Hard water car wash solution?

[turbo36]

Expensive, but it really works. Wash, rinse, blow dry - no spots on a black car!

DI Rinse Pro 100 Spot Free Rinse System

Get 4,000 gallons of DI water per cubic foot of resin based on incoming water of 110 ppm TDS. D.I. Rinse Pro 100 System is a fiberglass, professional-grade water treatment tank, capable of being mounted alongside your pressure washer on a trailer or on a dolly. D.I. Rinse Pro 100 System...

dirinse.com

 

[dodge man]

Turbo36 that’s kind of what I had in mind. It’s just more than I’m willing to spend.

 

[sd455dan]

I have the same hard water problem. Also have a water softener but still get water spots.

I have two classic cars and after washing and drying I find I still have to go over the entire car with Maguires quick detailer (or your brand of choice) with microfiber towel to buff out the water spots.

I've seen ads for some kind of finish (possibly ceramic finish) that forces water to run off and not let it bead up and dry as spots but haven't tried it yet.

That is what I do with the new car using the $17 Cerakote ceramic paint sealer. It is pretty hydrophobic after sitting overnight. I have been using a Toro plug in high power leaf blower to dry the car immediately after washing, it works pretty well. But Black is tougher than almost anything else. Not sure if the Cerakote will get rid of hard water spotting, but I do notice most of the water runs right off now and the blower gets most of the rest.

 

[YanmarFever]

How about collecting rain water and rinsing off with that.
Someone told me thats how they wash their car and they collect it off the gutter, into a 275 tote.

 

[steve tym]

I use a 4" x 20" deionizing cartridge to rinse my car. Pretty cost efficient.

 

[dodge man]

How about collecting rain water and rinsing off with that.
Someone told me thats how they wash their car and they collect it off the gutter, into a 275 tote.

I’ve given that some thought. I’ve already got the tote too. I’d have to rig up some kind of pump.

 

[dodge man]

I use a 4" x 20" deionizing cartridge to rinse my car. Pretty cost efficient.

Do you know what brand? How long do they last?

 

[steve tym]

Do you know what brand? How long do they last?

It's a Pentek 4.5 x 20. Capacity of 1850 grains. I also run a water softener cartridge before it. I think the D.I. cartridges are over $100, so you want the water as clean as possible going into it, hence the softener cartridge first.

 

[JPRambo]

Would an under sink RO system with a 275 gallon storage work? They are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. Upwards of 50 gallons a day. Just a question in my mind.

 

[dodge man]

I think just about anything would be better, I think it’s just the final rinse I need to be soft water.