Window water spots on our minivan!

[Proprioceptive]

Okay, so we purchased a used Hyundai Entourage from our local dealer. It was apparently a rental vehicle in Hawaii, but it checked out with our mechanic and we're happy with the van so far, but I've noticed some water spots... like permanent rain spots... all over the windows and trim around the windows. I'm assuming this was because of the salty water in Hawaii and mineral deposits were left after evaporation, and I'm trying to get them OFF. I have tried several different methods including RainX window treatment, Invisible Glass, Maguire's NXT window cleaning, water and vinegar mixture, oxy clean... they just won't come off at all. I have a local detail shop looking into it for me as well, but before I pay them a lot of money to do something I thought I'd see what everyone here has done if they've had this problem before. Any ideas out there??

 

[nwfsnake]

Volcanic ash fallout stains. Good luck.

 

[Zenmervolt]

On boats we used to use Sno-Bol to get water spots off of the fiberglass, but I'm not sure what, if any, damage it would do to automotive paint.

Worked like a charm on fiberglass though.

ZV

 

[coldmeat]

paint thinner?

edit: don't use it on the trim though.

 

[Jeff7181]

I've used clay to get stubborn dirt off windows. You know... the same stuff you use on paint like from Mother's. Use it just like the directions say to for paint and as long as it's not embedded deep in the glass, or the glass isn't actually stained it should take it off.

 

[Proprioceptive]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I've used clay to get stubborn dirt off windows. You know... the same stuff you use on paint like from Mother's. Use it just like the directions say to for paint and as long as it's not embedded deep in the glass, or the glass isn't actually stained it should take it off.

You know... I thought about doing this... wasn't sure if it was safe for windows. Maybe I'll do that. Do you know if it's safe for tinted windows?

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: nwfsnake
Volcanic ash fallout stains. Good luck.

Which would be the equivalent of acid rain. The glass is actually etched. It's permanent.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Won't something like CLRget it off?

 

[Corn]

Fine steel wool will do the trick nicely on the glass, don't use it on the trim though.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Proprioceptive

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I've used clay to get stubborn dirt off windows. You know... the same stuff you use on paint like from Mother's. Use it just like the directions say to for paint and as long as it's not embedded deep in the glass, or the glass isn't actually stained it should take it off.

You know... I thought about doing this... wasn't sure if it was safe for windows. Maybe I'll do that. Do you know if it's safe for tinted windows?

As long as you only use it on the outside and not on the film itself.

 

[thescreensavers]

Water spots on glass is easy to clean. Go to your local auto store, and get Meguiars Ultimate Compound and some hand applicators. Just use some elbow grease and you can clean up the water spots easily. Work on a small 5x5 inch area at a time when you clean it off you can tell if you need to keep working it in or if your good. If the trim your talking about is not rubber you can also use Ultimate compound on it as well. I just did this to my car which had water spots. On the Rubber trim I would suggest something like Meguiars M39.

Also have a 50 % water 50% isopropyl alcohol spray bottle handy to wipe away the oils and residue left from Ultimate Compound. This is important if you are cleaning trim and glass you dont want it to stay on there. After the IPA Wipe (isopro Alcohol/water) you can use glass cleaner to make your glass shine and clear.

Good luck

 

[dud]

OP,

A previous driver probabaly parked the vehicle near a sprinkler system that used hard/well water. If not taken care of on a regular basis those spots can actually be etched into the glass.

You can try any number of those methods already listed above but I would recommend that you actually use a product DESIGNED to treat this condition:

Glass Scrub

You may be able to find tubes of it at your local Wal Mart as they just started carrying it last year. I used it on my Lexus and it works good after one application and great after two (it takes some elbow grease to get those deposits off).

I am very happy with the results ... and all for like $4!

Good luck ...

 

[thomsbrain]

I haven't encountered a water or oil spot that didn't come off with a cleaner wax, both on windows and paint. These sound like especially tough ones, though.

 

[Howard]

Put some vinegar in a spray bottle. Hold paper towel over glass. Spray onto towel until wet and stuck. Remove later before dry.

Failing that, clay the glass.