Cleaning soap residue and water spots off of truck

Hi everyone,
I started to notice that my truck is getting what looks like either soap residue from washing my truck with a foam cannon or water spots stuck under the bed rail caps and around the plastic parts of the bed rail caps, their starting to look like this:

See the white line under the bed rail caps?

See the white spots on the bed rail caps and under them?


At first I thought that my paint was starting to crack from sun damage and rain but when I try to clean off the white marks using a wet microfiber cloth with water the white spots on the paint go away for a few seconds and then quickly return. I tried to do the same thing with a wet microfiber cloth with water on the plastic part and it does the same thing, it fades for a few seconds then it returns after the water dries.

What can I use to clean this stuff off? I think it might be either leftover foam cannon soap or water spots.

thank you

 

I use the 3 foot rule.

If I can't see it from 3 feet, then it doesn't matter.


This is likely from water/soap/schmutz getting under the bed cap. You could use compressed air to blow the wash water out from under the cap. Careful, low pressure air and don't get too close. Damage can result.

 

Did you by chance wax your truck afterwards?

 

You can try mixing distilled water and vinegar in a spray bottle and using that to clean water spots. If the spots aren't that bad that should take care of them

 

I use air to blow out water after washing. Also I pull the caps twice a year to clean them and clean the top of the bed. Also use a good trim protectant on those. I personally use Beadmakers on mine.

 

This was my question/thought, especially on the plastic trim. For the paint, I usually start with a clay bar, then light duty polishes, then compound if needed. Good luck.

 

A few already mentioned, leaf blower to get the water out, but also the vingear solution or autogeek used to have water spot remover, pretty powerful stuff, and make sure you have ventilation. It will also remove wax. But works very good.

 

Chemical Guys also makes a water spot remover. It removed years of water spots from my shower door that nothing else would clean. Still took some elbow grease but nothing else I tried even came close.