Auto body repair & detailing: Waterspots and auto polishing, polymer wax, vinegar and water

Question
Hi Gary,

I have 2 questions.  What is the best and easiest way to remove hard water spots on paintwork? I have tried various products eg. cleaner waxes, etc. but to no avail.  Second question is, what kind of polish, glaze, etc gives the best and most lasting shine and protection?  I have used different brands eg. Maguiars, 3M, turtle wax, etc but most of them lasts only a couple of weeks at best.  Is there anything better out there that I can do by hand and doesn't entail hours of hard buffing and polishing?

Answer
Hi Daniel,

You have a couple of things you can do for hard water spots. You can get a buffing compound that has a mild abrasive to it and polish it back that way or you can mix a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. It does a pretty good job on hard water spots and won't harm your paint. I would follow it up with some type of hand polish or glaze.

Now concerning the wax, You can try a Polymer Wax. It will give a last up to one year most manufacturers claim in comparison to 2-3 months to a standard Carnuba Wax. I hope this helps

Gary