Hi guys...was washing the car myself over the weekend....used my hose/tap and a mild soap.. I must have really hard water or something because after thoroughly rinsing there was round residue droplets on all the windows...it didn't come off!..was washing in the hot sun....now, could this be due to hard water/sun?...used windex, didn't do anything...used a damp cloth to wipe..nothing....am I worried about nothing here?...will this come off after a regular car wash or somthing?...just wait?


thoughts?

thanks.

 

Not to worry, it will come off, try either vinegar and wipe with newspaper or Dawn type dish soap and soft sponge, then rinse and dry right away. (Don't wash the car with Dawn or it will take any wax off). If you like to wash the car yourself get the Mr Clean spray set up with the soap and clean rinse cartridges, it removes minerals and will dry mostly spot free.

 

+1 on Mr. Clean. I've been using that for the past 2yr. everything works great, you just have to remember to keep changing the filter every 3 or 4 car washes, or whenever the filter turns brown.

 

...and don't wash it in the "hot sun" Always try to find a shady area if possible.

 

I assume you are talking strictly about the windows? If so, Zaino makes a product for glass polishing that does the trick...........I have it and have used it for that exact purpose! Do a google on Zaino and that will take you to their website...........the stuff is not available in stores.

 

I'm a Zaino fan as well, but for glass...nothing beats Stoner's.

 

boss - good to see you still gracing us with your wisdom. What is this "stoner's"? I am looking for a good glass cleaner too.

 

I think he is referring to Invisible Glass. It is incredible. I use all Meguiar's stuff and so I bought their glass cleaner too, the NXT Generation or whatever, but it sucks. It is the only product of theirs I don't like. Stoner's Invisible Glass is much better.

 

anyone know where i can get the stuff [stoner's]
in chi town area? or only online?

thanks

 

I've used Autogeek before:

http://www.autogeek.net/glass-cleaner.html

 

I got it at Target. I think you can get it at any store like that, WalMart probably has it.

 

I live about 40 miles from where Stoner's is made.........that being said, there is a glass clearner called Hope's Perfect Glass ( available at Lowe's and also Linens and Things and maybe Home Depot) also a non-amonia based cleaner that is as good as, or better than Stoners. The Zaino product I was referring to in the previous post is a "cream style polish" for glass and you use it AFTER a general cleaning with Stoner's or whatever and it will provide amazing results with regard to spots and other residue that just dont seem to go away.

 

I live an AZ and I agree with NJ, you've got to stay away from the hot sun when washing your GL or any car for that matter.

 

Okay, so what do we black car owners do until, what, late September? There's no such thing as not hot, shade or no! I've been taking my car to the detailer just for washes or (and I hate to admit this) one of those "touchless" auto washes at the gas station. I know I'm going to see spider webs in the paint, but it's that or leave the dirt on and I hear that is worse!

 

I'm going to try the Zaino Clear-View Glass Polish. Have you had any difficulties with it? The site says that due to recent inconsistancies in glass manufacture you should try an inconspicuous area before using it to make sure you're not going to damage the glass with it. Also, is it usable on the interior of the factory-tinted (i.e. not after-market or film tinted) interior glass in the back? It almost sounds like it would remove any coating whatsoever on the glass.

Thanks for the info!

STP

 

STP, I agree with you as "there's no such thing as not hot, shade..." And I too take the GL to a detailer that hand wash the black vehicle until it cools down (ha ha). I also own another black vehicle that I wash myself in the EARLY morning during the non-HOT times of the year.

 

cc, if you don't know how to wash a car in the desert sun then by all means suffer the consequences. It is not the air temp, it is the hot metal and taking it out of the hot sun will "cool" the metal somewhat and prevent the direct hot sun from evaporating the residual water causing water marks. You can do it this way or do it your way..your choice.

Arizona is not unique to "hot" sun...check the weather reports for the NE...:-)

 

If by "early morning" you mean 3am for the past month, I still think that's a bit warm. For those who haven't seen it, we've been at or near 110F for the past, what, 28 days? Add a little humidity and it's really lovely here this month. I feel extremely sorry for our residents who only have evaporative ("swamp") coolers in their houses!

 

I read somewhere in the past about another danger of washing your car out in the direct Sun. It's that the little water droplets can interact with the Sun rays and act like little magnifying glasses and actually make a small "burn" in the finish of the car. Like killing ants with a magnifying glass.

All of the Sun angles etc. have to be correct for it to happen. But I believe it is a real potential phenomena. I always wash the truck early in the morning, or late in the afternoon and I always quickly dry off the side that is facing the Sun first.

My 2 cents.

Gordon

 

Jack, there's just not enough "green" trees at this low altitude. Yeah, I can put my car in the garage but a) it's still 98 degrees in there and b) I can't wash the car in the garage. There's not a lot of places to put your car inside to wash it, other than say a detailer, and down at these low altitudes we don't have the thick leafy greens to shade under for washing like they do elsewhere. Another fun thing for us swarthy types is just getting one part clean and dry, only to see sweat droplets quickly dried on another. But that's a personal problem!

The fact is, it is hell trying to wash a car outside right now, particularly if you don't have anywhere to shade it. Anyway, what's so special about Nebraska's weather right now?

 

Was there the week before last (115 one day)and I gotta tell you our weather up here can be disgusting and oppressive with the high humidity but Phoenix was just plain brutal. Never felt anything like that before. I'd air condition my garage and install a floor drain so I could wash my cars if I lived out there.

 

NE means Northeast, not Nebraska...I don't even know where that is.

Steve I lived in Litchfield Park for almost 2 years so I know what Phoenix temps are like. I have read about the record over 110 days you have had and agree when the monsoon season is coupled with those temps, it is terrible. One reason only two years there and now in LV at 2700 feet and lots of shade trees and greenery. Still gets hot but nothing like Phoenix. The street where I live and note the trees and shade...



But, pull the car out of the garage, do the wash and then pull back in the garage for the wipe down. As I say it is not the air temp causing the spots and streaks but the metal temp and direct sunlight that dry the car too quickly. As far as the sweat drops...I bow to someone else and their knowledge...:-)