Nopstnz8
Member
Having a serious issue lately with the horrible water we have here in lovely California. :angry: As many of you are probably aware, California has a severe water crisis at hand and is making every attempt possible to limit water usage across the state. Unfortunately this is horrible for us detailing fanatics as hose water from the spigot has now been redirected to a different plant that my friend claims is pure "acid" now.
My friend and I both have busy lives and drive our cars how they are meant to be driven, typically only having the time to clean them once a month or so, pending contamination. We both have swirl free corrected paint, but each have our wash methods down to where no marring or swirls are induced during the monthly cleaning using the two bucket method, lowes grout sponges, griots soap and grit guards using a traditional wash in a top down fashion for the panels.
Unfortunately, with the water reclamation, washing our cars the way we always have no longer is working because the water coming out of our hoses is so horrible that it instantly etches the paint, requiring compounding to remove the etchings. Clearly not a sustainable method after each wash. I started noticing this a few months ago when my friend began to complain how the city water was destroying his paint.
I on the other hand have had water issues at my residence for the last few years, and up until I acquired my M3 two years ago, I was strictly doing ONR washes. Once I acquired the M3, my free time also began to disappear drastically, not allowing me to do ONR washes anymore since the car was too dirty in my eyes.
I went back to the traditional wash method, but also purchased a CR Spotless unit to alleviate issues from the past. As crazy as it sounds, our water has been so bad that I resorted to using the CR Spotless as the only way to let water touch my car. I still fill the buckets with regular hose water, but I spray down and rinse the car with the CRS unit. I have a foam lance with a pressure washer as well, and resorted to using that strictly though the CRS in-line.
The above method has served me well for the past two years with zero issues, and I wash my car in sections similar to a waterless method by doing a section at a time, top to bottom, but I leave blow panels to prevent cross contamination by wiping. Up until the last month or so, I never had an issue with spotting, but now with the reclaimed water, I am getting etching that last time required compounding with a wool pad and HD Uno on my DA just to remove them.
I am debating going back to ONR using distilled water only or a tap water filter to fill the buckets and presoaking the panels with a sprayer because I refuse to put up with etchings, and even more importantly have to level my paint each time to remove them (only done it once so far, but I see it being a pattern if i don't change my method).
I really would like to find a solution that will allow me to continue to be able to traditionally wash my car if anyone can help, maybe some of the detailers in the California area can chime in?
How are you guys cleaning dirty cars in California without etchings?
I believe the bucket water is causing the etchings, so I am curious if you all think that I should fill my wash bucket with either distilled water, or filtered tap water from the house, then use the CR Spotless as the only hose water that touches the car (this sucks as I only get two car washes per resin, but it's worth it to me to prevent spotting) and leaf blow the car dry as I normally do.
Anyone know of any water softeners that are affordable that can be used to make the cr spotless even more effective and also eliminate my issues? I know that's asking a lot, but I'd like to hear what you all have to say. Thanks!
My friend and I both have busy lives and drive our cars how they are meant to be driven, typically only having the time to clean them once a month or so, pending contamination. We both have swirl free corrected paint, but each have our wash methods down to where no marring or swirls are induced during the monthly cleaning using the two bucket method, lowes grout sponges, griots soap and grit guards using a traditional wash in a top down fashion for the panels.
Unfortunately, with the water reclamation, washing our cars the way we always have no longer is working because the water coming out of our hoses is so horrible that it instantly etches the paint, requiring compounding to remove the etchings. Clearly not a sustainable method after each wash. I started noticing this a few months ago when my friend began to complain how the city water was destroying his paint.
I on the other hand have had water issues at my residence for the last few years, and up until I acquired my M3 two years ago, I was strictly doing ONR washes. Once I acquired the M3, my free time also began to disappear drastically, not allowing me to do ONR washes anymore since the car was too dirty in my eyes.
I went back to the traditional wash method, but also purchased a CR Spotless unit to alleviate issues from the past. As crazy as it sounds, our water has been so bad that I resorted to using the CR Spotless as the only way to let water touch my car. I still fill the buckets with regular hose water, but I spray down and rinse the car with the CRS unit. I have a foam lance with a pressure washer as well, and resorted to using that strictly though the CRS in-line.
The above method has served me well for the past two years with zero issues, and I wash my car in sections similar to a waterless method by doing a section at a time, top to bottom, but I leave blow panels to prevent cross contamination by wiping. Up until the last month or so, I never had an issue with spotting, but now with the reclaimed water, I am getting etching that last time required compounding with a wool pad and HD Uno on my DA just to remove them.
I am debating going back to ONR using distilled water only or a tap water filter to fill the buckets and presoaking the panels with a sprayer because I refuse to put up with etchings, and even more importantly have to level my paint each time to remove them (only done it once so far, but I see it being a pattern if i don't change my method).
I really would like to find a solution that will allow me to continue to be able to traditionally wash my car if anyone can help, maybe some of the detailers in the California area can chime in?
How are you guys cleaning dirty cars in California without etchings?
I believe the bucket water is causing the etchings, so I am curious if you all think that I should fill my wash bucket with either distilled water, or filtered tap water from the house, then use the CR Spotless as the only hose water that touches the car (this sucks as I only get two car washes per resin, but it's worth it to me to prevent spotting) and leaf blow the car dry as I normally do.
Anyone know of any water softeners that are affordable that can be used to make the cr spotless even more effective and also eliminate my issues? I know that's asking a lot, but I'd like to hear what you all have to say. Thanks!
And this has been going on over the 40 years that I know of...