Question: Do you have any suggestions for removing water marks from my black paint job?

October 04, 2005

Hi Tony

I just moved here to Hemet, CA . . . The house I am staying in has a sprinkler system. I didn't realize that this could damage my paint job on my car. Now I have water marks on about 75% of my vehicle and my car is black.

I would like to know if you can give me some advise on how I can remove this. The guy at PepBoys said, keep on taking it to a car wash that has a filtration system because the water here is very hard. Another one said to call them so they can detail it with the "Super Duper" wax they have that would cost me $200.00. Money that I don't have...

Thank you for your time . . .

Aissa D.

Answer:

Hi Aissa,

Water marks are a real pain on a black car. The first thing I would do is give the car a good washing using clean water with a few drops of ordinary liquid dish detergent like Joy or something similar. The generic stuff that you can get in the dollar stores works great.

Before you start go to PepBoys or AutoZone or whatever auto parts store you have there and invest in a good chamois and a car wash brush with a long handle on it. The latter will save your lower back! Take a bucket of clean water and put a few squirts of dish detergent in it and use your brush to scrub the car. Wet the car before you start. Do the top first then the hood and fenders then work your way down one side across the back and down the other side.

If it's hot out stop periodically and hose the car down so the soap doesn't dry. After you get the whole car done hose it down real good getting all the soap off and out of the body joints between the various panels. Then take your chamois and start drying the car wringing the chamois frequently as you go along. Do the top surfaces first like the roof, hood and trunk and do the sides last.

Over the course of a few weeks try to wash the car several times like I suggest above. The water marks should slowly disappear. After they start to go away wax the car after a good washing. Before you start to apply the wax park the car in a shady spot. No sun!

Make sure the car is completely dry. Turtle Wax, Maguires and several others sell a good liquid wax you can use that will do a great job. You can find these products in any auto parts store. Use a good soft towel or other soft cloth rags to take the wax off after it dries using a swirling, polishing movement. Keep shaking the towel clean, because it will clog up with the dry wax.

This will take some "elbow grease" on your part, but the car should look great and the wax will protect it for a few months. You'll still have to wash it to keep it looking it's best. The key to making your wash job look great is drying it with the chamois. Get a good quality one and follow the directions on how to store it.

If you still have water marks after all this you will have to take it to a professional body shop and have it gone over with rubbing compound and repolished. That will be expensive. You should be OK though with the above techniques.

Good luck . . .

All my very best . . .

Tony Iorio