Waterpots on Brushed Aluminum and Brushed Steel

S

Shredmonster

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I have an AMI brushed aluminum fuel door. I have brushed stainless trim as well on rocker panels of Jeep.

In winter I go to a touchless wash. I have noticed water spots on both of the above.

Tried spot remover that I usually use when I was the vehicle. Tried vinegar. Tried a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice. I did not leave any of these on for a long period of time - don't know if I should or not.
I simply put some on and tried to clean with a micro towel with no results.

Should I use some kind of metal polish ?
 
Metal polish would be the way to go. Some are a lot better on that type of thing than others...
 
Using a metal polish will remove the water spots, but it will also remove the brushed/satin appearance, leaving it shiny.

I'd try the white vinegar again, and hold the soaked towel against it for 3-5 minutes, then wipe away. It will take a while for the vinegar to dissolve the minerals left behind.
 
forrest@mothers said:
Using a metal polish will remove the water spots, but it will also remove the brushed/satin appearance, leaving it shiny.

I'd try the white vinegar again, and hold the soaked towel against it for 3-5 minutes, then wipe away. It will take a while for the vinegar to dissolve the minerals left behind.
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^^^ :goodpost: ^^^

**********************

:idea:

Meguiar's M47 Water Spot Remover isn't abrasive.
​


Bob
 
forrest@mothers said:
Using a metal polish will remove the water spots, but it will also remove the brushed/satin appearance, leaving it shiny.

I'd try the white vinegar again, and hold the soaked towel against it for 3-5 minutes, then wipe away. It will take a while for the vinegar to dissolve the minerals left behind.
Click to expand...

The brushed will not be removed with a polish.

If you sanded and compounded yes.

I would polish by hand with metal polish and microfiber towel or applicator.
 
forrest@mothers said:
Using a metal polish will remove the water spots, but it will also remove the brushed/satin appearance, leaving it shiny.

I'd try the white vinegar again, and hold the soaked towel against it for 3-5 minutes, then wipe away. It will take a while for the vinegar to dissolve the minerals left behind.
Click to expand...

I agree with Forrest on both points here.
 
Try a cleaner wax.As mentioned you can alter the look with the wrong polish.
 
Eldorado2k said:
Which ones are better? Which ones aren't so great?


Sent from my iPhone
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Megs metal has very low grit more of a cream polish..Ive found vinegar is useless and never worked for any suggestion promblems.
 
GSKR said:
Megs metal has very low grit more of a cream polish..Ive found vinegar is useless and never worked for any suggestion promblems.
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I've done commercial and residential cleaning off and on part-time since 2001 and learned the vinegar trick there. It can make a huge difference IME, but the most important thing I've found is to allow it to dwell. Like Forrest said, wet a towel with vinegar and let it dwell on it for a while. But that's what works with the water spots in my area - no guarantee that water spots in other areas are dealing with the same minerals leaving the spots, and I don't know enough of chemistry to be able to intelligently surmise what it would work on and what it wouldn't. I know the water we have here is from the Floridian Aquifer, and there's a lot of limestone down there.
 
I will try the vinegar first to see if that works. Thanks for the suggestions. If vinegar does not work then on to the McGuires I guess.
 
Soaked a sock in pure vinegar and put it over the fuel door for 30 minutes. Did not do a damn thing. Very suprised. I guess it is on to the metal polish.
 
Update on this. I tried lemon juice and baking soda - nothing. I tried water spot remover - nothing.

On the part that opens I tried metal polish - a very mild one with a micro towel and it took away the brush look and changed the color.

On the outside part I tried lightly polishing and that seemed to work the best. It did not remove all the spots but most of them. It did not change the color. So it looks like polish is the answer.
 
Bar Keepers Friend is my go-to cleaner for stainless steel. I'm amazed at what it can do. You can find it at most grocery stores or hardware stores.
 
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