He should have used the vinegar full strength if half strength was useless. The longer you can leave it on, the better it dissolves. Even when weak. I would try CLR which is exactly for removing water spots that are on top of water spots. With all this stuff, the longer you can keep it on, the better it dissolves. I have also found Meyers Clean Day Tub and Tile cleaner is pretty great at removing spots and is also very mild. Women have been dealing with this for centuries. Don't need to reinvent the wheel. I wonder if a weak sulphuric acid mix would work as well. Here is Florida a couple days of rain can remove a lot of that without doing anything. When our reclaimed sprinkler water hits the car and dries, leaving spots, a couple days of heavy rain removes it pretty well. Too, I always keep synthetic sealant on our paints to protect the surface from etching.
The white vinegar at full strength works the same way it would to clean coffee pot stains but I would recommend rinsing again and drying after using it.
I use straight white vinegar, no diluting 1:1 with water - I tried diluting it, but it did nothing; with doing it neat, and letting it sit for several minutes, it removed a ton. Still not perfect, but way better than trying to dilute it with water. My grey truck was white on one side from the well water lawn sprinklers spraying on it for 2 1/2 weeks straight when I was out of town this summer, and I got most of that off with just straight vinegar.
@Knight-SgtReyes I sprayed it on all over, then, since it had sat while I sprayed the rest, I just started wiping the areas off with a microfiber rag more or less in the order I sprayed it on. There are still some small areas left that had it really bad so it didn't all come off, and a couple areas where I know it's not going to come off no matter how hard I try (like the front of the side mirror), but even though it's not perfect, you generally have to get up close to it on order to see the deposits. No hard scrubbing (I considered it, but I didn't want to risk scratching the paint) - the vinegar, if you let it sit, dissolves the deposits on its own. I've done it a a few times (once last summer right after it happened and again a month or two later, then again this summer, all at times that weren't the heat of the day and that it rained within 2 days after, to prevent any vinegar that was left from causing rust (no garage to park in)), and you almost can't tell there were ever deposits. The marks remaining from the ones that were on the windows don't interfere with safely seeing while driving, and they're almost impossible to see even up close, so personally I'm not too worried; plus, the windshield and the mirror glass on both side mirrors need to be replaced anyway, so that'll take care of any marks on those. Hope that helps.
I love it when people actually test products or alternative fixes to compare them, I am not aware of any retailers ensuring that the stuff they sell actually works properly
Without knowing the mineral content of the water spots, you can't predict what chemical to use. Clay towel.bar, compound work through abrasion, so they should get everything off, (with enough work), but again it depends on the mineral and how hard it is stuck to the surface.
Anyone thinking about using wheel acid take extreme precaution. This is something that us in the industry need to stress. The acids used in the car care industry could do extreme damage to organic tissues. Lungs being the most vulnerable aside from your skin. Let me tell you when this stuff is inhaled it goes into your bloodstream and into your liver your liver can not break this down so it goes into your bone marrow and starts to deteriorate your bones from the inside then makes its way to your heart and eats the lining of your heart. This is no joke and I’m not trying to scare you. Just use extreme caution. I use acid all the time it is not harmful of precaution is taken and you are mindful of what your expose yourself to.
Thanks for the info I'm just trying to get the water spot's off and he said wheel acid so for dumb and slow people like myself what name brand did he use or what kind should I use it u could help me out I'd really appreciate it thanks
These are the kind of vids we need to see more of. Comparing different products side by side in real time. 20 years ago, I had a black car and I only washed it when it was raining heavily. Never had spots. Tried that earlier this year and even the rain water is now contaminated. I used a 5:1 mix of CLR on a pad. It did the trick then used the clay rag to finish before using Turtle Wax. I tried Meguire's but it doesn't come out as nice as Turtle Wax but that's just my 2 cents.
Since your post, apparently Turtle Wax has really advanced in technology. Here's a link to one test. There are other such videos along the right-side column of videos. th-cam.com/video/59w-eKzmgw4/w-d-xo.html&lc=Ugwpe5SHUw6rgrSvdFx4AaABAg.9XqVHrz2VFd9Xqb3CKkGpz&ab_channel=PanTheOrganizer
I had multiple black cars (still have two). What I do is I added a "final rinse" step with distilled water, after last hose rinse. At first I was just pouring it over and spreading it with my hand, but now I use hand-held sprayer (like you can use for pesticide etc). Works like a charm, and with practice I can do whole car with less than 2 gallons of distilled water
@@Cheepchipsable if you have hard water (like I do where I live) it will leave deposits - spots & residue even if you wipe it. Distilled water displaced hard water - no residue and hard water spots
I have gone to buying bulk QD from my local shop- diluting with distilled, same method really, but spraying it out before it can dry helps a ton, then towel dry.
Geez the water is definitely hard where you live. Those spots were caused by a sprinkler? How long did the car bake in the sun? Here is a tip for everyone. If you're a car enthusiast and care about keeping your car the best it can be NEVER NEVER NEVER own a black car unless you enjoy having another full time job.
nightmover101035 white vehicles can be a huge pain too in regards to keeping them clean but it’s been my experience that white vehicles don’t show swirl marks like black ones do.
The only thing is that you should let vinegar seat for longer time and would definitely remove a lot of water spots. Its very powerful on calcifications
At 11:00 he's reviewing the polish, but you can see in the reflection for the wheel acid that the acid didn't get the spots completely. It might be hard for you to believe if you don't live in a high-calcium water area, but for those of us in Nevada, parking your car near a sprinkler will give you spots so bad you have to wet sand them out. Polishing compound doesn't even work.
I would say the white vinegar option is your best option but use it neat not diluted. Assuming you are using hard water from the tap supply by diluting it one to one you have effectively neutralised it's pH so all you are doing is spraying on a near ph neutral water. If you sprayed the vinegar on neat it's acidity would dissolve the lime scale and the sports would disappear. (Ask your grandma, she's been using it to get rid of hard water spots off the shower for years). In hard water areas avoid using a hose to rinse your car down after washing but you could try adding some white vinegar into a bucket of rinsewater and rinse it down with a soft sponge.
For water spotting on glass... I had severe water spotting on all the glass of a previous car. I used Whinks Rust Remover at the advice of another detailer, and it worked very well. It's economical and available at most hardware stores, but it's also acidic.
Phosphoric Acid is about the same potency as Citric Acid but phosphoric is watered down for commercial use Citric Acid is usually sold in bulk so you can make is as concentrated as you want, diluting in water is a tough job as it has to be warm to hot
@_Circus_Clapped_ be careful with how you word tying, acid strength is measured through the pKa value and the higher that number the stronger the acid. Phosphoric acid also has 2 protons that are deprotonated from the phosphoric acid. Citric acid is considered a weak acid but like you said in the middle it is all based off of concentration so you can make anything strong or weak based off of dilution volumes.
I am a heavy machinery trades assistant and detailer on earthmoving and you need burn gel handy and a p2 mask when using Red Wheel Acid. My Acid has 10 to 15 % hydrofluoric and 10 to 15 % phosphorus Acid. That stuff burns hard.
