Are water spots on a black car enevitable?

I have a black Z28 with a very glossy finish. Anyways, everytime I wash it I can never dry the car fast enough as I always get waterspots left behind. Is that normal, or am I just washing it wrong. I use just a bucket, sponge and dry it with a choame(sp?)
Anyone found a solution to this?

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My 2 Babies:
94 black Z28-5.7 k&n cold air induction, performance MAF,air foil & flowmaster exhast. new pics w/ SS hood & spoiler
94 Z28 pic1 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro941.jpg) pic2 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro942.jpg) pic3 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro943.jpg) pic4 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro944.jpg)
86 laser red IrocZ - k&n air filters,full msd setup, flowmasters, modifed MAS & air foil,92 hood, Ground Effects & spoiler
86 Z28 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/MVC-194F.JPG)

Some areas have very hard water and will leave more spotting than normal, this could be one cause.

Here's some great info:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
Unfortunately, Nothing in the industry will prevent water spots or acid rain etching...
Believe me I know...
No polish or wax can guard off water and what is in the water, not even your paint
can protect against or stop this process... Water spots are remnants of the minerals that were in the water that evaporated on the
surface. It depends on the water and by in part what state you live in and what chemicals are in the rainwater. You cannot let water evaporate on the surface, no matter what kind of wax or polish you are using. When these mineral deposits harden, they become really tough and hard to remove.
The trick is to not give them a chance to harden.
Never wash a car, especially dark colors in direct sunlight. Try to wash your car in the morning or late afternoon or evening...Never wash or use cold water on a hot paint surface. You must dry the car very well after washing. </font>

Also, you might want to lose the sponge as they can scratch your paint since they can't absorb dirt like a cotton wash mitt. The Absorber and Cali Water Blade combo make for very fast drying which will also eliminate most water spots. I've never been a big fan of the chamois...

http://web.camaross.com/bb/smile.gif


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*Mike's 1992 Camaro RS 25th Anniv.* (http://mls77.homestead.com/92camarors.html)
Dark Red Metallic (ext.) / Flame Red (int.)
Flowmaster Crossflow, K&N, 20% 3M Panther Black Tint
JL Audio 3 10", PPI PC2100, Kenwood eXcelon KRC-953H/U, Kenwood / Pioneer speakers
Shine by ZAINO! - Special Thanks to Sal Z!

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ReznorZ28:
I have a black Z28 with a very glossy finish. Anyways, everytime I wash it I can never dry the car fast enough as I always get waterspots left behind. Is that normal, or am I just washing it wrong. I use just a bucket, sponge and dry it with a choame(sp?)
Anyone found a solution to this?

</font>

Are you washing it in direct sun light? if so it will dry too fast being a black car. If your car is well waxed you will want to on your final rinse of the soap, take the sprayer nozzle OFF the garden hose and let a steady stream of water sheet off the standing water droplets, this should eliminate 95% of all standing drops that could otherwise create a spot.

At that point I dry with The Absorber and you really should detail the paint with a detail spray and a all cotton terry cloth towel white in color, if you did leave a spot here and there the detail spray will take them off before they get set up on the paint.



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96 Black Impala SS
Authorized Zaino Showcar Polish Distributor
www.zainobros.com (http://www.zainobros.com)
Remember #3

I have been washing just before sunset or at night to avoid waterspots. I picked up some portable lights from Home Depot to light up the driveway, then just wash away. The neighbors think I am crazy, but it's cooler then doing it in the midday Florida sun and no premature drying of water on the car, which is what causes spots. I can take my sweet time with the Absorbor to completely dry the car.

