A car’s exterior is the first thing people spot; they will critique the car’s condition based on what they see at first glance.
Appearance matters, and so does the esteem of a car owner that knows they have done the best to maintain their vehicle in good condition no matter how old it is.
But sometimes, car maintenance can be tasking, especially if the automobile develops chalky marks on the surface after washing. What causes them?
Your car has spots after washing when you use dirty water to clean it. The water has particles and impurities that dry on the vehicle’s surface, forming spots. Also, failure to dry your vehicle properly after washing leads to spot formation when the water dries up and leaves minerals and contaminants on it.
Many other reasons explain why your car forms stains after cleaning it.
Read this article to the end to learn more about them. Also, you will learn how to avoid them altogether!
Why Does My Car Have Spots After Washing?
Your car develops marks after washing due to the following reasons:
These reasons are explained below.
Failure to Dry the Car Properly
One of the major reasons your car develops spots after washing it is the failure to dry the surface correctly.
When you don’t dry your vehicle well, the water you used to clean it dwells on the surface for a long time, making it evaporate.
The water could have some impurities that don’t evaporate alongside it; hence they remain on the surface as spots.
Using Dirty Water to Clean the Vehicle
Your vehicle may also develop spots after washing if you use dirty water to clean it.
The water has gathered dirt, impurities, and other particles; you spread them on the vehicle when cleaning it using the water.
You will notice ugly streaks on the vehicle as soon as it dries up, making the vehicle appear dirty even after you have just washed it.
Using Contaminated Mitts When Washing
There could be spots on your vehicle because of using dirty and contaminated mitts to clean it.
Failure to wash the mitt after each use leads to accumulating dirt over time. Thus, when you use the dirty mitt to clean your vehicle, you spread more dirt on top of the one already existing on the surface.
You may not notice it immediately but rather when the car dries up, revealing unsightly spots.
Use of Hard Water
Using hard water is another causative agent to spot formation on your valuable machine.
Hard water has minerals like magnesium and calcium; they make it harder for the car shampoo to rid the vehicle of dirt, dust, and grime effectively.
It is because they react with a soap solution to form scum, which reduces the cleaning power of the shampoo used to clean vehicles.
Besides, the hardening minerals remain on the surface when the water evaporates.
You will observe the mineral deposits as chalky spots on your car after washing it.
The Vehicle’s Paint Isn’t Protected
The lack of a protective coating on your vehicle also leads to streak formation after washing it.
Paint protection includes applying car wax, sealants, or ceramic coatings to the vehicle’s surface for reinforcement against damaging elements.
Besides, the coatings have hydrophobic properties to repel water from sitting on the car’s surface for too long.
Your car develops spots after washing if it doesn’t have protective coatings.
It is due to a lack of hydrophobic powers to prevent water from dwelling on your car’s surface long enough to evaporate and leave contaminants and mineral deposits as stains.
You Washed the Vehicle in Direct Sunlight
A car washed in direct sunlight is more likely to form spots after washing.
The sun accelerates drying after washing, so the vehicle dries up before you use a microfiber towel to dry the excess water off.
The fast water evaporation allows mineral deposits to remain on the surface, hence the spots that form after washing your vehicle.
Cleaning the Car on a Windy Day
Another reason spots form on your vehicle after washing is cleaning it on a windy day.
Like the sun, the wind accelerates the drying of the car when you wash it.
Therefore, the water on the vehicle’s surface evaporates faster than you can wipe it away.
The water’s mineral deposits and impurities remain on the surface, which are the stains you observe on your vehicle after cleaning it.
Using High-Pressure Water to Wash
A car washed with high-pressure water is more likely to form spots once the activity is done.
While high-pressure water effectively rids the surface of loose dirt and dust, there are other less pleasant results-water spots.
They form because water under high pressure splashes on the vehicle as tiny droplets.
These droplets dry quickly, preventing you from wiping them away before forming water stains.
You will see small white spots on your vehicle as soon as the droplets dry up completely.
A Downpour Occurs After Washing the Car
Rainfall is another reason why your car has spots after washing.
For instance, you wash and dry it properly, then you park it outside or use it to run some errands.
Then it starts raining, and you shouldn’t think the rainwater is giving your car a good rinse.
Instead, it leaves spots on your car due to the impurities it collects from the environment.
The impurities are left as spots on your vehicle, reversing all your washing efforts.
How to Avoid Spots When Washing a Car
Spots may appear harmless; some individuals may think that the only damage they cause is making the car appear dirty.
However, the spots eat into your car’s paintwork if you let them build up over time, so you need to remove them quickly.
Or better yet, prevent them from forming altogether. So how do you avoid them when washing your vehicle?
Washing the vehicle properly could be your solution to avoiding your car developing stains after washing. It includes using the right materials to clean your vehicle thoroughly, limiting the chances of the spots forming. Then, dry the car properly to prevent water from sitting on the surface long enough to leave stains.
The following are the precautions to make when washing to avoid spots on the car:
Key Takeaways
References
https://www.drbeasleys.com/blog/2019/02/27/how-to-prevent-water-spots-on-car
https://spraywayautomotive.com/how_tos/how-to-avoid-water-spots-when-cleaning-your-vehicle/
https://www.carwashcountry.com/5-reasons-why-your-car-may-still-look-dirty-after-washing/