Why is it so many refuse to click on the description button to SHOW MORE and find out everything that was used on the car? I cannot believe how many people keep asking what wheel cleaner was used, when everything that was used is in the description below the video. The Rag Company guys are extremely patient guys, having answered that question a dozen or so times.
Leaf stains, started to get in deep after 2 weeks away and a blown away car cover on a ZX. Tried the Meguiars Hot Rims Wheel & Tire Cleaner ...WORKED LIKE A CHARM! I gave it a thorough rinse and wash I went along then one complete wash of the entire car, then what started out as a huge job ended up being a touchup on some of the more stubborn stains.Brilliant Solution!
I tried several over the counter spot removers, but the only thing that removed serious calcium build up from sprinklers on my car was a mix of white vinegar and dish soap. Amazing!
Edward Lance You can neutralize it with soap after. I have horrible water spots in my black truck. I took it in to a detailer they acid washed a panel and it came out mint, than they went over that panel with a mit and some soap.
@T. F. Yeah, he said 3:1 dilution in video but their website says 4:1 so I would prob. start with that. Then spray with ONR or wash/spray with a more alkaline cleaner to neutralize the diluted wheel acid. ONR would be easiest. If any spots remain after that, then hit it with a light polish to remove any spotting That may be etched into the clear.
Thanks for this video. Seems like most videos on removing water spots are just advertisements. This seemed like an actual impartial guide. I just bought a used Jeep that's been sitting outdoors in a Northern Japan costal town for years. It's rough to the touch. This city gets A TON of rain, and the jeep has been used on the beach for years. Luckily the frame is in good condition but the paint and windshield are not. I'm going to use a 50/50 vinegar/water solution with a clay bar before buffing/polishing. I would use the wheel cleaner, but unfortunately it's hard to find chemicals like that here in Japan. I've ordered the 3M wool cutting and polishing pads, as well as the cutting and polishing compounds they offer. It'll be a long process, having to do the entire Jeep twice, but it's bad enough that it needs it. Hopefully after a full day of two of work the Jeep will be looking tip top. And I'll really coat it up with wax after all the buffing. Thanks again for the video.
I use aluminum brightener and depending on the severity of the water spots I'll dilute it or won't. As long as you don't let it sit for too long it's fine. I've had great success with it on windows as well, just don't do the inside or you'll likely ruin the tint.
Thank you for the great information, I have been using polishing compound trying to get rid of the water spots off my truck, ended up looking like shyt...and even tried using a 10 inch polishing machine, looked good until next day... I will drive into town to get some wheel acid.
Three questions 1. Did you follow up the wheel acid with anything similar to how you did the ONR after the MDR? 2. Since the wheel acid obviously can’t be used on glass what do you recommend for removing water spots on glass? 3. What brand wheel acid did you use?
Always follow up with a Waterless Wash or Detail Spray After Using Any Acidic Chemicals, And I Think Meguiars Wheel Brightener, For The Windows Use Invisible Glass Stripper Or Chemical Guys Water Spot Remover, and Follow Up With A Glass Cleaner.
I have a black truck that has been ceramic coated so water spotting is an issue and I've always had excellent results with pure vinegar in a spray bottle.
You can also sand them down buff and polish. And also if your working with acid I do recommend working one panel at a time and wash it off quickly because as you can imagine it is acid and is harmful to your paint. Just some tips I know to help out anyone that is trying to go this route.
Yeah but sanding (wet sanding I’m assuming) removes clear coat, which I’m sure you know. And I’m sure you also know you want to take whatever approach that uses the least harmful methods first as you want to try to save as much clearcoat on the car as possible. I’d hate for somebody to see this video and think that they need to sand their car every time they get water spots…lol
As Kevin Brown and others have found if the water minerals were deposited on hot paint the paint expanded and as it cools will pull into the paint the minerals. Warming the paint back up will allow you to get to some of the "sucked in" minerals into the contracted paint. while I've not tried it personally I've heard many good things about Richard Lins water spot remover made by CS 2 coating. Always use try the least aggressive possibility first and move towards a more aggressive, no need to use a sledgehammer when a 20oz worked. Don't be worried about straight white vinegar, not need to dilute and allow ample dwell time, keeping the area damp.
Glasweld pro cleaner works really great on Windows. It removes all acid rain spots. Also states that it works well with paint and metal spots. Though I haven't tried it on my paint. Just windows so far.
I'll hazard a guess and say the "wheel acid" was some percentage of hydrofluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid is nothing to play around with- it can kill you or otherwise do serious harm which may not be readily apparent. And yes, it WILL attack glass. Nothing better for binding with calcium, though-
It's not exactly hydrofluoric acid, but a buffered form of it. Still nasty AF, imho. From the MSDS: AMMONIUM HYDROGEN-DIFLUORIDE SOLUTION. I'm kinda surprised that they can actually sell this. MSDS here: www.meguiars.com.au/msds_files/D14001.pdf
Sometime ago I was preparing my car to apply a coating with totally no experience - as I do not own a garage, I needed to wash the car several times outside as dust, leaves and other junk were landing on the paint constantly and I didn't to scratch the car. When I was done with the coating I noticed terrible water spots all over the car (even though I tried to dry the car after each wash) and I could not see through the windshield when I was facing direct sunlight - the window was completely milky. I was devastated and could not find a way to get rid of the spots but then after a few rainy days all (or at least most of the spots) just disappeared! I guess the rain was at least slightly acidic but helped a lot.
I have read a wax keeps the water spots from sticking. Also Turtle Wax ceramic spray. What you want is a barrier coat between the clear paint and the hard water
WATER and DAWN DISH SOAP. Put that in your chemical sprayer and coat the whole car thoroughly. Use microfiber and just do a quick hand wash hitting everything with the microfiber. Soak vehicle again in your Dawn and water. It will quickly bead off. Take dry microfiber all the way around by hand you'll notice it's dry as soon as you wipe. Remove your hard water stains with very little effort. You could almost just soak the whole vehicle in Dawn water alone and it makes a huge difference. It doesn't take much Dawn in the final rinse water.
I have got some horrific dried water spots on my Audi Q5 (from the garden water sprinkler) I thought it was chronic but it does come off with Lime scale remover!! I tried car polish (MER) but it didn’t touch it!! So a big job ahead to remove it & then some Demon Shine!! I just use a household glass cleaner on the windows.
Great test! I am a chemical engineer and expert in water systems. Quick comments....not all water spots are created equal. If you are dealing with more difficult deposits you will need a stronger acid OR mechanical action....or both. Vinegar is a great starting point. Harmless. You can also use vinegar with a clay bar.
Hi generally use vikal on bottom door shuts in summer on dark colours leave on about 5 mins on outside I normally spray on a microfibre and wipe body and glass .i do not dilute use full strength just keep out of full sun in summer . Hard water marks around water jets can be very common with people using no screen wash spray and leave again for 5 to 10 mins it should remove the water marking around them
So because it’s not visible as much Means it’s not there or it doesn’t get waterspouts or you don’t have to clean it? Make’s no sense when ppl say that.
