How To Remove Sprinkler Water Spots

[Mike Phillips]

How To Remove Sprinkler Water Spots


How To Remove Sprinkler Water Spots using The Least Aggressive Method Approach

This is a nasty problem that usually happens after you've just washed and waxed your favorite ride... and unaware you've parked next to a sprinkler. Then when you return to your car....

Sprinkler Water Spots!

Luckily they're only on half the car...

The question is, are they Type I or Type II Water Spots? Let's hope they're Type I and will wipe-off or wash off, if they're Type II Water Spots we'll have to use some type of abrasive compound or polish to level the paint surface in order to remove the spots.

We've pulled the Mercedes-Benz into our studio where we can work out of direct sunlight on a cool surface.

The terms Hard Water or Hard Water Spots are commonly used to describe these types of spots on the surface of the paint. What's actually making up the spots are minerals and other substances dissolved in the water. After the water evaporates off the paint, the minerals, (the components referred to with the word hard in the terms Hard Water or Hard Water Spots), remain behind.

Our hope is that these spots are simply a topical defect and not a sub-surface or below surface defect. You will find out by simply washing and drying the car or wiping the panels clean using a clean, soft microfiber towel.

When following the approach of using the least aggressive product to get the job done, the first thing you want to do is to see if you can either wipe the sprinkler water spots off or wash the sprinkler water spots off. Since this car was recently washed and waxed and it's kept inside a garage when not being driven, we're going to try to wipe them off using a spray detailer with a clean, plush microfiber towel.


When removing fresh water spots, use your spray detailer heavy, or wet. Using a product heavy or wet means using extra product, more than you might normally use. The reason for his is you want lots of lubrication on the surface to help prevent any potential scratching or marring of the finish as you're wiping.

Remember, always fold your microfiber towels 4 ways to give you 8 wiping sides with plenty of cushion to spread out the pressure from your hand and wipe the paint gently.

Start out by spreading the spray detailer around to one section and then flip or fold your microfiber towel to a fresh or clean portion to remove the residue and buff to a dry, high shine.

Luck is with us... the paint is safe as the Sprinkler Water Spots did not etching into the paint and using plenty of spray detailer and a clean plush microfiber towel left a scratch-free finish.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Just by chance, there's a rental car in the parking lot which also has water spots all over the finish.

These water spots look like they're established water spots, that every time it rains, or a sprinkler goes off, the water pools in the same place giving any corrosive substances repeated opportunity to etch into the paint.

Visually, I can tell the paint is likely etched in this instance but I won't know till I get the surface clean. The first step is to wash or wipe the finish, in this instance I'm going to repeat wiping process I used on the Mercedes-Benz with a spray detailer.

After wiping the paint clean, there are water spot imprints remaining in the paint.

To remove these and use the least aggressive product to get the job done I'm going to use a light paint cleaner with a microfiber applicator pad to gentle clean the paint.

If you want to take some of the work out of the cleaning step as an option you can use a machine polisher to apply and work the paint cleaner, this can save a lot of elbow grease and speed up the process especially if the water spots are over the entire car.

If you opt to machine apply the paint cleaner and you're starting with a clean, dry pad, be sure to prime the pad by spreading the paint cleaner over the entire face of the pad, by doing this 100% of the face of the pad will be working for you from the very first moment you turn the polisher on and begin buffing.

Remove the paint cleaner residue by wiping gently using a fresh, clean microfiber towel and then apply a coat of wax or paint sealant as the paint cleaner will effectively remove everything off the surface including any previously applied wax or paint sealant.

In keeping with the philosophy of using the least aggressive product to get the job done, if washing or wiping the paint doesn't remove the water spots the next step would be using a light paint cleaner. If the light paint cleaner didn't work you could then test a light finishing polish and if that wasn't working fast enough and/or effectively enough then you could try a more aggressive product. The goal being to remove the water spots using the least aggressive product and by doing so leaving the most amount of paint on the body panels to last over the service life of the car.

Water Spots and Sprinkler Water Spots Successfully Removed

One bit of advice... try to avoid parking near sprinklers when their placement is known... in the example of the Mercedes-Benz, the water spots simply wiped off; I have seen instances of Sprinkler Water Spots that have etched round craters into clear coat paints and removing these Type II Water Spots can be not only time consuming but it will require you to remove a measurable amount of the clear layer in order to completely remove the spots.

 

[Mike Phillips]

On Autogeek.net

Pinnacle Crystal Mist Carnauba Detail Spray
Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion
Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish
Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover
Porter Cable 7424XP
5.5" Lake Country CCS White Foam Polishing Pad
Cobra Gold Plush Jr. Microfiber Towel, 16 x 16 inches
Cobra Microfiber Applicator Pads

 

[Shawn T.]

Very nice write-up Mike! I have found that a QD is usualy all I ever need to remove very fresh water spots from sprinklers.

 

[Indy YZF]

I had this experience a few weeks ago, someone had parked their van too close to some sprinklers, tried QD, but the only way to get it out was some D151 with my GG polisher. Took out the spots and left a nice shine (protected too). I was wondering what it was, the owner cleared it up later, but now I know for sure reading your thread. I'll keep your advice for next time (might make it easier)

 

[david79z28]

Do you have to re apply any lsp if you use a paint cleaner?

