How to Remove Water Spots from Your Car
Water is used for cleaning, but the same water can also leave ugly spots on your vehicle. Sometimes after a wash, the minerals and other components in the water leave behind spots as that water evaporates. These spots can make your car seem dirty despite the wash. If you want your vehicle to look shiny and new, it is important to know how to get hard water stains off your car.
Here is a detailed guide to help you prevent and remove water spots from your car.
How to detect water spots on a car
There are several reasons why water spots form on a car’s surface. The main reason is that water contains too many suspended particles of minerals and certain impurities. Sodium particles leave the worst kinds of marks. However, the spots are not too visible at times and might go unnoticed until there’s too much damage.
To identify the water spots, inspect your car in the sunlight. If the sun is not out, you can use a flashlight to look for the spots. Moreover, you can touch the car’s surface to feel the spots by hand.
How to remove water spots on your car
Since water spots are damaging and look unpleasant, you must remove them immediately. Depending on the severity of the water spots, you can try different ways to remove them. Let’s start with the easiest one.
Wash your car to remove water spots
One simple way to remove water spots from your car is to simply wash and dry it. If the spots haven’t been there for too long and are temporary, a good wash will get rid of them. Here are the steps to wash your car:
- Rinse your car thoroughly with water to remove excess dirt
- Mix water and soap in a bucket for further washing
- Wash the tyres first to avoid getting dirt splashes on your car later
- Wash the rest of the car with a soft sponge or a cloth
- Rinse with water to clean all soapy residue
- Use a soft cloth to dry the car

If water spots on your car persist, it is time to try vinegar. A powerful acidic product, vinegar is one of the best ways to remove water spots left by minerals effectively. Here is how to wash your car with vinegar:
- Wash your car normally and then dry it
- Mix one part water and two parts vinegar in a bucket
- Apply the mixture to the affected spots gently
- Leave for a few minutes and then rinse
- Dry the spot with a towel
However, vinegar may strip off the wax on your car surface. Therefore, it is recommended to add a coat of wax on the vinegar-treated areas.
If home remedies don’t work to remove water spots from your car, try professional car cleaning products. Some of the products that have proved useful in removing these spots are Eraser Water Spot Remover Meguiar’s A3714 Compound Water Spot Remover, Optimum MDR Water Spot Remover and others.
You can also take your vehicle for a professional car wash in Dubai to get rid of the spots and other dirt particles. The professional car washing and drying process is efficient and effective.
How to Prevent Water Spots on a Car
You can take the following precautions to prevent water spots from forming in the first place:
- Do not wash your car and drive in sunlight right away
- Use a dryer after the car wash
- Wax your car at least once every three months as it lets the water slide without damaging
- For window spots, try glass treatment after washing and drying
- Use a clean car cover

This is all you can do to prevent water spots on cars. Make sure you keep excessive water away from your car. Also, keep your wipers clean to avoid the dirt and spots on the car windshield and rear window glass.
FAQs
Why do water spots appear on the car?
Water spots usually appear after a car wash and improper drying. They may also form after rain or from splashes from the road. Spots from dirty water are more visible than spots from clean water.
Why don’t water spots come off?
Stubborn water spots on the car form when they are left without washing for too long and get embedded in the car body. Therefore, a simple wash with water is not enough to rub them off.
This is how you can remove and prevent water spots on a car. Clean your car to retain its resale value. You can increase the aesthetics of your car further with these car merchandise and accessories for sale.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s top auto blogs for more car care and maintenance tips.