Muriatic Acid solution is used to remove water spot then a base like baking soda solution needs to be applied to neutralize the acid on the paint followed by a good wash and polish. Anyone who details vehicles with hard-water spots can provide additional pointer. The Muriatic Acid can be purchased at the local car paint & repair shop or at Home Depot store. Make sure to wear protective gear when applying both solutions - only takes a few minutes per panel. Good luck!
HF (Hydrofluoric Acid) WILL react on glass. I use HydroChloric Acid (pool acid) to remove water deposits from my pool tile as well as house windows that get sprinkler overspray/ You just have to be VERY careful with it. I think the vinegar would have worked if it was not diluted and left on for several minutes. BUT --- do any of these acids affect paint or coatings? I have Power Lock Sealant on my new MX-5.
Thanks you so much for this video, I just subbed to you because the last video i watched was a 4 min video on how to remove the mineral spots from windows and instead of showing and telling what products were. The guy in the video wanted to show and then pretend to be a teacher by quizzing the viewer on what he used, never showing or explaining anything. Thank you for making a proper video. Iv seen/heard of plenty of suggestions and even that it's not possible to do so.. which is a discouraging and upsetting to hear when all it takes is a night next to a sprinkler to ruin a car. Thank you for how clear, cautious, truthful and overall helpful you are. I will definitely continue to support your channel and reccomend it to others.
Regarding DWV and water...I've only ever seen it work when the car is still wet from rain or whatever and you know it's going to spot up because of air quality (pollen, smog). I mean it's more of a rinse aid at that point. I do use a lot of distilled white vinegar in my day to day, though...lots of uses for it.
The mdr works good on windows but no so much with the paint, I don’t much to mare my paint or thin my clear coat so I’m going to try the wheel acid. Seems like the best bet
Mothers Mag & Aluminium Polish and Steel wool worked for me with some elbow grease. My windows had baked on water stains from 20 years. I tried everything and finally that combo worked.
Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound did nothing for the water spots on black paint, but worked great on my windows. I’ve also had good results using glass stove top cleaner on the windows of my vehicle.
I want to thank you for the video! I had spots all over my car and looked horrible. I did all except the clay and aluminum bright. After seeing the vid, I took the clay out of my Amazon basket and ordered the aluminum bright. Wala! Spots are gone!!! 👍👍
Hi, thanks for the video. I just wanted to know where exactly can you buy the wheel acid, the website you put doesn't have it. Where did you get that from? I have a lot of hard water spots and its getting really difficult todrive the car as it is in the front windhsield too. I even did detail, that didnt help much. But looking at the video, I believe the wheel acid would be perfect for my car.
The "HF", aka hydrofluoric acid that the Wheel Cleaner contains attacks your mucus glands and vocal cords. He got lucky with the little coughing but it would be interesting if he could tell all of us if his voice has changed slightly after that incident, just to let us know how important the protection is. Also if you get a strong whiff, it will INSTANTLY damage the tiny flap that covers your lungs entrance (epiglottis), making it difficult to swallow anything even saliva, for the rest of your life. I hope Anthony reply's and lets us know if he constantly has to "clear his throat". That is the first sign of minor damage. Anthony, if you do have to clear your throat because it feels like something wants to go down the wrong pipe, I would recommend you go see a doctor.
Wait......ITS HF?? I work with HF acid at a refinery, it's a 'calcium chaser', meaning it eats the calcium in your bones/muscles/organs. No one is allowed near the stuff without wearing air fed C-Suits or at the very least B-Class rubber PPE. Nasty shit when it gets on your skin, pretty deadly when ingested.
I have used a product called "Bar Keepers Friend" with great results! Found at your local grocery store by the household cleaners. Use a damp sponge and BKF and then rinse with water.
It is safe as long as you rinse it completely off and don’t let it dry on the paint. Check out Auto Fetish Detail and you can see him using it on a Black Ferrari 458 every single time he details it.
@@Smalaihollo You'd better rinse the living hell out of whatever you've sprayed with an HF product/variant regardless of concentration with DI, RO or similarly ion deficient water to hope the panel is neutralized, which water alone will not do. HF is an acid that even us chemists avoid using unless we have to. It is nasty stuff. One also needs to think about what that rinse water will do once it's washed down the drain given that you've merely "rinsed" it off rather than neutralizing it prior to rinsing it off. Stay away from HF. You can tell a chemist who specializes in Fluorine chemistry by their missing fingers.
Awrsome video Anthony! Really liked how well you explained each method, the pros and cons of the methods. Additionally it was great that you covered what would fit witin and individual's budget and skill set. Great choice on the Flex!
I bought purple ZEP at Home Depot where they HD guy said it would be the best for cleaning a shower. Here in San Diego we have very hard water, but I do have a water softener which leads to fewer issues when washing a car or taking a shower. Anyways, when I parked the truck too close to a sprinkler, ZEP with a heavy hose rinse took care of EVERYTHING first pass with no effort. I don't know why you say wheel acid is harsh on glass, actually basic materials attack glass more than acids. ZEP worked great on the glass as well as the paint to get the spots off. It is designed for glass and porcelain showers and baths after all. I don't think I will ever rotary brush or dual action polish water spots again unless it is from etching.
Be careful with the polishing compound, for those of your first time buffer users. You burn into the clear coat and the water spots with be the least of your worries. Let the buffer do the work and go slow lol........Former Body Shop Manager ;)
Get a Rupes RA and rock on! Just did a black Volvo SUV today! Had to go w a course compound to remove some holograms left my bird shit. What a piece of gear. Money well spent!
Vinegar works pretty good for medium to lights spots but you have to spray it undiluted and you have to let it soak for a few minutes and use a few applications.
Meguiar wheel brightener is an acidic wheel cleaner, but its not colourless like the stuff in the video...so i assume the acid bottled and used in the video is Hydrofluoric acid.
Meguiars wheel brightener is Hydroflouric Acid. They have a few other additives in it that give color but it is the same thing. Sane thing goes with Purple Power. The only reason it is purple is from the dye that is added. I have a guy from Charlotte make mine onsite and ask him to leave the Rid Dye out of it.
Compound and polishing are different. Compound cuts thru a little deeper (if you're trying to get rid of deeper scratches) whereas polishing is more subtle but will give a nicer glossy shine. (more like a final step right before waxing). Overall very good informative video!
There are heavy cutting compounds, through to light polishing compounds. Compound just means something made with several ingredients, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a coarse cutting compound. All products used with a buffer are compounds.
Somebody needs to give you some IGL delete!! I feel like polish doesn’t remove the mineral that hard water leaves so I think chemically removing is important. Polish Or compound I feel just smears it around. I could be wrong. Great video as always
Since a lot of the ceramic Coatings are essentially a layer of glass can brake cleaner damage the ceramic coatings? Opti Glosscoat or Simoniz Glasscoat?
I wouldn't put brake cleaner anywhere near paint. It eats plastic like it's nothing. It's meant to be an aggressive cleaner. Get some citrus degreaser and dilute it, it will eat the hard way spots right off. Works very well, just make sure to clean the surface very well after.
I second that, AZ water is as hard as a lifetime criminal convicted felon... You HAVE to look for sprinklers when doing an outdoor neighborhood overnight car parking...