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LaSSt One (http://members.cardomain.com/lasstone)
2002 SS Convertible #3988 Pewter/Black w/Neutral Leather, SS Grille, Mats, Chrome 10 Spoke Wheels

Thanks for all of your advice. I just washed my car this morning & after I rinsed it off I pulled it into the garage and dried it with a set of white detailing cloths(100% cotton) and I think I got rid of probably 95% of the spots. Thanks again for your help! http://web.camaross.com/bb/biggrin.gif

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My 2 Babies:
94 black Z28-5.7 k&n cold air induction, performance MAF,air foil & flowmaster exhast. new pics w/ SS hood & spoiler
94 Z28 pic1 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro941.jpg) pic2 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro942.jpg) pic3 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro943.jpg) pic4 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro944.jpg)
86 laser red IrocZ - k&n air filters,full msd setup, flowmasters, modifed MAS & air foil,92 hood, Ground Effects & spoiler
86 Z28 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/MVC-194F.JPG)

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ReznorZ28:
Thanks for all of your advice. I just washed my car this morning & after I rinsed it off I pulled it into the garage and dried it with a set of white detailing cloths(100% cotton) and I think I got rid of probably 95% of the spots. Thanks again for your help! http://web.camaross.com/bb/biggrin.gif

</font>

Did you take the nozzle off the hose and let the water stream over the car like I said above? this cuts drying time in half easily.



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96 Black Impala SS
Authorized Zaino Showcar Polish Distributor
www.zainobros.com (http://www.zainobros.com)
Remember #3

Definitely heed MikeLS1's advice to get a cotton mitt and quit using a sponge.They can definitely wreak havoc on your black paint!

Mike http://web.camaross.com/bb/cool.gif

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1995 Flame Red Trans Am M6,3.42 (Factory Gear),T-Tops,Black Leather. K&N FIPK,Comp Cams Airfoil,98+ Taillights,GTS Foglight Blackouts

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by mdorish:
Definitely heed MikeLS1's advice to get a cotton mitt and quit using a sponge.They can definitely wreak havoc on your black paint!

Mike http://web.camaross.com/bb/cool.gif

</font>

Where do you get a cotton mitt... Ive looked around all I see are these chanele(sp?) mitts... they look like cotton but they are not.


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My 2 Babies:
94 black Z28-5.7 k&n cold air induction, performance MAF,air foil & flowmaster exhast. new pics w/ SS hood & spoiler
94 Z28 pic1 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro941.jpg) pic2 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro942.jpg) pic3 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro943.jpg) pic4 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro944.jpg)
86 laser red IrocZ - k&n air filters,full msd setup, flowmasters, modifed MAS & air foil,92 hood, Ground Effects & spoiler
86 Z28 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/MVC-194F.JPG)

AutoZone and WalMart used to carry the Viking 100% cotton mitt. But, they've changed to a cotton/poly blend to keep costs down. The only place I know for certain that has the same 100% cotton mitt is Classic Motoring (CMA). http://properautocare.com/chenwasmit.html

I have been told you can get a REAL all cotton mit at NAPA under their house brand name, but I have not checked it out yet.

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96 Black Impala SS
Authorized Zaino Showcar Polish Distributor
www.zainobros.com (http://www.zainobros.com)
Remember #3

Hmmm, interesting Kevin! There's a big NAPA just a couple miles from me so I might drop by tomorrow and see if they have any. I assume if it says "100% cotton and Made in the USA", it's probably OK to use, but that's not always the case... Guess I'd better carry a lighter...wait, I don't have a lighter... http://web.camaross.com/bb/redface.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by MikeLS:
AutoZone and WalMart used to carry the Viking 100% cotton mitt. But, they've changed to a cotton/poly blend to keep costs down. The only place I know for certain that has the same 100% cotton mitt is Classic Motoring (CMA). http://properautocare.com/chenwasmit.html</font>

well that site says 100% cotton chenille washmits... what is chenille? At autozone they have chenille washmits (I couldve sworn they didnt say cotton chenille, but who knows)... Is chenille the same thing as cotton?

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My 2 Babies:
94 black Z28-5.7 k&n cold air induction, performance MAF,air foil & flowmaster exhast. new pics w/ SS hood & spoiler
94 Z28 pic1 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro941.jpg) pic2 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro942.jpg) pic3 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro943.jpg) pic4 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro944.jpg)
86 laser red IrocZ - k&n air filters,full msd setup, flowmasters, modifed MAS & air foil,92 hood, Ground Effects & spoiler
86 Z28 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/MVC-194F.JPG)

Chenille is cotton, but the mitt must say "100% cotton chenille" to be all cotton. I know which one from AutoZone that you saw. It's part cotton, part poly, thus not "100% cotton." It just says "chenille" because part of the mitt is cotton, but not all.... http://web.camaross.com/bb/frown.gif

I'm about to go check NAPA like Kevin suggested so I'll let you guys know if I find anything...

