How to keep everyday driver looking new!

a water spot is nothing more then a mineral deposit that is left after the water evaporated



water etching has actually "eaten" some of the clearcoat/paint

and need to be polished or coumpounded or wetsanded to fix it
 
Chemical Guys also makes a water spot removal product, have not used it myself but im sure someone can tell you how well it works.
 
DetailnByDustn said:
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep their car looking new? Getting rid of water spots?
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You're kidding, right? In that other thread you told us you have your own business and you've detailed over 100 cars. Don't your customers come and ask YOU this question? :think: Or are you playing us now?
 
Danase Water Spot Remover (period).



I had massive hard water etching all over my black, hard clear coated Impala SS. This stuff knocked it down like nothing! I don't think there is any other product on the market that can remove something embedded in paint the way this stuff does.



DG
 
DetailnByDustn said:
How do you apply the vinegar wouldn't that hurt your paint?
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Mist a some onto a microfiber towel and lightly wipe the surface. You can also dilute this down to at least 2:1 water:vinegar. I only do this if a wash and clay does not take care of the spots. As Jim mentioned, if the spots are etched they need to be removed by something abrasive--polish/compound, or in the worst of cases, wet sanding.
 
DetailnByDustn said:
How do you apply the vinegar wouldn't that hurt your paint?
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Vinegar is a pretty weak acid, it shouldn't hurt autopaint at all.



Consider that the acidic step of decontamination systems is a *LOT* more potent and still doesn't do any damage (well, as long as you use it right, never hurt anything for me).



Note that some etching gets so deep that the only answer is wetsanding, and in those cases *I* just live with it instead of over-thinning the clear. I have that on the roof of my wife's A8 and on the horizontal surfaces of the Yukon, which was apparently parked outside 24/7 and never waxed while the first owner had it.



How to keep daily drivers looking new? Treat them the same as garage-queens and they'll stay nice. Just has to be done more often and you might want to use a higher durability LSP.
 
Okay thanks guys! I bought a kit from mothers to clay bar the car with Ill try that first then buy the spot remover formula. If that doesnt work Ill use the vinegar
 
Hiya, DatilnByDustn.



You may find of interest this article I pulled together on caring for one's daily driver. It was composed for a Meguiar's audience. Substitute your preferred products. Perhaps you may find it helpful.



Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen



Needed stuff:



Gold Class Car Wash

Microfiber wash mitt

Microfiber waffle-weave drying towel

Microfiber towels (more the merrier)

Tire/wheel brush

2 foam or microfiber applicators

Meguiar's Clay Bar kit

ColorX or Cleaner Wax

NXT Generation Tech Wax or HiTech Yellow Wax (M26)



Every one or two weeks:



1) Wash your car:



How to Wash Your Car Show Car Style



Dry with your waffle-weave towel. Some of us also like to first blot the water with a synthetic chamois called the Absorber.



Every two months:



2) Inspect paint surface. Gently run your hand over the surface. Is it smooth as glass? Do you feel bumps and rough spots? If you do, you need to clay your car:



How to Claybar Your Car



Typically, you will only need to claybar your car twice a year.



3) Apply a coat of ColorX or Cleaner Wax. Massage and work it into the paint. You are working it into and against the paint because you are hoping to clean the paint and remove light swirls, oxidization, and previous layers of wax. Allow it to haze and buff off.



Wait 15-30 minutes.



4) Apply a thin coat of NXT or M26. Allow to haze and buff off.



Stick with this regimen (or something similar to it), and you will keep your daily driver lookin' good!
 
akimel- Much as I like and respect Mike Phillips, I'd sure work out a better wash routine than he demonstrates in that video. It *might* be marring-free on a pampered vehicle but that's sure not how I'd want to wash a vehicle that actually got dirty.
 
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