I use ONR and it helps to break down the mineral deposits and bird droppings, not using the hose is also a plus. The combination of spray wax and ONR save me a lot of time and my vehicles look awesome. The downside of black paint requires a light cleaner polish once a year to correct washing scratches not seen in light colors. The Junkman2000 promotes your products and he has taught me more than the others whom are selling their products (chemicalguys, autogeek, adams, etc).
ONR actually worked better for me than wheel acid and is safe for the surrounding plastic and rubber trim. Sadly I still had to use a polish to finish but at least I didn't have to compound then polish.
I use CLR on my boat which gets bad water deposits and it pulls it off very quickly and easily. I put the CLR in a spray bottle with a bit of soap and spray it on the boat after hosing it down. Then use a soft cloth to wipe it down. Hose off and spray some Eagle One or Maguire's wax on and dry. So easy compared to the other methods I tried over the years and it's all Walmart level reasonably cheap stuff.
@@donealable You can test it. There will happen nothing to your clear coat if you use citric acid for normal cleaning. If you spray it on it will dissolve the scale and before it will harm your clear coat it will evaporate. If you do not rinse it with water you will get a smeary residue that could make your coat pale. Depends on the coat /paint, I guess. Citric acid is present in lemons, noone gets dissolved eating lemons :) I clean rowing boats with citric acid without gloves without any problems. It sounds more dangerous than it is. And it is not only the ph that makes an acid dissolve/burn stuff. I would never touch sulfuric acid without proper chemical resistant gloves, even if the ph is lower than muriatic acid.
Everyone please be careful with the wheel acid. I was in the ER with my wife and next to me there was a man in extreme pain because he got wheel acid on his finger that he didn't dilute right. They gave him pain meds that still didn't work. I heard him tell the doctor that his pain was 10 (highest). I'm telling you to please be careful and wear the proper protective equipment it requires. Hydrofluoric acid isn't to be taken lightly!
Absolutely correct. HF acid will strip the coatings off your glasses (assuming they are made from glass and not plastic), and its extremely corrosive. in fact, its the one acid which eats glass. Burns will take months to heal. stay away !
HF burns are some of the most painful chemical burns one can suffer but you often don’t feel pain until hours after exposure if the acid is dilute. This stuff is not to be toyed with.
Got a couple of young fellas Detailing under me and they got together with the Manager and coerced him into buying a lot of Vinegar. Told them to pull their heads and and do some research before doing that sort of thing again (wasting company $$). Thanks for this Video. I'll be guiding them to watch this.
The best ways to avoid spotting is to either have a water filter the water you use to wash your car and to microfiber towel dry the car by hand as much as possible.
What about using ph down for gardening with a 2:1 ratio mixture? I use a full solution of ph down to remove hard water stain in my bong and it works like a charm.
Wheel acid is not the same as an iron/fallout remover. They're also called wheel or aluminum brighteners. They are literally acid and can be very dangerous for yourself and your vehicle if you don't know how to use them. Iron removers are specially formulated to break down oxidized iron particles
11:24 is when the video starts
Thank you broskii!
Thanks man
Yea when he started buffing in direct sun light lol
Hahahaa
Thanks a lot
He should have used the vinegar full strength if half strength was useless. The longer you can leave it on, the better it dissolves. Even when weak. I would try CLR which is exactly for removing water spots that are on top of water spots. With all this stuff, the longer you can keep it on, the better it dissolves. I have also found Meyers Clean Day Tub and Tile cleaner is pretty great at removing spots and is also very mild. Women have been dealing with this for centuries. Don't need to reinvent the wheel.
I wonder if a weak sulphuric acid mix would work as well. Here is Florida a couple days of rain can remove a lot of that without doing anything. When our reclaimed sprinkler water hits the car and dries, leaving spots, a couple days of heavy rain removes it pretty well. Too, I always keep synthetic sealant on our paints to protect the surface from etching.
The white vinegar at full strength works the same way it would to clean coffee pot stains but I would recommend rinsing again and drying after using it.
I was thinking the same thing!
I use straight white vinegar, no diluting 1:1 with water - I tried diluting it, but it did nothing; with doing it neat, and letting it sit for several minutes, it removed a ton. Still not perfect, but way better than trying to dilute it with water. My grey truck was white on one side from the well water lawn sprinklers spraying on it for 2 1/2 weeks straight when I was out of town this summer, and I got most of that off with just straight vinegar.
@Knight-SgtReyes I sprayed it on all over, then, since it had sat while I sprayed the rest, I just started wiping the areas off with a microfiber rag more or less in the order I sprayed it on. There are still some small areas left that had it really bad so it didn't all come off, and a couple areas where I know it's not going to come off no matter how hard I try (like the front of the side mirror), but even though it's not perfect, you generally have to get up close to it on order to see the deposits. No hard scrubbing (I considered it, but I didn't want to risk scratching the paint) - the vinegar, if you let it sit, dissolves the deposits on its own. I've done it a a few times (once last summer right after it happened and again a month or two later, then again this summer, all at times that weren't the heat of the day and that it rained within 2 days after, to prevent any vinegar that was left from causing rust (no garage to park in)), and you almost can't tell there were ever deposits. The marks remaining from the ones that were on the windows don't interfere with safely seeing while driving, and they're almost impossible to see even up close, so personally I'm not too worried; plus, the windshield and the mirror glass on both side mirrors need to be replaced anyway, so that'll take care of any marks on those. Hope that helps.
Yes. He’s using wheel acid at full strength, which is probably 10 times as potent as straight vinegar. So no surprise there.
I love it when people actually test products or alternative fixes to compare them, I am not aware of any retailers ensuring that the stuff they sell actually works properly
Without knowing the mineral content of the water spots, you can't predict what chemical to use.
Clay towel.bar, compound work through abrasion, so they should get everything off, (with enough work), but again it depends on the mineral and how hard it is stuck to the surface.
working with hard water all the time at a dealership, weak but works well at removing tons of mineral deposits is Citric Acid
Anyone thinking about using wheel acid take extreme precaution. This is something that us in the industry need to stress. The acids used in the car care industry could do extreme damage to organic tissues. Lungs being the most vulnerable aside from your skin. Let me tell you when this stuff is inhaled it goes into your bloodstream and into your liver your liver can not break this down so it goes into your bone marrow and starts to deteriorate your bones from the inside then makes its way to your heart and eats the lining of your heart. This is no joke and I’m not trying to scare you. Just use extreme caution. I use acid all the time it is not harmful of precaution is taken and you are mindful of what your expose yourself to.
Thanks for the info I'm just trying to get the water spot's off and he said wheel acid so for dumb and slow people like myself what name brand did he use or what kind should I use it u could help me out I'd really appreciate it thanks
Same ^ . The wheel acid link no longer works
5 to 1 ratio works great
@@adamchristner007 Here wondering the same, anyone find the brand?
MaGuire's wheel brightener
These are the kind of vids we need to see more of. Comparing different products side by side in real time. 20 years ago, I had a black car and I only washed it when it was raining heavily. Never had spots. Tried that earlier this year and even the rain water is now contaminated. I used a 5:1 mix of CLR on a pad. It did the trick then used the clay rag to finish before using Turtle Wax. I tried Meguire's but it doesn't come out as nice as Turtle Wax but that's just my 2 cents.
