I was excited to find a nice 2015 LC from Florida and was super excited that there was no rust anywhere. However, while cleaning it up I realized that I had water deposits and stains on all of the windows. This condition was particularly severe on the right side and rear windows.
My initial thought after a good washing was that a clay bar would remove this--it did nothing. I tried several normal glass cleaners and still no improvement. I added the use of a magic eraser while using one of the glass cleaners--no improvement on the water stains, but my everything else about my windows looked great. For hard baked on tree sap and the like we sometimes use denatured alcohol, so I gave this a try--still no improvement with the water stains. I tried the magic eraser again with the denatured, no improvement. I spoke with folks where I work and they recommended using CLR, letting it sit for about 5 minutes and then using whatever I desired within reason to scrub the surface. I did just that with a micro-fiber pad and a magic eraser. This combination made no headway.
I was down to a few options--0000 steel wool, Original Bon Ami 1886 glass cleaner, or possibly some other chemical cleaner/polisher. I spoke with several friends who are hardcore about detailing cars. None of them had a recommendation about removing this, but one of them highly recommended Chemical Guys as having some wonderful detailing products.
I took a look at Chemical Guys, watched their videos on this topic and figured that I was running out of options and it appeared that they had a solution... I was prepared to try either the Original Bon Ami or the 0000 steel wool, but figured I would have a go with a Chemical Guys product.
I purchased Chemical Guys, 16oz, Water Spot Rx Hard Water Sport Remover for glass and windows. Their video shows a preference of using this product with a random orbital polisher. I don't have one of these so I used a micro-fiber pad instead. I applied the Water Sport Rx remover on the pad, spread it across the glass and began scrubbing it up and down, side to side and in circular motions. In a matter of minutes I realized that I could tell where the spotting had been removed and where it had not been removed. The was pad was smooth where it was clean and slightly rough/catching where it was not. I continued scrubbing for about five minutes and it was clear that the product was spent. Using a dry micro-fiber towel I removed the product. I noticed that almost all of the spotting was gone, but there were a couple of areas that I had not scrubbed quite as much. I continued with a second run then a third. My rear window which was really bad with spotting was absolutely clean. I stood there totally amazed, while looking at it in different angles of light--it is clean.
A few things: Note, that the water spotting had a bit of a calcium surface buildup earlier on and at this later point at which I turned to the Chemical Guys product it appeared to be more of a stain--not felt by running one's fingers over it. Two, I have no affiliation with Chemical Guys what-so-ever, having never heard of them before this purchase. Three, I purchased the product on Amazon which was about as easy as it gets. Four, I was prepared to see this product fail and out of desperation ready to move on to the Bon Ami and possibly the 0000 steel wool. I am guessing that many other auto detailing product companies make a product that works every bit as well as this, but I have not tried them.
In terms of auto finish care I normally use products from Zymol, Griots and Meguires.
I hope that this helps those who are need of a solution to this, very strange to me, glass issue.
My initial thought after a good washing was that a clay bar would remove this--it did nothing. I tried several normal glass cleaners and still no improvement. I added the use of a magic eraser while using one of the glass cleaners--no improvement on the water stains, but my everything else about my windows looked great. For hard baked on tree sap and the like we sometimes use denatured alcohol, so I gave this a try--still no improvement with the water stains. I tried the magic eraser again with the denatured, no improvement. I spoke with folks where I work and they recommended using CLR, letting it sit for about 5 minutes and then using whatever I desired within reason to scrub the surface. I did just that with a micro-fiber pad and a magic eraser. This combination made no headway.
I was down to a few options--0000 steel wool, Original Bon Ami 1886 glass cleaner, or possibly some other chemical cleaner/polisher. I spoke with several friends who are hardcore about detailing cars. None of them had a recommendation about removing this, but one of them highly recommended Chemical Guys as having some wonderful detailing products.
I took a look at Chemical Guys, watched their videos on this topic and figured that I was running out of options and it appeared that they had a solution... I was prepared to try either the Original Bon Ami or the 0000 steel wool, but figured I would have a go with a Chemical Guys product.
I purchased Chemical Guys, 16oz, Water Spot Rx Hard Water Sport Remover for glass and windows. Their video shows a preference of using this product with a random orbital polisher. I don't have one of these so I used a micro-fiber pad instead. I applied the Water Sport Rx remover on the pad, spread it across the glass and began scrubbing it up and down, side to side and in circular motions. In a matter of minutes I realized that I could tell where the spotting had been removed and where it had not been removed. The was pad was smooth where it was clean and slightly rough/catching where it was not. I continued scrubbing for about five minutes and it was clear that the product was spent. Using a dry micro-fiber towel I removed the product. I noticed that almost all of the spotting was gone, but there were a couple of areas that I had not scrubbed quite as much. I continued with a second run then a third. My rear window which was really bad with spotting was absolutely clean. I stood there totally amazed, while looking at it in different angles of light--it is clean.
A few things: Note, that the water spotting had a bit of a calcium surface buildup earlier on and at this later point at which I turned to the Chemical Guys product it appeared to be more of a stain--not felt by running one's fingers over it. Two, I have no affiliation with Chemical Guys what-so-ever, having never heard of them before this purchase. Three, I purchased the product on Amazon which was about as easy as it gets. Four, I was prepared to see this product fail and out of desperation ready to move on to the Bon Ami and possibly the 0000 steel wool. I am guessing that many other auto detailing product companies make a product that works every bit as well as this, but I have not tried them.
In terms of auto finish care I normally use products from Zymol, Griots and Meguires.
I hope that this helps those who are need of a solution to this, very strange to me, glass issue.
