You just cleaned your windshield inside and out, and yet you still see little white stains. Or maybe you came out of the car wash let down that those little white marks were not erased. What are they? Where do they originate from? And what can you do to remove them?

Some water is very high in minerals, such as magnesium and calcium. When this hard water dries or evaporates on a surface, it leaves behind a mineral deposit. What you see as a result is a haze of white specks that can not be removed by typical car wash techniques. And also these stains, or calcium deposits, harden with time. They also give your glass a rough texture. And they are hard to remove.

So, what can you do about them? How might you eliminate hard water spots from the glass on your vehicle? If you required professional auto repair and replacement services.

Vinegar

Because the minerals in hard water are alkaline in nature, the acid in vinegar can help to counteract them. Mix equal amounts of water and white distilled vinegar and either put it in a spray bottle and wet the glass, or soak a towel and apply it to the surface. Allow the vinegar to remain on the spots for a minimum of five minutes so that the acidity in the vinegar can neutralize the mineral deposits. Then wipe it off with a clean towel until the stains vanish. Repeat as necessary and increase the concentration of vinegar if the spots persist.

Lemon Juice

Like vinegar, lemon juice is acidic and can work against the spots on your auto glass. Fresh lemon juice works better than the bottled variety. You can squeeze the juice from the lemon right into a spray bottle or apply with a towel. You can also wipe the lemon directly on the glass.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are rising in popularity for a variety of uses. One that you might not have thought of is to deal with hard water spots on your windshield. Mix a few drops of lemon or orange essential oil with water, apply to the glass with a towel or sponge, and allow it to soak in for ten minutes. Follow it up with an auto glass cleaner. Essential oils have the added benefit of protecting your windshield from water stains forming in the first place. Try it once a week to stop hard water stains from forming to begin with.

Toothpaste

A solution of toothpaste and plenty of water can also help get rid of mineral stains. Apply the pasty solution to the glass, let it sit, and rinse with water, followed by an auto glass cleaner.

Commercial Products

There are even many commercially available, if less natural, products available to get rid of mineral spots. You can get these products at a nearby hardware store.

Prevention

When it involves hard water spots, the most effective thing you can do for your vehicle is to stop them from happening in the first place. Take into consideration one or more of these preventative measures for your vehicle:

• Park in a garage or carport whenever possible to avoid rainwater from drying on the surface of your vehicle.
• Deal with any water stains that do develop quickly before they have time to set.
• Remove residual water from your glass or paint surfaces.
• Be sure your paint is in great shape. With time, tiny micro-scratches can dull the surface of your paint and hold onto water and dirt. If your paint is totally smooth, on the other hand, it will repel water more effectively. Look into a professional detailing service to repair the shine to your car.
• Apply a layer of wax to your paint and also treat the windshield with glass water repellant.
• Treat your windshield (as well as paint) regularly with water repellant products at a full-service car wash. If you belong to a car wash membership, you can ensure your vehicle is treated as often as necessary to avoid water spots.

Hard water stains on your glass can be removed. It is a lot easier to avoid them in the first place. It simply takes a bit of initiative– or a frequent car wash add-on service– to prevent them from forming on your car.