Since your post, apparently Turtle Wax has really advanced in technology. Here's a link to one test. There are other such videos along the right-side column of videos. th-cam.com/video/59w-eKzmgw4/w-d-xo.html&lc=Ugwpe5SHUw6rgrSvdFx4AaABAg.9XqVHrz2VFd9Xqb3CKkGpz&ab_channel=PanTheOrganizer
I had multiple black cars (still have two). What I do is I added a "final rinse" step with distilled water, after last hose rinse. At first I was just pouring it over and spreading it with my hand, but now I use hand-held sprayer (like you can use for pesticide etc). Works like a charm, and with practice I can do whole car with less than 2 gallons of distilled water
How does distilled water help after rinsing with a hose?
@@Cheepchipsable if you have hard water (like I do where I live) it will leave deposits - spots & residue even if you wipe it. Distilled water displaced hard water - no residue and hard water spots
I have gone to buying bulk QD from my local shop- diluting with distilled, same method really, but spraying it out before it can dry helps a ton, then towel dry.
I am going to try this too. Thx!
Geez the water is definitely hard where you live. Those spots were caused by a sprinkler? How long did the car bake in the sun? Here is a tip for everyone. If you're a car enthusiast and care about keeping your car the best it can be NEVER NEVER NEVER own a black car unless you enjoy having another full time job.
Black cars show every flaw, but nothing looks better than a flawless black car.
I own a black car and a pearl white suv.....NEVER,NEVER,NEVER a black car again...
I get 1 hour a week to enjoy the black one🙄
nightmover101035 white vehicles can be a huge pain too in regards to keeping them clean but it’s been my experience that white vehicles don’t show swirl marks like black ones do.
@@flipfloplogic
But at least I get a couple of days with the white one😎
black cars ftw!
The only thing is that you should let vinegar seat for longer time and would definitely remove a lot of water spots. Its very powerful on calcifications
Agreed!
At 11:00 he's reviewing the polish, but you can see in the reflection for the wheel acid that the acid didn't get the spots completely. It might be hard for you to believe if you don't live in a high-calcium water area, but for those of us in Nevada, parking your car near a sprinkler will give you spots so bad you have to wet sand them out. Polishing compound doesn't even work.
so what is the best water spot remover without damaging the clearcoat?
I would say the white vinegar option is your best option but use it neat not diluted. Assuming you are using hard water from the tap supply by diluting it one to one you have effectively neutralised it's pH so all you are doing is spraying on a near ph neutral water. If you sprayed the vinegar on neat it's acidity would dissolve the lime scale and the sports would disappear. (Ask your grandma, she's been using it to get rid of hard water spots off the shower for years). In hard water areas avoid using a hose to rinse your car down after washing but you could try adding some white vinegar into a bucket of rinsewater and rinse it down with a soft sponge.
Yep, neat vinegar, wipe off the salts from the water and leave it dry. Then apply wax.
What about CLR ?
and the sports would disappear. ???? Sports?
I'm turning 50 soon.
These days, the only thing I can count on to be hard is my water. 😒
hahahahahahahahaha
Lmao
Rob L. - LOL!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
At 50?? Comeon!! 50 is not old! You got this.
Hmm I always thought to leave the MDR on for 10-15 minutes. Same with vinegar.
For water spotting on glass...
I had severe water spotting on all the glass of a previous car. I used Whinks Rust Remover at the advice of another detailer, and it worked very well. It's economical and available at most hardware stores, but it's also acidic.
i've used 0000 grade steel wool on window water spots. NOT on paint!
Whinks rust remover worked for me,will recommend 100%
Phosphoric Acid is about the same potency as Citric Acid but phosphoric is watered down for commercial use
Citric Acid is usually sold in bulk so you can make is as concentrated as you want, diluting in water is a tough job as it has to be warm to hot
@_Circus_Clapped_ be careful with how you word tying, acid strength is measured through the pKa value and the higher that number the stronger the acid. Phosphoric acid also has 2 protons that are deprotonated from the phosphoric acid. Citric acid is considered a weak acid but like you said in the middle it is all based off of concentration so you can make anything strong or weak based off of dilution volumes.
i used a glass stripper, removed every single drop. Then i applied a ceramic wax.
The Mothers hard water spot remover for glass works on the clear coating as well. Much safer than wheel acid.
Isn’t it like a paste though?
Will it give you the results that he got using the wheel acid though?
I am a heavy machinery trades assistant and detailer on earthmoving and you need burn gel handy and a p2 mask when using Red Wheel Acid. My Acid has 10 to 15 % hydrofluoric and 10 to 15 % phosphorus Acid. That stuff burns hard.
Why is it so many refuse to click on the description button to SHOW MORE and find out everything that was used on the car? I cannot believe how many people keep asking what wheel cleaner was used, when everything that was used is in the description below the video. The Rag Company guys are extremely patient guys, having answered that question a dozen or so times.
Leaf stains, started to get in deep after 2 weeks away and a blown away car cover on a ZX. Tried the Meguiars Hot Rims Wheel & Tire Cleaner ...WORKED LIKE A CHARM! I gave it a thorough rinse and wash I went along then one complete wash of the entire car, then what started out as a huge job ended up being a touchup on some of the more stubborn stains.Brilliant Solution!
such an unbiased video! you guys are great and very honest!
kinda biased he didnt let the vinegar sit.
I tried several over the counter spot removers, but the only thing that removed serious calcium build up from sprinklers on my car was a mix of white vinegar and dish soap. Amazing!
What’s the mix ratio?
Mix ratio please? ❤
So, what do you use to neutralize the acid residue once you wipe it off? Just wiping it off and leaving it can't be good for the paint.
Edward Lance You can neutralize it with soap after. I have horrible water spots in my black truck. I took it in to a detailer they acid washed a panel and it came out mint, than they went over that panel with a mit and some soap.
You can use ONR (Optimum No Rinse) after too.
@@joelpasserell4525 So ...use Wheel Acid? Obviously dilute the shit, right? Then onr it and wipe clean? It's that easy?
@T. F. Yeah, he said 3:1 dilution in video but their website says 4:1 so I would prob. start with that. Then spray with ONR or wash/spray with a more alkaline cleaner to neutralize the diluted wheel acid. ONR would be easiest. If any spots remain after that, then hit it with a light polish to remove any spotting That may be etched into the clear.
Thanks for this video. Seems like most videos on removing water spots are just advertisements. This seemed like an actual impartial guide.
I just bought a used Jeep that's been sitting outdoors in a Northern Japan costal town for years. It's rough to the touch. This city gets A TON of rain, and the jeep has been used on the beach for years. Luckily the frame is in good condition but the paint and windshield are not. I'm going to use a 50/50 vinegar/water solution with a clay bar before buffing/polishing. I would use the wheel cleaner, but unfortunately it's hard to find chemicals like that here in Japan.
I've ordered the 3M wool cutting and polishing pads, as well as the cutting and polishing compounds they offer. It'll be a long process, having to do the entire Jeep twice, but it's bad enough that it needs it.
