains an equal proportion of these two liquids. When you use too much vinegar, it might permanently harm your windows’ glass.
Lemon Juice And Essentials
Another method to remove hard water spots on the windshield is using lemon juice (cut a lemon in half and extract its juice).
The acidity in lemons is less than in vinegar, so it would be a safer but less effective method.
It can be used to dissolve minerals in a water stain or spot.
Because squeezing enough juice to fill a full bottle takes much time for most individuals, directly dab a lemon slice on water stains instead.
Apply your pressure to ensure you receive enough acidic juice to accomplish the cleaning task.
Then, dampen a microfiber towel and slowly massage the wet stain away. A squirt of glass cleaner over the top can help remove any remaining streaks or grime.
In addition to the lemon juice, orange juice or essential oils might aid in the removal of hard water spots on car windows.
Moreover, they help the prevention of future hard water deposit accumulation.
After blending some drops of the essential oils with water, apply the mixture to the glass surface using a microfiber cloth or sponge.
Let it soak for a few minutes before removing it with a reputable glass cleaner.
As mentioned before, this method cannot be as effective as vinegar solutions. However, it is ideal for handling some new water stains.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the most common ingredients for any cleaning work.
First, you must make a baking soda paste using a modest amount of water and baking soda. Scrub this paste on the wet stain vigorously with a microfiber towel.
The baking soda paste contains abrasive grains that can wear away the minerals and limescale-like deposits on the water spot.
After making every effort to completely wash the filthy area, rinse the car glass with water.
Because there is a risk of dirt or paste spreading inside the vehicle’s interior, we recommend using this approach solely for outside windows and mirrors.
If you want, you can also take off your rear-view mirrors to clean!
Then, do not forget to use a dry and clean cloth to remove all remaining water.
WD-40
WD-40 is a common lubricant. Yet, it has more benefits than a typical lubricant.
The product’s composition includes anti-corrosion chemicals and substances for penetration, water displacement, and soil removal.
Thus, this product can handle well with water spots on the vehicle’s mirrors and windows. Simply use the same procedure as vinegar to apply your WD-40.
- Spray it on a cloth.
- Then rub that glass area with the water spots as hard as possible.
- Allow it to settle for a minute or two.
- Use a dry microfiber or paper towel to wipe it away.
If you happen to come across this post and want to apply this procedure on a glass cutting board, please be sure to wash the WD-40 off first because it’s not food-safe.
Water Stain Removal Product
A “water stain removal product” like glass polish is the best way to remove water spots from car windows. Here are three of our recommended products:
Griot’s Garage: this is the most popular product for this stain type.
It employs a meticulous combination of acids and oxides to remove virtually every water stain from your vehicle’s glass surface.
The next best product is HD Chemical Guys Water Spot Remover, which is likewise a well-known brand and appears to have similar results.
It even waxes the surface in the hopes of preventing future wet spots.
Our final choice is Duragloss 755, which is exactly as effective as the two above but costs a little more.
It cleans and lubricates the glass surface simultaneously, preventing future spots and noisy windshield wipers and extending the life of your blades.
Conclusion
Now, do you know how to get water spots off car windows and mirrors? This article has mentioned 6 methods, from using the home ingredient to specialized chemicals.
Water stains are challenging to remove, especially when they cover the entire area of your automobile mirrors or windows.
Thus, depending on the stain situation and your condition, you can consider applying the most suitable way.
Yet, after every cleaning, you must use a dry towel to remove all excess water on the surface.