Washing with well water - how are y'all avoiding hard water?

[Nibroc99]

Hey all! I live with my parents, and we have well water. While I love the taste compared to city water, I can see that we've got a crazy hard water problem, especially because the garden hose bypasses the whole-house filter we have. What do y'all recommend for filtering the water and getting those minerals out to prevent water spots? I typically dry my vehicle immediately after washing it, but sometimes I either miss a spot or just don't have time. Any solutions y'all have found?

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[Brian_B]

I have a tap from the water softener I use to feed the pressure washer in the garage, it will still spot if you let it, but you can at least get these spots off without needing a lot of harsh acid. Then I also have a filter/deionizer that I only use for the final rinse to help keep the water spots off - reduces the spotting by about 90%.

But you still have to dry the vehicle. Can't just let it sit and air dry. And don't wash it while in direct sun.

 

[Nibroc99]

I have a tap from the water softener I use to feed the pressure washer in the garage, it will still spot if you let it, but you can at least get these spots off without needing a lot of harsh acid. Then I also have a filter/deionizer that I only use for the final rinse to help keep the water spots off - reduces the spotting by about 90%.

But you still have to dry the vehicle. Can't just let it sit and air dry. And don't wash it while in direct sun.

I always make sure to wash it at the end of the day out of direct sunlight, so got that covered. Is your water softener just a salt brine? Or is it an inline filter? If I had my way I'd absoliutely have a built-in pressure washer on the wall of our garage and a water softener alongside it... Unfortunately, my parents aren't for that, so some day I'll do that to my own house. But for the time being I'm looking for something I can use inline with my garden hose.

 

[Brian_B]

Oh, I've also found a good car wax will help too - helps to keep it from spotting, and when it does, easier to get off. But you have to keep up with it.

I've been a fan of the DIY ceramics, I reapply every 2-3 washes. Goes on quick and painless.

 

[Brian_B]

I always make sure to wash it at the end of the day out of direct sunlight, so got that covered. Is your water softener just a salt brine? Or is it an inline filter? If I had my way I'd absoliutely have a built-in pressure washer on the wall of our garage and a water softener alongside it... Unfortunately, my parents aren't for that, so some day I'll do that to my own house. But for the time being I'm looking for something I can use inline with my garden hose.

Mine is a home salt-recharged one. You can buy a small one meant for an RV for cheap though just for car washing and solar panels and such (and you can recharge the resin in them with salt too)

Here's an example (first one that popped up)
https://www.amazon.com/CircleRiver-Softener-Fittings-Food-Grade-Portable/dp/B0DKHXQVGX

 

[Rick66]

Following....

 

[Brian_B]

This is the deionizer that I'm using. You could use this with hard water but you'd need to replace the resin more frequently

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FK4YGB2C

 

[Nibroc99]

Oh, I've also found a good car wax will help too - helps to keep it from spotting, and when it does, easier to get off. But you have to keep up with it.

I've been a fan of the DIY ceramics, I reapply every 2-3 washes. Goes on quick and painless.

Been using Meguiar's Ultimate carnauba wax, which definitely helps water spots not stick!! Definitely great advice. For textured metals like my brush guard and rear bumper I use a spray-on hybrid ceramic turtlewax.

Mine is a home salt-recharged one. You can buy a small one meant for an RV for cheap though just for car washing and solar panels and such (and you can recharge the resin in them with salt too)

Here's an example (first one that popped up)
https://www.amazon.com/CircleRiver-Softener-Fittings-Food-Grade-Portable/dp/B0DKHXQVGX

Damn! That's expensive. I wonder if this related suggestion on amazon might work though. And thanks for the link to the deionizer too!! I'll have to do some more research into if this might help with my water. I think the biggest concern I have is that our water pressure is around 20PSI, whereas most home water systems these days are 60PSI. So water pressure is a premium in this house lol, but the pressure washer definitely helps.

 

[Dan-O]

We have very hard water here in AZ and I’ve been using the deionizer from Griots Garage. For me I’ve found I need to replace the resin every 4 washes or so. It’s another cost every so often but to me it’s worth not having hard water spots that I need to spend more time cleaning up. They also have a smaller in line filter but resin is not replaceable have to buy new filter every so many washes.

 

[Z because X was taken]

I bought a On the Go Water Softner for when we go camping. I use it to rinse the vehicles after a wash and to refill our hot tub. Works great and is portable.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

I am on a well and was getting water spots. I bought this Camco Tastepure filter at Walmart and it definitely helped. However, this type of filter supposedly doesn’t do much about minerals in hard water so it may not help you if that is the cause of the spotting:

 

[Saltwater Junkie]

On well water here as well, taste GREAT but is absolutely full of calcium.
Letting it dry, especially in the sun and you're guaranteed calcium rings as @Brian_B stated.
What I've found that helps is as other have posted.
At the very least is a QUALITY car wax. Ceramic coating is a bonus.
I have set up my own high pressure power wash bay following IMJOSHV on youtube for tips on secrets and money saving options.
Any filter is better than nothing. I opt to use a cheap inline calcium reducer inline to power washer similar to @VirginiaHeritage

Lastly, I'm old school and still use a clean quality chamois.
and get compliments regularly on our vehicles.

99 F350

05 Excursion

 

[23OBX2.7]

Very hard water I use quick detailer and blow dry then quick wipe so no spots. If leave any water on it will leave near permanent spots. I reapply quick detailer every third wash where I just use wand wash on engine cleaner mode and rinse off.

 

[bcrabt]

Works like a charm. We have very hard well water, this does the job.

https://crspotless.com/products/dic-20-high-output?variant=42461624467567

 

[RSNovi]

I have one of my outside spigots connected to the water softener near my garage for washing cars.

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