Washing with hard water

[Ventura139]

Hey does anyone who lives in an area with hard water wash their car at home? I always take my car to the local car wash but would love to do it at home. But last time I did this I had water spots on it that took for ever to remove. I have a water softener but is there anything else I could do do help? Thanks

 

[Bill 1960]

What it takes is a de-ionizer filter. I have one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Go-Spotless-Portable-Mixed-Deionizer/dp/B00COB90CC/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2WU5MUI4OMYB2&dchild=1&keywords=di+water+filter+system+car+wash&qid=1618308406&sprefix=Di+wat,aps,220&sr=8-10

A DI filter is different than a softener. Softeners just exchange ions, so you get salt in the water instead of calcium or other minerals. But then you just have salt spots. The DI actually absorbs the minerals. However, when the media has absorbed what it can, it’s done. You can’t recharge it at home. You’ll dump out the pellets and refill the housing with a fresh batch. It costs presently $80 for the materials from Amazon.

CR Spotless is a big name in this market. Spendy.

I get 5-10 vehicle rinses or about 2 washes on the motorhome per refill. My water is tremendously hard, like 800 ppm I think. It comes out of the DI unit in the single digits.

DI rinse is the real deal, just use it as the rinse at the end of washing and walk away. No drying necessary. It will not leave any deposit.

 

[George B]

Our aquifer here is in limestone so we have hard water. The trick is to keep the truck wet until you are ready to hand dry it. I have to mist mine several times in the process.

Just washed yesterday!

 

[91RS]

Wash in the shade and dry quickly after you're done washing. As George said, if you need more time keep spraying it with the hose to keep the water from drying. If you don't wash in the shade you'll have a heck of a time regardless.

 

[Rocket Man]

I also use the method of keeping it wet until I’m ready to dry it. I use a water blade along with a couple large microfiber towels. The water blade can get a lot of the horizontal surface water off quickly. My water isn’t hard but has fluoride which causes spots.

 

[George B]

I found it also helps to use a quick detail spray immediately after the wash to help with any residual spotting. That said my truck is usually only clean for about a half hour.

 

[hcvone]

I have wells and many filters, but also use CR Spotless water filter, expensive, but not as much as cars cost today
https://crspotless.com/product-category/spotless-water-systems/

 

[Ventura139]

I have wells and many filters, but also use CR Spotless water filter, expensive, but not as much as cars cost today
https://crspotless.com/product-category/spotless-water-systems/

Which model do you use?

 

[hcvone]

Which model do you use?

DIC20
Check Amazon and Costco, =can usually save 50-75 dollars, also ebay

 

[Rocket Man]

DIC20
Check Amazon and Costco, =can usually save 50-75 dollars, also ebay

How many washes do you get per resin cartridge? I thought about going this route awhile ago but the $175 for a new cartridge changed my mind. I heard it costs $5-10 per wash because of this.

 

[hcvone]

How many washes do you get per resin cartridge? I thought about going this route awhile ago but the $175 for a new cartridge changed my mind. I heard it costs $5-10 per wash because of this.

I have well water, get between 10-20 washes, some times slightly more, the big difference is because it depends on where the well system is in terms of it's filters at the time your washings. It's far from cheap, I was a trail for this company in the 90's because of the car care business, but now I have to buy it like everyone else, and I do because it does work well

 

[Rocket Man]

I have well water, get between 10-20 washes, some times slightly more, the big difference is because it depends on where the well system is in terms of it's filters at the time your washings. It's far from cheap, I was a trail for this company in the 90's because of the car care business, but now I have to buy it like everyone else, and I do because it does work well

Thanks for that info.

 

[EZ Money]

I recommend adding a hose bib to your soft water system. You can do it right at the wall, where your soft water system is installing (garage). More than likely, your house's hose bib is NOT on the soft water loop.
I also recommend keeping the vehicle wet until you are ready to dry it.

Additionally, you can have a ceramic sealant applied that will help to stop spotting.

 

[Fatrusty]

I lived and worked in St. Helens Oregon for 30 years as a firefighter. The water was terrible for spotting the equipment. We would drill and before we got back to quarters the water had spotted and just kept building up. We used acid to clean the spots but if you left it on the aluminum diamond plate it would etch it.
All my personal cars were wash in the shade, squeegee, towel off right away.

 

[bob3700]

Hey does anyone who lives in an area with hard water wash their car at home? I always take my car to the local car wash but would love to do it at home. But last time I did this I had water spots on it that took for ever to remove. I have a water softener but is there anything else I could do do help? Thanks

We have very hard water and down at our lake house there is acid rain. This makes for spot heaven. I had the black Yukon Denali ceramic coated and use the special washing soap (de-ionizer) they provided. It work very well. Always wash in the shade and u dry the truck with a leaf blower! The water beads up and runs right off with the air pressure. Very small amounts of water around rear windows removed with a micro-fiber drying towel.

The truck when dry always looks wet. No hard water stains. But like someone said, a black truck is clean for about 1/2 hour.

 

[Denali Brad]

Wash in the shade and dry quickly after you're done washing. As George said, if you need more time keep spraying it with the hose to keep the water from drying. If you don't wash in the shade you'll have a heck of a time regardless.

This may seem a little hokey, but I hit the wheels, grill, mirrors and a quick once over of the car with a leaf blower...gets off 90% of the water and makes drying very quick.

 

[91RS]

Yes, I do the same thing. If you have a good coat of wax or ceramic on the vehicle, most will blow off.

 

[hcvone]

This may seem a little hokey, but I hit the wheels, grill, mirrors and a quick once over of the car with a leaf blower...gets off 90% of the water and makes drying very quick.

Been using electric leaf blowers for decades, our detail shops sold Toro leaf blowers for years for water removal on cars