Hopefully after a full day of two of work the Jeep will be looking tip top. And I'll really coat it up with wax after all the buffing.
Thanks again for the video.
I use aluminum brightener and depending on the severity of the water spots I'll dilute it or won't. As long as you don't let it sit for too long it's fine. I've had great success with it on windows as well, just don't do the inside or you'll likely ruin the tint.
Thank you for the great information, I have been using polishing compound trying to get rid of the water spots off my truck, ended up looking like shyt...and even tried using a 10 inch polishing machine, looked good until next day... I will drive into town to get some wheel acid.
Acid, paint, girlfriend's car = brave guy
very brave ..
Or just a professional
@@ClanAllta Or dumb.
@@MAGAMAN or crazy
Just someone looking for an out
I don’t know what kind of vinegar you used but when I use it. It takes off about 90% or more of the spots.
I use unscented Mineral Spirits for hard water spots and road tar or dead bugs. When done with that I then polish and seal paint .
Do you dilute the mineral spirits?
Three questions
1. Did you follow up the wheel acid with anything similar to how you did the ONR after the MDR?
2. Since the wheel acid obviously can’t be used on glass what do you recommend for removing water spots on glass?
3. What brand wheel acid did you use?
Always follow up with a Waterless Wash or Detail Spray After Using Any Acidic Chemicals, And I Think Meguiars Wheel Brightener, For The Windows Use Invisible Glass Stripper Or Chemical Guys Water Spot Remover, and Follow Up With A Glass Cleaner.
@@Fairfieldsince95 Thanks.
This video was brought by UPS lol
@@theragcompany nah, its ok. Mean you guys are always working, keep that way
LMAO!!!!
What kind of wheel acid did you use?
I have a black truck that has been ceramic coated so water spotting is an issue and I've always had excellent results with pure vinegar in a spray bottle.
You can also sand them down buff and polish. And also if your working with acid I do recommend working one panel at a time and wash it off quickly because as you can imagine it is acid and is harmful to your paint. Just some tips I know to help out anyone that is trying to go this route.
Yeah but sanding (wet sanding I’m assuming) removes clear coat, which I’m sure you know. And I’m sure you also know you want to take whatever approach that uses the least harmful methods first as you want to try to save as much clearcoat on the car as possible. I’d hate for somebody to see this video and think that they need to sand their car every time they get water spots…lol
As Kevin Brown and others have found if the water minerals were deposited on hot paint the paint expanded and as it cools will pull into the paint the minerals. Warming the paint back up will allow you to get to some of the "sucked in" minerals into the contracted paint. while I've not tried it personally I've heard many good things about Richard Lins water spot remover made by CS 2 coating. Always use try the least aggressive possibility first and move towards a more aggressive, no need to use a sledgehammer when a 20oz worked. Don't be worried about straight white vinegar, not need to dilute and allow ample dwell time, keeping the area damp.
What about removing hard water from the windows?
Wheel acid with steel wool :)
@@yukonstriker1703 @ 8:13 he said that stuff will burn glass
@@transammusclemachine9386 Nope. I do it almost daily as a Detailer 😎
@@yukonstriker1703 Thank you for your reply. Good to know! Wonder why the guy in the video said that. strange.
@@yukonstriker1703 ROFL
Great video! Thank you for taking the time to do this comparison. Working on an older Ford Raptor with tons of mineral deposits..
Glasweld pro cleaner works really great on Windows. It removes all acid rain spots. Also states that it works well with paint and metal spots. Though I haven't tried it on my paint. Just windows so far.
What did you use to apply it with? Any links …
I'll hazard a guess and say the "wheel acid" was some percentage of hydrofluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid is nothing to play around with- it can kill you or otherwise do serious harm which may not be readily apparent. And yes, it WILL attack glass. Nothing better for binding with calcium, though-
It's not exactly hydrofluoric acid, but a buffered form of it. Still nasty AF, imho. From the MSDS: AMMONIUM HYDROGEN-DIFLUORIDE SOLUTION. I'm kinda surprised that they can actually sell this. MSDS here: www.meguiars.com.au/msds_files/D14001.pdf
Are there any long term effects of using the wheel acid? Also does it strip wax or anything like that? New to all this so just trying to learn.
Sometime ago I was preparing my car to apply a coating with totally no experience - as I do not own a garage, I needed to wash the car several times outside as dust, leaves and other junk were landing on the paint constantly and I didn't to scratch the car. When I was done with the coating I noticed terrible water spots all over the car (even though I tried to dry the car after each wash) and I could not see through the windshield when I was facing direct sunlight - the window was completely milky. I was devastated and could not find a way to get rid of the spots but then after a few rainy days all (or at least most of the spots) just disappeared! I guess the rain was at least slightly acidic but helped a lot.
After watching shitt load of videos of how to remove water spots, this is by far the most useful i say it is
I have read a wax keeps the water spots from sticking. Also Turtle Wax ceramic spray. What you want is a barrier coat between the clear paint and the hard water
Yes and no, sometimes the minerals can make it past the wax
WATER and DAWN DISH SOAP. Put that in your chemical sprayer and coat the whole car thoroughly. Use microfiber and just do a quick hand wash hitting everything with the microfiber. Soak vehicle again in your Dawn and water. It will quickly bead off. Take dry microfiber all the way around by hand you'll notice it's dry as soon as you wipe. Remove your hard water stains with very little effort. You could almost just soak the whole vehicle in Dawn water alone and it makes a huge difference. It doesn't take much Dawn in the final rinse water.
I have got some horrific dried water spots on my Audi Q5 (from the garden water sprinkler)
I thought it was chronic but it does come off with Lime scale remover!! I tried car polish (MER) but it didn’t touch it!! So a big job ahead to remove it & then some Demon Shine!! I just use a household glass cleaner on the windows.
Great test! I am a chemical engineer and expert in water systems.
Quick comments....not all water spots are created equal. If you are dealing with more difficult deposits you will need a stronger acid OR mechanical action....or both.
Vinegar is a great starting point. Harmless. You can also use vinegar with a clay bar.
Hi generally use vikal on bottom door shuts in summer on dark colours leave on about 5 mins on outside I normally spray on a microfibre and wipe body and glass .i do not dilute use full strength just keep out of full sun in summer . Hard water marks around water jets can be very common with people using no screen wash spray and leave again for 5 to 10 mins it should remove the water marking around them
I owned 1 black car and never in my life will I EVER have another one....
Dude my car gets dirty after two weeks of a car wash
😂
Same. What was I thinking
So because it’s not visible as much Means it’s not there or it doesn’t get waterspouts or you don’t have to clean it? Make’s no sense when ppl say that.
Have you ever used the cutting oil ? Actually, it's very easy to use, just spray on those spots leave for some couple of moment and then wipe out.
vinegar works as a chemical reaction ... should be waiting at least 20 minutes
that's what i thought watching this. for faucets you have to let it sit. is that bad for the paint?
Sam waste of time
10 minutes and scrub with soapy water for mild water spots. Follow that with glaze and wax.
