Hard Water stained glass
 

Guys--

I've had some severely hard water stained glass on my '89 since I bought it, and I tried everything to remove it. I tried clay, polishing compound, using my PC with my most aggressive pad, vinegar, Stoner's Invisible Glass, and honestly, absolutely nothing worked.

So I went to you tube and looked around, and I finally found the answer! Bar Keepers Friend in the liquid. I used that and a scrubbing sponge, with the mesh stuff on it, keeping it wet, and rubbed in the 4 directions of the wind, N, S, E, and W, and low and behold, it polished the glass, and removed every single water spot that was there.

The glass is completely smooth! Did the rear glass, still have the sides, and front to go, and I will use it on the inside as well! So I now have a new go to to add to my detailing arsenal!

I'm hesitant to try it on the acrylic roof panel as it has the same spotting, but there are also a few cracks but I'm afraid that the acrylic would be too soft, but may give it a try, starting out gently, using a microfiber cloth, if that doesnt work, step it up to a regular sponge, I just dont want to do any more damage to it.

Anyway, just an FYI! And good luck

Damon

Excellent info, thanks! I've been lucky with water spots so far, but I'll keep this in mind for when the time comes.

Where did you buy it?

Bought it at Lowe's last night, as I had to get some Bayer weed control as well. Was only $2.39 for the liquid, ceramic polish stuff. I was amazed at how well it worked! the glass is flawless now!

D.

Try taking some distilled water and soaking some paper towels down with it and laying it on the acrylic top. Hard water stains are calcium (from the water moving through limestone) and other chemicals dissolved by the water. Distilled water doesn't have any and could possibly dissolve the spots on your top.

You said they were there since you got it, so I am reading that as the previous owner's(s') water was hard. If you do not have hard water, a bath towel would work, or a micro fiber towel that is clean, etc, anything that has not been washed in hard water as the distilled water would go after that first.

We have hard water. In fact there is an old underground limestone mine that PPG ran just a couple miles from my house. Luckily I am not over the massive cavern under the ground but we do get the lime in our water. It serves as a filter but also as detriment so I fight this all the time.

Distilled water is cheap so all it could cost you is a $1.00 and if it doesn't work, you can always drink what is left.

Water dissolved it in the first place, so keeping it wet again for a bit could allow the distilled water to dissolve it and be able to remove it without abrading your top.

Vinegar (white vinegar doesn't have other stuff in it) will also cut lime deposits. BUT BUT BUT being an acid it could etch the top and dull it down.

Wow - liquid and pad is $10 on Amazon...when is Lowes ever cheaper than Amazon...

Thanks for the tip...I need it for my targa top as well...Im going to try it with a micro-fiber cloth first, and work my way (gently) up to the scrubber if needed. :thumbs:

I fought hard water stains on my glass for years when I lived in Michigan. After a lot of cleaning and research like you I got ahead of it.

Once the glass was "perfect" I treated with PPG Aquapel -- it is much better than RainX. After that point I never had an issue again.

Could the top be treated like refurbishing plastic headlights

Gang - I just went out an bought Bar Keepers Friend - liquid (as directed above) and let me tell you - this stuff WORKS and works REALLY well. I cant believe it.

Also - for those that werent sure about the targa tops - well look at my BEFORE and AFTER results. To do this - I used a microfiber pad to rub in the Bar Keepers Friend liquid very gently - but i didnt see any results. So I used it in a VERY small corner of my targa top, with some good "elbow grease" and boom - no more water spots - BUT I did see some VERY minor abrasion marks so I rubbed the area with some McGuires Ultra Finishing Polish (M205) and boy oh boy is it shining like new now with ZERO - I mean ZERO water spots... I wonder if it would be ok to use my DA buffer on the lowest speed to do the targa (any thoughts)?

Check out the before and after...Thank you again for sharing this idea with us!!!

BEFORE
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...047783965b.jpg

AFTER
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...803f5d16b8.jpg

That is EXACTLY what I was wondering, I wouldn't hesitate to use my PC 7424 on the glass with BKF, but I wonder about on the Lexan of the roof? and btw, your roof came out looking great! I was truly blown away with the results of BKF, as I said earlier, it's something I'm keeping in my detailing arsenal, right next to my 'go to' collonite 845 Insulator Wax!

Water Spots
 

A lot of overthinking here. Just use a razor blade. Great on glass, avoid the paint.

UPDATE:

Well I used my DA Buffer (from Harbor Freight) on the Targa top...check out the results. Used the BKF Liquid (took two times cause I used low speed and not too much pressure), then the M205 Polish, then a coat of Carnuba Wax... She looks so nice now!! :thumbs:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...8cad172224.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...f5ae08696c.jpg

I use Maguires Plastic Polish. I have used it on my motorcycle windshields forever. Takes minor scratches out, water spots, etc. $4.50 at Wally World. Works on actual glass, too.

https://ll-us-i5.wal.co/asr/d81a16cb...0&odnBg=FFFFFF

Bars friend has been used on windshields to cut thru the crap for many years. I first saw it in a hot rod mag years and years ago. Yes, its a great product and will not cut glass. Do NOT use ajax or a product like that. Its way to course.

Great tip on the Barkeeper product. I have the powder that I use around my house for various things. Didn't know they made a liquid and I'll be sure to pick some up. I usually use 3M Finesses-it for delicate polishing with great results. Can be applied by hand as well.
However, I had excellent results using white vinegar to remove water stains from my car that were there when I bought it from the former owner.
White vinegar and microfiber cloths worked like a charm. I suppose it depends on how long the stains were there and the composition of the calcium that could cause some stains to be more stubborn than others.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...f817caa1a7.jpg