 

[Mike Phillips]

Do you have to re apply any lsp if you use a paint cleaner?

Definitely YES!

I thought I included that recommendation in the article but it could be I missed it... I'll edit and add it tomorrow...

 

[TornadoRed]

Do you have to re apply any lsp if you use a paint cleaner?

Remove the paint cleaner residue by wiping gently using a fresh, clean microfiber towel and then apply a coat of wax or paint sealant as the paint cleaner will effectively remove everything off the surface including any previously applied wax or paint sealant.

I had the same question and had to read it 3 times to find it.

 

[Kurt_s]

Are any of the prewax paint cleaners better at removing T1 water spots when a QD doesn't remove them?

 

[buddhadog]

Sometimes meg cleaner wax will get them off if they are still there after washing and drying . Try that first and you can sometimes save the extra step of polishing .

What about the paint acids they sell for water spots?Anyone tried them?
Ive stayed away from them because Ive heard they can damage the paint .

 

[arenared]

Another great write-up, Mike. Thanks!

A couple related questions:

1) Would you recommend claying to try to remove the water spots if detailing spray doesn't do the trick? I guess an assumption might be the water spots are above the surface.

2) In general, does claying remove wax and/or sealants?

 

[Indy YZF]

I tried clay in my situation, didn't work, some APC and a gentle brush worked where the polisher couldn't get.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Another great write-up, Mike. Thanks!

A couple related questions:

1) Would you recommend claying to try to remove the water spots if detailing spray doesn't do the trick? I guess an assumption might be the water spots are above the surface.

If after washing or wiping the car clean you still see and feel water spots on the paint then you can try detailing clay and I list that as and option in this article,

How to remove water spots by hand

Step 3 – Clay the paint using detailing clay
If after the above, washing and drying, and/or giving the paint an acid bath, if you still see and feel water spots on the paint then the next step will be to try to remove them using detailing clay. Claying removes above surface bonded contaminants and this includes any mineral deposits or other physical particulates left on the surface from water spotting.

Remember that because these minerals will tend to be hard particles, it’s important to knead your clay often to expose a fresh working side to clay with.

A word of caution, if you use detailing clay to remove bonded mineral deposits, besides folding and kneading your clay often, also be sure to do a test spot and inspect the paint very closely to ensure that the mineral particles being removed are also not instilling scratches at in during the claying process.

Often times water spotting leaves an imprint in the paint so even after you remove any above surface minerals or particulates, with any method, you still need to use a paint cleaner or light polish to remove the spot imprints.

2) In general, does claying remove wax and/or sealants?

Detailing clay contains a type of abrasive that enables it to basically sand off anything sitting on top of the surface. How gentle or how aggressive this abrading ability is depends upon the amount and level of aggressiveness of the abrasive used for a specific clay.

Because online enthusiasts tend to be DO or Detail Oriented, (my words for AR because I don't like using the term AR), then I will often times put ideas into the "Extreme" to drive home a point.


For example, in one end of the extreme spectrum there are fine and ultra fine grades of clay that state they will not remove previously applied coats of wax or paint sealant as the are for frequent use to maintain a daily driver.

On the other extreme of the spectrum there are very aggressive clays that will remove everything off the surface and do so with the least amount of passes of the clay over the paint, keep in mind some shops are more speed oriented than others.


So there is not conclusive answer that claying will remove all previously applied wax or paint sealant because it would depend upon the type of clay being used and just as important the skill of the person doing the claying.

Rubbing detailing clay over paint isn't going to add wax or paint sealant to the paint, so what's the opposite of adding? Answer: Removing.

To what degree will claying remove paint? Depends upon the clay and the technique and in some cases the type of wax or paint sealant could be a factor.

 

[PlatinumRefl.]

Another great way to remove water spots that I have found is to get some Liquid Glass, a MF or cloth applicator pad, "spritz" it with some detail spray to get it a bit moist, apply some liquid glass to the pad and spread it over the panel that is already washed. This stuff is a life saver. I have used it to remove TONS of oxidized paint, burnt on exhaust fumes on trunks and bumpers, polish wheels, wax glass, remove hard water spots, clean and protect my headlights and taillights, as well as polish and clean my exhaust or anything made of metal, glass, or fiberglass really.

I was a skeptic of this stuff when i first was told about it, but after my first whirl with this stuff its all I use on my personal car, and my customer's love how the stuff just lasts and lasts and lasts.

 

[alfadub]

Another great way to remove water spots that I have found is to get some Liquid Glass, a MF or cloth applicator pad, "spritz" it with some detail spray to get it a bit moist, apply some liquid glass to the pad and spread it over the panel that is already washed. This stuff is a life saver. I have used it to remove TONS of oxidized paint, burnt on exhaust fumes on trunks and bumpers, polish wheels, wax glass, remove hard water spots, clean and protect my headlights and taillights, as well as polish and clean my exhaust or anything made of metal, glass, or fiberglass really.

I was a skeptic of this stuff when i first was told about it, but after my first whirl with this stuff its all I use on my personal car, and my customer's love how the stuff just lasts and lasts and lasts.

Are you referring to Liquid Glass Pre-Cleaner?