As a detailer...I would clay towel/bar, acid, then polish if needed
Muriatic Acid solution is used to remove water spot then a base like baking soda solution needs to be applied to neutralize the acid on the paint followed by a good wash and polish. Anyone who details vehicles with hard-water spots can provide additional pointer. The Muriatic Acid can be purchased at the local car paint & repair shop or at Home Depot store. Make sure to wear protective gear when applying both solutions - only takes a few minutes per panel. Good luck!
What kind of acid is "wheel cleaning acid"? I would like to make my own. Thanks
HF (Hydrofluoric Acid) WILL react on glass. I use HydroChloric Acid (pool acid) to remove water deposits from my pool tile as well as house windows that get sprinkler overspray/ You just have to be VERY careful with it. I think the vinegar would have worked if it was not diluted and left on for several minutes. BUT --- do any of these acids affect paint or coatings? I have Power Lock Sealant on my new MX-5.
I would keep HF away from the car. The potential gains aren't worth the potential costs.
@@nookroot890 what is safe and effective?
Thanks you so much for this video, I just subbed to you because the last video i watched was a 4 min video on how to remove the mineral spots from windows and instead of showing and telling what products were. The guy in the video wanted to show and then pretend to be a teacher by quizzing the viewer on what he used, never showing or explaining anything. Thank you for making a proper video. Iv seen/heard of plenty of suggestions and even that it's not possible to do so.. which is a discouraging and upsetting to hear when all it takes is a night next to a sprinkler to ruin a car.
Thank you for how clear, cautious, truthful and overall helpful you are. I will definitely continue to support your channel and reccomend it to others.
This definitely helped out. Thank you! I always clay and compound. Now its going to be Wheel Acid ftw!
Did the WA work for you?
Regarding DWV and water...I've only ever seen it work when the car is still wet from rain or whatever and you know it's going to spot up because of air quality (pollen, smog). I mean it's more of a rinse aid at that point. I do use a lot of distilled white vinegar in my day to day, though...lots of uses for it.
What wheel acid cleaner did you use?
Did they respond ? Lol
What he used is similar to "Mag Brite Acid Wheel Cleaner"
The mdr works good on windows but no so much with the paint, I don’t much to mare my paint or thin my clear coat so I’m going to try the wheel acid. Seems like the best bet
Awesome video!! Would love to see a video dealing with hard water spots on car windows!
Ultra fine steel wool will do it.
@@spareparts7630 🤔🤔🤔
Mothers Mag & Aluminium Polish and Steel wool worked for me with some elbow grease. My windows had baked on water stains from 20 years. I tried everything and finally that combo worked.
Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound did nothing for the water spots on black paint, but worked great on my windows. I’ve also had good results using glass stove top cleaner on the windows of my vehicle.
@@DJMannyC YES! glass stove top cleaner worked for me. THanks for the idea.
What wheel cleaning acid is this? I have a black car that I have tried everything but that and still have water spots.
I want to thank you for the video! I had spots all over my car and looked horrible. I did all except the clay and aluminum bright. After seeing the vid, I took the clay out of my Amazon basket and ordered the aluminum bright. Wala! Spots are gone!!! 👍👍
Hi, thanks for the video. I just wanted to know where exactly can you buy the wheel acid, the website you put doesn't have it. Where did you get that from? I have a lot of hard water spots and its getting really difficult todrive the car as it is in the front windhsield too. I even did detail, that didnt help much. But looking at the video, I believe the wheel acid would be perfect for my car.
The "HF", aka hydrofluoric acid that the Wheel Cleaner contains attacks your mucus glands and vocal cords. He got lucky with the little coughing but it would be interesting if he could tell all of us if his voice has changed slightly after that incident, just to let us know how important the protection is. Also if you get a strong whiff, it will INSTANTLY damage the tiny flap that covers your lungs entrance (epiglottis), making it difficult to swallow anything even saliva, for the rest of your life.
I hope Anthony reply's and lets us know if he constantly has to "clear his throat". That is the first sign of minor damage. Anthony, if you do have to clear your throat because it feels like something wants to go down the wrong pipe, I would recommend you go see a doctor.
Wait......ITS HF??
I work with HF acid at a refinery, it's a 'calcium chaser', meaning it eats the calcium in your bones/muscles/organs. No one is allowed near the stuff without wearing air fed C-Suits or at the very least B-Class rubber PPE. Nasty shit when it gets on your skin, pretty deadly when ingested.
I have used a product called "Bar Keepers Friend" with great results! Found at your local grocery store by the household cleaners. Use a damp sponge and BKF and then rinse with water.
This is for use on glass only. For automotive paint, use a mild paint product like Meguiars M3 machine glaze....
What is the long term effect on paint of using wheel acid? Is it gonna end up like using wd40?
It is safe as long as you rinse it completely off and don’t let it dry on the paint. Check out Auto Fetish Detail and you can see him using it on a Black Ferrari 458 every single time he details it.
@@Smalaihollo You'd better rinse the living hell out of whatever you've sprayed with an HF product/variant regardless of concentration with DI, RO or similarly ion deficient water to hope the panel is neutralized, which water alone will not do. HF is an acid that even us chemists avoid using unless we have to. It is nasty stuff. One also needs to think about what that rinse water will do once it's washed down the drain given that you've merely "rinsed" it off rather than neutralizing it prior to rinsing it off.
Stay away from HF. You can tell a chemist who specializes in Fluorine chemistry by their missing fingers.
Great video Anthony! Thanks for putting this together.
Awrsome video Anthony! Really liked how well you explained each method, the pros and cons of the methods. Additionally it was great that you covered what would fit witin and individual's budget and skill set. Great choice on the Flex!
Never had a problem with water spots , till today ! That spray bottle you had ( wheel acid ) what brand !? Where can I purchase one !
Is it just me or did he create an enormous amount of marring and swirl marks from applying the MDR?
Great video! any suggestions on what to use on the glass?
How do you neutralize the wheel acid solution after application?
I was wondering the same thing!
I bought purple ZEP at Home Depot where they HD guy said it would be the best for cleaning a shower. Here in San Diego we have very hard water, but I do have a water softener which leads to fewer issues when washing a car or taking a shower. Anyways, when I parked the truck too close to a sprinkler, ZEP with a heavy hose rinse took care of EVERYTHING first pass with no effort. I don't know why you say wheel acid is harsh on glass, actually basic materials attack glass more than acids. ZEP worked great on the glass as well as the paint to get the spots off. It is designed for glass and porcelain showers and baths after all. I don't think I will ever rotary brush or dual action polish water spots again unless it is from etching.
HF acid will literally dissolve glass. I’ve worked with it and seen it with my own eyes.
Be careful with the polishing compound, for those of your first time buffer users. You burn into the clear coat and the water spots with be the least of your worries. Let the buffer do the work and go slow lol........Former Body Shop Manager ;)
Thanks
Don’t get those body lines to hard either. The clear is thinner on those spots so be super careful - current detailer for Porsche ;)
That's my fear... And why I haven't done it yet lol
Get a Rupes RA and rock on! Just did a black Volvo SUV today! Had to go w a course compound to remove some holograms left my bird shit. What a piece of gear. Money well spent!