OK, I just got back from NAPA and went ahead and bought their cotton mitt for $2.99. Says made in the USA and 100% cotton...but, it looks like there are cotton seeds in the mitt.

Here's a pic of the front: the mitt is pure white, the lighting makes it look yellow in the first pic for some reason...Napa Mitt front (http://mls1.homestead.com/files/Napamittfront.JPG)

Here's the back, pure white: NAPA Mitt back (http://mls1.homestead.com/files/napamittback.JPG)

And, here is the proper Viking mitt. If you see one like this BUY IT!!: 100% cotton Viking! (http://mls1.homestead.com/files/vikingmitt.jpg)

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by MikeLS:
OK, I just got back from NAPA and went ahead and bought their cotton mitt for $2.99. Says made in the USA and 100% cotton...but, it looks like there are cotton seeds in the mitt.

Here's a pic of the front: the mitt is pure white, the lighting makes it look yellow in the first pic for some reason...Napa Mitt front (http://mls1.homestead.com/files/Napamittfront.JPG)

Here's the back, pure white: NAPA Mitt back (http://mls1.homestead.com/files/napamittback.JPG)

And, here is the proper Viking mitt. If you see one like this BUY IT!!: 100% cotton Viking! (http://mls1.homestead.com/files/vikingmitt.jpg)</font>

Do you have the part number for the Viking mit? I used to have it but threw away all those little cardboard things.



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96 Black Impala SS
Authorized Zaino Showcar Polish Distributor
www.zainobros.com (http://www.zainobros.com)
Remember #3

Heh, I threw most of mine out too. http://web.camaross.com/bb/redface.gif

Anyway here is the part # for the 100% cotton: ITEM # 990300

These are the numbers for the "other" two Viking mitts: 990310 / 990320

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Any questions or comments should be sent directly to: Schroeder & Tremayne, Inc., 8450 Valcour Ave., St Louis, MO 63123. For more information call toll free 1-800-325-3545</font>

http://web.camaross.com/bb/smile.gif

I just got back from wal-mart and although they didnt have a 100% cotton mitt, they did have a 100% cotton chenille Wash Pad. It is also made by VIKING and is like a wash mit, but it just isnt a mit http://web.camaross.com/bb/rolleyes.gif http://web.camaross.com/bb/wink.gif its an 8" x 5" x 2 3/4" cotton block, with a absorbent poly spong encased in the cotton... it is item # 990120 & is made in the USA. Is this just as good as the wash mitt?

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My 2 Babies:
94 black Z28-5.7 k&n cold air induction, performance MAF,air foil & flowmaster exhast. new pics w/ SS hood & spoiler
94 Z28 pic1 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro941.jpg) pic2 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro942.jpg) pic3 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro943.jpg) pic4 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/camaro944.jpg)
86 laser red IrocZ - k&n air filters,full msd setup, flowmasters, modifed MAS & air foil,92 hood, Ground Effects & spoiler
86 Z28 (http://www.boomspeed.com/logan/MVC-194F.JPG)

As far as I know that Viking pad should work fine since it's 100% cotton. My local WalMart doesn't sell Viking; they have some "Detailer's Pride" junk that's made in some far away God forsaken country... http://web.camaross.com/bb/rolleyes.gif The only thing I dislike about the pads is that they are smaller and require washing out more freqently, but no biggie I guess...

I believe this is exactly like what you got:
Viking Pad (http://properautocare.com/chenwaspad.html) It should work out fine... http://web.camaross.com/bb/smile.gif

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*Mike's 1992 Camaro RS 25th Anniv.* (http://mls77.homestead.com/92camarors.html)
Dark Red Metallic (ext.) / Flame Red (int.)
Flowmaster Crossflow, K&N, 20% 3M Panther Black Tint
JL Audio 3 10", PPI PC2100, Kenwood eXcelon KRC-953H/U, Kenwood / Pioneer speakers
Shine by ZAINO! - Special Thanks to Sal Z!