Water spots are left on a car’s surface when water dries or evaporates, leaving behind dirt and minerals. Along with scratches, water spots are one of the more common issues you can encounter on the paint’s surface.
If water spots are left on a car for more than a few days, the minerals can etch the paint and create damage in the form of dimples. In your career, you will likely encounter this issue and need to eliminate the unattractive marks, brightening up your customers’ rides.
Read on for some ways you can deal with water spots on vehicles.
Here’s Where Water Spots Come From
Water contains contamination and various sources of it can damage a vehicle’s appearance. Rain water gathers airborne dust or dirt, along with pollution. Water from a hose or sprinkler can cause more intense spotting, depending on how high the mineral content is. Splashes from puddles on the road are also full of grime, as you surely noticed the last time you were splashed by a passing car or bus.
The minerals from these water sources can either bond to the clear coat of a car, leaving behind a dullness when removed, or they can etch. In professional automotive detailing you may have to approach etching with more aggressive remedies than other cases, as it is the worst effect from water spots. Etching is common when water contains a lot of chlorine or acid (like acid rain), and eats at the surface, causing dimples. Leaving a car in direct sunlight or high heat with water on the surface can encourage etching.
For Less Severe Cases, Auto Detailing Spray Can Come in Handy
When training for auto detailing, you will learn about how to work on various surfaces. A product that can come in handy when trying to extend the life of paint sealant is car detailing spray. It acts to top off the outer layer, wiping away dirt or smudges while adding a bit of shine. If water spots are dealt with very early on, this can be enough to make them disappear and prevent damage.
You may even decide to recommend this product to your customers, as it’s something they can do on their own to extend time between shop visits.
Clay Bars and Polish Will Help with more Advanced Damage
Water spots can cause defects and marks beneath the surface, sneakily causing hard-to-reach defects. In this case, a clay bar can be used to deep-clean the marks away. A clay bar is elastic resin that can be molded or stretched. When rubbed on a car, it will reach farther down beneath the surface and pull contaminants away. This needs to be done after the surface is clean. Clay bars need to be used with a lubricant, such as detailing spray. Finally, giving a client’s car a thorough polish should get it looking good as new again, removing etching.
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