Coming from a former body shop owner you would know how shitty the polishing and buffing is from almost every body shop!
Vinegar works pretty good for medium to lights spots but you have to spray it undiluted and you have to let it soak for a few minutes and use a few applications.
Which of these methods would be best for a ceramic coated vehicle? I'd imagine compounding is one of the worst...
Meguiar wheel brightener is an acidic wheel cleaner, but its not colourless like the stuff in the video...so i assume the acid bottled and used in the video is Hydrofluoric acid.
Meguiars wheel brightener is Hydroflouric Acid. They have a few other additives in it that give color but it is the same thing. Sane thing goes with Purple Power. The only reason it is purple is from the dye that is added. I have a guy from Charlotte make mine onsite and ask him to leave the Rid Dye out of it.
Compound and polishing are different. Compound cuts thru a little deeper (if you're trying to get rid of deeper scratches) whereas polishing is more subtle but will give a nicer glossy shine. (more like a final step right before waxing). Overall very good informative video!
There are heavy cutting compounds, through to light polishing compounds. Compound just means something made with several ingredients, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a coarse cutting compound. All products used with a buffer are compounds.
I used to think that too when I first started
One of the best youtube videos there is. Very informative
I've used 100% Cleaning vinegar and it worked like a champ.
👌
Just did it with my car and worked
@@alexwolf8019 You have to look at the percentage of acetic acid it contains. The more acid the more effective at dissolving scale.
You said the wheel acid would damage glass. Ceramic coating is also called glass coating. Does it remove ceramic treatment?
Just in time. The whole side of my truck got attacked by a sprinkler. Power Clean took most of it out but I'll need to polish now.
Is wheel acid safe on matte vinyl wraps? I have some water spots on my matte white hood and want to get it removed.
Somebody needs to give you some IGL delete!! I feel like polish doesn’t remove the mineral that hard water leaves so I think chemically removing is important. Polish Or compound I feel just smears it around. I could be wrong. Great video as always
Just discovered this channel great video vey informative, do you have one for cleaning the windscreen glass as that is my problem, cheers! 😉
With that said, very informative and with that said, thank you for the vid.
Since a lot of the ceramic Coatings are essentially a layer of glass can brake cleaner damage the ceramic coatings? Opti Glosscoat or Simoniz Glasscoat?
I wouldn't put brake cleaner anywhere near paint. It eats plastic like it's nothing. It's meant to be an aggressive cleaner. Get some citrus degreaser and dilute it, it will eat the hard way spots right off. Works very well, just make sure to clean the surface very well after.
@@rileyneufeld7001 ok thanks Riley
Awesome video, I just got a 1999 LC with water marks all over it! Won’t be wasting time with the vinegar lol.
Thanks man, great job! we live in Phoenix and the water here is the worst if any place I've ever lived.
I second that, AZ water is as hard as a lifetime criminal convicted felon... You HAVE to look for sprinklers when doing an outdoor neighborhood overnight car parking...
I use ONR and it helps to break down the mineral deposits and bird droppings, not using the hose is also a plus. The combination of spray wax and ONR save me a lot of time and my vehicles look awesome. The downside of black paint requires a light cleaner polish once a year to correct washing scratches not seen in light colors. The Junkman2000 promotes your products and he has taught me more than the others whom are selling their products (chemicalguys, autogeek, adams, etc).
ONR actually worked better for me than wheel acid and is safe for the surrounding plastic and rubber trim. Sadly I still had to use a polish to finish but at least I didn't have to compound then polish.
@@emailticketmaster whats ONR?
@@Kavie93 Optimum No Rinse
I use CLR on my boat which gets bad water deposits and it pulls it off very quickly and easily. I put the CLR in a spray bottle with a bit of soap and spray it on the boat after hosing it down. Then use a soft cloth to wipe it down. Hose off and spray some Eagle One or Maguire's wax on and dry. So easy compared to the other methods I tried over the years and it's all Walmart level reasonably cheap stuff.
1:35 OMG that's how you do it!
love it and subscribed. please do more tests like this. Maybe testing polishing compounds would be good
Is there a particular type of wheel acid that's efficient and safe for the clear coat?
You could use citric acid.
@@alias_not_needed Why would citric acid be safe for clear coat. I assume it's all ph and time in contact with the paint.
@@donealable You can test it. There will happen nothing to your clear coat if you use citric acid for normal cleaning. If you spray it on it will dissolve the scale and before it will harm your clear coat it will evaporate. If you do not rinse it with water you will get a smeary residue that could make your coat pale. Depends on the coat /paint, I guess. Citric acid is present in lemons, noone gets dissolved eating lemons :) I clean rowing boats with citric acid without gloves without any problems. It sounds more dangerous than it is. And it is not only the ph that makes an acid dissolve/burn stuff. I would never touch sulfuric acid without proper chemical resistant gloves, even if the ph is lower than muriatic acid.
What's the equivalent to wheel acid that's safe for glass? I need to clean my winshield badly but I've never had this issue before
Use the wheel acid on the windows of your vehicle, just don’t let it dry, and avoid direct sunlight. Same process on paint and windows.
Everyone please be careful with the wheel acid. I was in the ER with my wife and next to me there was a man in extreme pain because he got wheel acid on his finger that he didn't dilute right. They gave him pain meds that still didn't work. I heard him tell the doctor that his pain was 10 (highest). I'm telling you to please be careful and wear the proper protective equipment it requires. Hydrofluoric acid isn't to be taken lightly!
ALSO don't use it on your private parts!!
Absolutely correct. HF acid will strip the coatings off your glasses (assuming they are made from glass and not plastic), and its extremely corrosive. in fact, its the one acid which eats glass. Burns will take months to heal. stay away !
HF burns are some of the most painful chemical burns one can suffer but you often don’t feel pain until hours after exposure if the acid is dilute. This stuff is not to be toyed with.
Got a couple of young fellas Detailing under me and they got together with the Manager and coerced him into buying a lot of Vinegar. Told them to pull their heads and and do some research before doing that sort of thing again (wasting company $$). Thanks for this Video. I'll be guiding them to watch this.
The best ways to avoid spotting is to either have a water filter the water you use to wash your car and to microfiber towel dry the car by hand as much as possible.
What about using ph down for gardening with a 2:1 ratio mixture? I use a full solution of ph down to remove hard water stain in my bong and it works like a charm.
By "wheel acid" do you mean and iron removal type product? Like iron x?
Wheel acid is not the same as an iron/fallout remover. They're also called wheel or aluminum brighteners. They are literally acid and can be very dangerous for yourself and your vehicle if you don't know how to use them. Iron removers are specially formulated to break down oxidized iron particles
Which acid is in the wheel cleaner?
There is a few possible acids.
Sulfuric
Hydrofluric
Hydrochloric
Northy hydrofluoric acid
@@RNAngel661
never heard of it. how about muriatic acid?
NitroExpress I’m not sure but there is auto cleaning company called 3-D they sell a water spot remover
Does the wheel acid causes any damage to the paint later?....& Is the clay job effective & reliable to remove hard water spots?
I for one welcome our new Water Spot Overlords.