[Chris65LeMans]

All,

I was looking at this water de-ionizer from Costco for washing my cars.

Fortunately, I did a little bit of research. I learned (from the CR website) that this unit will yield 300 gallons before it's filter needs to be replaced. (at $90 a pop.)

Is there a cheaper way? I'm just getting tired of the "race" to dry the car before it spots. (particularly with my wife's SUV.)

Thanks, Chris.

[SRR]

I gave up washing my cars at home because of water spots and just go to a "Touch free" car wash in town. $6.75 for the works. Not perfect but no spots ether.

[indymanjoe]

spot wash her/it.Do it in the garage,no mess.

[Bob Dillon]

Originally Posted by SRR

I gave up washing my cars at home because of water spots and just go to a "Touch free" car wash in town. $6.75 for the works. Not perfect but no spots ether.

$19.95 a month for unlimited washes here. I consider that the deal of the century.

[1969GTO]

I have found and used the Mr.Clean wash kit.
found on e-bay.......loved it......the ionizer was great watching the little beads of water on the car.

[The Champ]

Water spots come from hard water. I plumbed a softened hot and cold water line into my garage for use when washing cars when I built my home.

Based on the location of my attached garage to my utility room in the basement all it took was a bout 5' of pipe and two hose spigots.

[428PHIL]

Originally Posted by SRR

I gave up washing my cars at home because of water spots and just go to a "Touch free" car wash in town. $6.75 for the works. Not perfect but no spots ether.

Keep the car wet while your washing and dry with a towel, no spots. My car is black and as long as I do this it comes out great.

[Captainofiron]

Originally Posted by Chris65LeMans

All,

I was looking at this water de-ionizer from Costco for washing my cars.

Fortunately, I did a little bit of research. I learned (from the CR website) that this unit will yield 300 gallons before it's filter needs to be replaced. (at $90 a pop.)

Is there a cheaper way? I'm just getting tired of the "race" to dry the car before it spots. (particularly with my wife's SUV.)

Thanks, Chris.

have you looked over at Autogeek?

those guys are really good at answering questions, that is where I got the info for the buffer I got

[A.J.]

I just take a few drops of dish soap in a bucket of water in wich I dipp and squeese my buff (shammy leather?). Just keep the whole car wett untill you're finished washing it.

[TempestFugit]

Always wash in the shade and I use one of those silicone water blade squeegees made just for cars. It gets 90% of the water off with one swipe but only on flat or gently contour surfaces.

[fyrffytr1]

I'm probably opening up a hornets nest but I use Meguiars Ultimate wash and wax for all my vehicles and that includes my 67 GTO. I do use the two bucket method mentioned in the following article.
http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-ultimate-wash-wax.html

[67Twistytee]

+1 on the two bucket method and keeping the car wet until you dry.

Two more helpful hints: 1) take the nozzle off your hose and let the rinse water sheet over your car panels - this tends to minimize water beads sitting and causing spots and 2) use Meguiars quick detail spray (or similar) and spray it on the wet car prior to drying off with micro fiber towel. It helps reduce water spots prior to towel drying and also helps maintain your wax job for longer.

[Chris65LeMans]

Originally Posted by A.J.

I just take a few drops of dish soap in a bucket of water in wich I dipp and squeese my buff (shammy leather?). Just keep the whole car wett untill you're finished washing it.

Oooh - don't ever use dish soap. Just like it's bad news on caked-on grease; it's bad news for your paint, too.

I guess there is no short-cut from the de-ionizers. I'm already using all the "pro" techniques mentioned - although I still use a chamois like the old days to dry. I pull the cars into the shaded garage to dry; haven't had a problem with spots, but it would be nice not to have to work so fast.

[Drag Star Le Mans]

Sorry can't help you never wash this old heap. Yes that a 63 LeMans I parted out many years ago. Let the hate begin. Sorry?

[hslager69]

wash in shade,use leaf blower to get 98% water off plus it gets water from behind chrome,mist with detail spray and chamois off.for a drying towel i use one from adams polish

[Captainofiron]

Originally Posted by Chris65LeMans

Oooh - don't ever use dish soap. Just like it's bad news on caked-on grease; it's bad news for your paint, too.

I guess there is no short-cut from the de-ionizers. I'm already using all the "pro" techniques mentioned - although I still use a chamois like the old days to dry. I pull the cars into the shaded garage to dry; haven't had a problem with spots, but it would be nice not to have to work so fast.

I always thought the same thing about dish soap too, but its an old wives tale.

Pro's use it to strip wax before they do polishing

[gtohurstjudge]

Here in Texas you can wash your car with no spots as long as you dry it
quickly and don't let the water sit and sit on the paint. When I took my GTO to the
California POCI convention in 2006, I washed my car right before the popular vote show
was to start to get rid of the grime from driving it around the three previous days, and
was amazed to discover nobody was using the car wash hose setup at the host hotel. Usually there is a big crowd at the car wash on Saturday morning. I washed my car in the shade and dried it immediately and was shocked to find mineral deposits all over the car,
including the stripe decals and the glass. That's when I realized why nobody was at the car wash, the locals all knew better than to use that hose! It took me months to polish all the deposits off the car....what a mess!

[Captainofiron]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

Here in Texas you can wash your car with no spots as long as you dry it
quickly and don't let the water sit and sit on the paint. When I took my GTO to the
California POCI convention in 2006, I washed my car right before the popular vote show
was to start to get rid of the grime from driving it around the three previous days, and
was amazed to discover nobody was using the car wash hose setup at the host hotel. Usually there is a big crowd at the car wash on Saturday morning. I washed my car in the shade and dried it immediately and was shocked to find mineral deposits all over the car,
including the stripe decals and the glass. That's when I realized why nobody was at the car wash, the locals all knew better than to use that hose! It took me months to polish all the deposits off the car....what a mess!

it really depends where, in West Texas, the water is usually pretty hard, and spots are easy to get.

I usually add some white vinegar to the water I am washing the car with to balance the PH

[Alvin]

Watch your vehicle next time it goes down your local car wash line.
Q: What do you see near the end of the line?
A: High Velocity Air Dryers!

Often when hand washing our vehicles I keep them wet, as mentioned, use a window squeegee on the glass, and our Electric 180mph forced air TORO blower/vac from top to bottom. That's right - A Leaf Blower!
Works like a charm and sure is cheaper than those "Portable Car Detail Blowers" sold through Cal Car Cover, et al.

Two bucket method for sure.