Back when i was a kid i worked for a few body shops and detail shops. Learned a lot of little easy things about detailing. Wanted to share waterspot removal from windows. Let’s face it, nothing sucks more than doing a killer job on your paint, making it shine and seeing waterspots all over the windows, it really makes you feel like it’s not all done. But with a little elbowgrease and the below tips you can have just as clear of a window as the pros at the shows.
Disclosure: Do not try this on your paint, you’ll screw it up, bad. Only windows. And not your rear window with defroster, and not windows with tint. Only standard regular surfaced windows, period. It is entirely in your hands if you try it on anything else. We are holding no responsibility for this as superfine can still scratch glass if you are not careful. With that said…
Let us use an example of a window that has already had the waterspots removed. We’re going to use my Porsche 944 as example as i did the driver’s sides today and used the windows for this how to guide.
Here’s the already done window.
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd58/koihoshi/howto/DSC_0345.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd58/koihoshi/howto/DSC_0337.jpg
Here’s the panel window just behind that window. You can see the difference in glare, this is because of the waterspots, note how dim it is as well.
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd58/koihoshi/howto/DSC_0339.jpg
Here is a close up macro of the spotting, if you look close you’ll see what i mean.
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd58/koihoshi/howto/DSC_0344.jpg
Step 1: What you need
- Steel wool (SUPERFINE grade! NOTHING ELSE!)
- Squeaky clear (you can use regular window cleaner, but foam sprayer is the best, and so far squeaky clear is my preferred favorite, if the cleaner is too watery it doesn’t work as well, foam = best)
- Armstrong power!
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd58/koihoshi/howto/DSC_0346.jpg
Step 2: You can start by using circular motions on your window with the steel wool, take a close look and see how easy they are coming off. Also get a feel for how rough it feels and how smooth it is in areas without spots.
Step 3: Spray some squeaky clear on the window, you don’t need a ton, about like the picture below.
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd58/koihoshi/howto/DSC_0347.jpg
Step 4: Using circular motions and a medium-to-firm grip on the steel wool go at it in the areas where you sprayed till it is dry and in a smeared type of feel to it. It will look like below. Remember, it may be superfine, but don’t apply an insane pressure to it, it can still scratch if you aren’t nice to it, you really really have to be digging at it though to do that…
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd58/koihoshi/howto/DSC_0348.jpg
Note the texture of when you are doing this in a waterspotted area, it will feel slightly rough.
Step 5: With a clean towel, wipe the area clean as you can, then spray some squeaky clear on it and repeat till it feels smooth in the area that was rough. Then wipe it off and use the squeaky clear to actually clean the window like you normally would till it is nice and clear.
Result -
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd58/koihoshi/howto/DSC_0349.jpg
