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Did you know that you can damage your car by cleaning it? It can be just as harmful as dirt and grease. Those annoying and stubborn water spots usually appear after you’ve had your vehicle washed. They also follow rain, snow, and other weather threats. Water can come into contact with harmful chemicals or sediments and contain various pollutants. If you want to protect your vehicle and keep it clean, you’ll need a quality water spot remover. Our buying guide will help you get the proper one for your car.
Summary List
- Best Overall: Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit
- Best Value: Carfidant Scratch and Swirl Remover
- Best All-Purpose: Bugs N All Interior and Exterior Vehicle Cleaner
- Most Versatile: Shine Armor Car Scratch Remover
- Honorable Mention: Meguiar’s Water Spot Remover
Types of Water Spot Removers for Cars
Car Washes and Cleaners
There’s an array of car wash soaps, shampoos, and waxes available on the market today. They’re designed to clean vehicles and protect them from damage at the same time. The best thing about these products is their multi-purpose design. Car washes are meant to not only remove dirt buildups, but also eliminate other harmful particles and water spots.
If you want to remove light water spots from your car, you can use one of the multi-purpose cleaners. They’re quite efficient and allow for regular cleaning and maintenance. However, if you have issues with stubborn water spots, you might want to use a more powerful product. Multi-purpose cleaners are often not powerful enough to remove stains that have already baked into the paintwork.
Polishes
In most cases, the damage that comes from acid rain and etching can’t be removed without the help of abrasives. Rainwater often contains contaminants that leave behind hard deposits. Etching, on the other hand, is the result of high heat or direct sunlight, when water spots get baked into the finish. When this happens, most light washes and paint cleaners won’t be effective enough.
Car polish products eliminate deep scratches, hard water spots, oxidation, and other surface imperfections. They work by removing a thin layer of paint, which is more efficient than cleaning the surface. However, car polishes are often more abrasive and can’t be used frequently, or they might damage the paintwork.
Best Water Spot Removers for Cars: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall
Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit
Best Value
Carfidant Scratch and Swirl Remover
Best All-Purpose
Bugs N All Interior and Exterior Vehicle Cleaner
Most Versatile
Shine Armor Car Scratch Remover
Honorable Mention
Meguiar’s Water Spot Remover
Our Verdict
The Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit made it to the top of our list. It’s a versatile product that cleans and protects at the same time.
If you prefer a budget version, you can stick with the Carfidant Scratch and Swirl Remover. It works like a charm on most water spots and stains.
Benefits of Water Spot Removers for Cars
- Effectiveness. Water spot removers for cars are much more effective than age-old solutions such as vinegar and water. These products allow you to clean all kinds of surfaces and paintwork without damaging them during the process. Water spot removers for cars are specially designed to be safe and highly efficient at the same time, removing even the most stubborn stains.
- Ease of use. Another great benefit of water spot removers is convenience. These products come in easy-to-use bottles, spread quickly on the surface, and wipe clean in a breeze. They’ll help you clean your vehicle within a few moments and enjoy showroom results for quite a while.
- Long-term protection. Maybe the best thing about water spot removers for cars is their longevity. Because they tend to leave a protective film over the surface rather than just cleaning it, water spot removers offer long-term protection. By using them, you can shield your car from future water damage and other similar threats on the road.
Water Spot Removers for Cars Pricing
- Under $20: Inexpensive products are mostly used for regular cleaning and maintenance. They work marvelously on removing light water spots but might be less efficient on scratches and excessive buildups.
- $20 and up: For some extra cash, you can get cleaners with wax that can polish and treat the surface all at once. These products are often highly versatile and allow for removing all kinds of damages-not only water spots. There are also some car wash kits at this price point that are ideal for long-term car care.
Key Features
Efficiency
One of the first things to consider before buying a water spot cleaner is its efficiency. There are many products available on the market these days, and all of them work in different ways. Some are more effective when used to remove light dirt, spots, and stains, while others work wonders on stubborn residues. The product you choose will depend on your vehicle type, paint color, and damage you need to cover on the surface.
If you want to remove heavy damage such as deep scratches and persistent water spots, we recommend using a polish. This is a more abrasive option that’s still safe when used properly. For general cleanup and maintenance, regular car cleaners and washes will be sufficient.
Safety
Not all water spot removers are safe for every vehicle type. Depending on the surface and paintwork type, you might need to avoid some products. We recommend double-checking the compatibility of each water spot remover with your car. Make sure the one you want to use won’t damage the paint on your vehicle.
Versatility
Along with removing water spots, some car cleaners can remove dirt, dust, and other harmful buildups as well. They’re meant to resolve a wide range of issues and make the paint super glossy in the process. If you’re looking for such a versatile product to help you maintain your car regularly and make it stand out, be sure to look for the extra features. Multi-purpose cleaners usually contain wax that fills and smoothens the surface for more shine and protection in the long term.
Other Considerations
- Application. Although most water spot cleaners are easy to use, some apply better with a mechanical buffer than with a cloth. Before choosing a particular product, double-check how it needs to be applied. Then, pick the one that seems most convenient and suitable for your application.
- Volume. Another essential thing to consider before buying a water spot cleaner is the size of the bottle. You want to get enough liquid to cover your entire vehicle and be able to use the cleaner several times afterward as well.
Tips
- Before you tackle stubborn water spots, it’s important to recognize the type you’re dealing with. Hard water stains appear when the water dries on the surface while exposed to direct sunlight. Bonded mineral water spots soak into the clear coat due to the presence of excessive contaminants. Lastly, etched-in water spots contain a corrosive substance that dissolves the paint.
- Choose quality products that have been tested by other car owners. Inferior removers will be a hassle during the cleaning process without producing any results. You may also need to include paint correction and clay bar treatment, depending on the stain type.
- Removing water spots from your car can be exasperating. It takes a lot of work to remove all the stains and make the surface sparkling clean. Take your time and be patient and gentle. Sometimes you can cause more damage by excessively rubbing out the water spots.
- Once you get rid of all spots and stains, you can prevent new ones from forming on your car. The key is not to let water dry on your vehicle. You can use towels and a chamois to dry the surface before the water gets the chance to settle down and damage the paint. Applying wax on the vehicle also prevents spots from forming.
FAQs
The process is rather simple. Apply the product on the targeted area and use microfiber towels to rub the spots off. If the remover comes in a set, you’ll probably get all the necessary pieces in the package. In some cases, you’ll need a clay bar to remove the most stubborn stains. Depending on the remover type, you might need to wait longer for the product to work. Always read the product’s description to make sure you’re using it correctly.
Yes, but only if you use wax as well. Most removers only get rid of existing stains, and they don’t offer full-time protection once applied. If you want to prevent new water spots and stains, you’ll need to dry the surface after every washing or apply wax on the surface.
You can let your inner DIYer have some fun and make your own water spot remover. All you need to do is mix distilled water with white vinegar in equal ratios. Bathe your car using this mixture, and the stains will disappear. However, keep in mind that this trick won’t work on hard or etched-in water spots.