Can Rain Leave Water Spots: 7 Simple Tricks to Avoid Them - ShinyCarProject (2023)

During the rainy season, you’re likely to wash your car less compared to other seasons. It’s a common misconception that rainwater is enough to clean the vehicle.

While rainwater is easily accessible and perhaps free, it can leave nasty water spots on your car.

Rainwater can leave water spots on your car since it isn’t pure, filtered water. Rain carries a variety of harmful and acidic contaminants. As the rainwater evaporates, it leaves tiny white marks on the surface of the car.

This article highlights the effects of rainwater on your car and the mess it can create.

It also discusses how to prevent water spots during the rainy season.

Can Rain Leave Water Spots?

You may think you’re free from cleaning your car when it rains.

Unfortunately, the opposite is true because rain can make your vehicle dirtier and even deteriorate in value.

Rainwater will not clean your car; instead, it will leave it with water spots. Besides, rain applies low pressure to remove traffic film, dirt, and droppings. Effective cleaning requires higher pressure, purified water and car shampoo. This way, your car won’t get annoying and damaging water spots.

Rainwater Is Dirty

Ideally, rainwater is natural, but it’s not the cleanest water.

On the contrary, it’s dirty and full of contaminants collected through the water cycle.

Water evaporates from various sources, including oceans, lakes, plants, and dams, to mention a few.

The condensed droplets later fall as rain. But it’s during the water cycle that the droplets collect impurities from the air.

The dust, chemicals, minerals, and dirt are the impurities in the air.

So, the rain that falls on your car is impure water.

When this water evaporates, it leaves water spots which leave your paintwork and glass messy.

The chalky residues might seem harmless, but they can cause permanent damage to your vehicle.

In addition, the impurities can corrode the paintwork when left uncleaned for too long.

So rainwater doesn’t clean your car, and it can damage it.

Keep reading to find tips on how to prevent water spots.

How Do You Prevent Water Spots After Rain?

Water spots are due to minerals left on the surface of a vehicle after the water evaporates.

These minerals come from within rainwater or particles already on the car’s exterior.

The deposits left on the surface will create stubborn water spots.

Adding a ceramic coating or wax layer can prevent water spots after rain. Some car owners prefer washing the car with distilled water and wiping it dry immediately after the rain. This prevents the deposit of minerals that cause water spots.

Whatever formula you apply, what matters is preventing the nuisance spots from the surface.

So here are seven fireproof tips to prevent tiny spots.

Wash The Car After Rain

Rainwater is undoubtedly natural and accessible to many, but it’s not an excellent substitute for regular washing.

A lengthy rain shower is detrimental to your car when left uncared for. The raindrops collect pollutants as they fall through the air, which land on your vehicle.

That’s why cleaning your car immediately after rain is recommended.

Although cleaning the car right after rain might not be possible for most people, washing within ten days will prevent the spots.

Cleaning the vehicle after two weeks of rain will significantly impact your car’s condition.

Dry The Car After Rain

Are you short of time for detailed cleaning of your car? Don’t worry.

You don’t need to wash your car after driving in the rain. All you need is drying towels.

Use the drying towels to dry the vehicle after parking.

Pat the surfaces gently, and don’t rub them as you risk dragging the pollutants over the paint.

Apply a quick detailer together with a clean towel.

Quick detailers have lubricants to lift dirt while preventing it from touching the coat.

Apply for Paint Protection Before It Rains

Apart from giving your vehicle a stunning luster, paint protection reduces the chances of rain damage.

Paint protection bonds with the pores of the paintwork, glass, alloys, and even bumper.

Paint protection film safeguards the vehicle from harsh rain.

Alternatively, you can add a wax or ceramic coating layer to prevent water spots.

The hydrophobic effects of coatings and waxes make raindrops bead slide off quickly.

As you drive, most of the beads will fly off, minimizing the build-up of dirt.

Use Rain Repellent

In most cases, people use rain repellent to improve visibility.

By forming a strong chemical bond with the exterior glass and windshield, the wipers will work efficiently.

Water beads also fly with ease, making your driving manageable.

According to a report by the University of Michigan, the repellents decrease the minimum visual angle by almost 34%. But is that the only benefit?

Repellents can also minimize condensation after the rain.

It means water stains are less likely to occur. However, these products are liquid, and you must apply them correctly for maximum protection.

Always use the repellents before the rain kicks in or after cleaning your car.

Rinse Using Deionized Water

Cleaning your car after rain is quite in order. But do you live in places with hard water?

If so, you need to consider rinsing your vehicle with deionized water. The chemicals and minerals in hard water cause water spots.

Having a water filter machine comes in handy. This way, you’ll have purified water to clean the car after it rains.

But you don’t necessarily have to use deionized water for the entire cleaning process.

Instead, you only need purified water for the final rinse.

Keep Your Car Sheltered

Carports and garages are explicitly designed to protect your vehicle from elements and rainwater.

Wind, rain, snow, and other elements are enemies to your car’s exterior.

Falling objects will also leave your vehicle with broken windows, scratches, and dents.

Finding a garage or a sheltered parking lot for your car is indispensable.

Even if the car is rained on, the cool temperatures in sheltered spaces prevent the acidic drops from being baked on the paintwork.

Invest in a Waterproof Car Cover

A waterproof car cover can be ideal if you don’t have overhead automobile protection.

Bird droppings, tree sap, and other contaminants can put your vehicle at risk.

These elements will stick on the paintwork when rained on.

Acidic rain is the culprit of water spots, and to keep your car looking at its best, a car cover will go a long way.

But ensure your vehicle is clean before covering it. Most importantly, the cover should be waterproof to prevent the penetration of raindrops.

Can Rain Mess Up Car Paint?

You may think rain is a blessing to get a free car wash. But when you think about the rainwater, you’ll realize the drops from the skies are full of contaminants.

This is because they tend to absorb chemicals, toxic materials, dust, and pollution.

Rain can mess up your automobile’s paint. The acidic rain leaves mineral deposits that can damage the paintwork. And once the damage is done, getting rid of it can be costly and time-consuming.

Water evaporates and condenses to form droplets. These droplets begin the journey back to the ground.

Unfortunately, when these drops fall on your car, they can mess up the paint.

Key Takeaways

References:

https://thenewswheel.com/water-spots-how-to-prevent-remove-them-on-your-car/

https://www.autodeal.com.ph/articles/car-features/why-you-shouldnt-wash-your-car-rainwater

https://scratchwizard.net/blog/protect-your-car-from-rain-damage/

https://cartreatments.com/how-to-remove-water-spots-from-car-windows/

https://cleantools.net/blogs/news/how-to-remove-hard-water-spots