Vinegar and Detailing

[T6 Driver]

Has anyone used distilled white vinegar to remove hard water spots on their paint? I'm considering trying it- the directions I've found are to start with a clay bar, then to wipe the vinegar on the paint undiluted and work it in for about 60 seconds, then rinse it off.

I'm planning to follow the vinegar treatment with Zaino PC polish using a lake county orange cutting pad followed by another round using a lake country white polishing pad.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[simracer]

Yep. If it's just hard water mineral deposits and not etched in acid rain then vinegar should work.

[EdirtySicks]

after clay bar do you need to wax?

[WolfStrong]

I prefer a regular paint cleaner personally =\

[simracer]

Unless you're using a really aggressive clay bar, no it wouldn't be absolutely necessary to reapply the wax. Most of the mild clays don't have a reputation for removing protection.

[SHWELL]

If there is wax already on the car you may not have to... But in this case the OP would want to apply a coat of wax to reapply the protection he is removing with the Vinegar..

[T6 Driver]

Thanks all- and I am planning on re-applying the wax

[WolfStrong]

If you have water spots, and need something to remove them, this means that the water spots have etched into the clear coat. Clay will usually remove most mild and light etching as it is just surface, but either way, water marks are due to the minerals in the water getting past the LSP/Wax/Sealant you have, which means yes, you do have to rewax that area.

[BuckNaked]

One of the properties of vinegar is that is reacts with the bond between the mineral deposits and a surface. Vinegar is a popular ingredient in home-made window and glass cleaning mixtures when there are hard water deposits present. It's effectiveness is achieved through repeated applications over time.
Most of this material will be removed in the claybar stage. Try using claybar on your car window glass, it really works well.
There are water-stains and then there is etching. Hard water stains can be removed by vinegar, etching will need some polishing/paint correction to remove. Etching happens when the mineral deposits are allowed to eat into the surface and there is actual damage to the surface.

[BuckNaked]

Damn wolf, you owe me a beer.
Great minds DO think alike!

[TOGWT]

Detailer’s clay is an abrasive product and therefore will remove wax and a large % of polymer sealant.

Vinegar is acidic (Acetic acid, pH 2) the acid counteracts the alkaline minerals, dissolving them. It will also remove wax and a % of polymer

Clay - http://www.detailuniversity.com/forums/school-exterior-detailing/1320-detailers-automotive-clay-article-jon-miller.html

[WolfStrong]

Damn wolf, you owe me a beer.
Great minds DO think alike!

:alright
Just give me a cookie!