Washed my vRS this morning, I always dry it as if I leave it to dry naturally I get loads of white water marks over the paintwork and glass.

However this morning I didn't have time to dry it and sure enough it's now covered in white marks.

It's not the end of the world as it'll be filthy by the time I get to work on Monday but...

At the BP jet wash they have a button called 'reverse osmosis', after washing a quick rinse using this setting and no white marks!

Does anyone know if it is available to buy!?

Hi,

A Reverse Osmosis system can produce ultra pure water, which can be used to flush away marks in the car wash. Water that is treated in this way leaves no lime marks on the car lacquer while it dries up.

Read more: http://www.lenntech.com/car-wash.htm#ixzz29rhsFhJv

Not entirely sure but imagine if available that would be a really high tech/expensive bit of domestic kit!

The now defunct flash car cleaning system, had a very expensive post wash fluid that you could use that also stopped the white marks. You simply rinsed the car using the flash cleaning system with this bottle in (autodry they called it) and the result was amazing. You could see the change in water flow on the car, shame it was discontinued years ago.

There is a kit on ebay though.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Flash-Car-Wash-System-SPOT-FREE-CLEANING-new-and-unused-clean-vehicle-valet-wax-/281003699213?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item416d202c0d

^ That's really interesting. Was it the economics or environmental factors that prompted the discontinuation?

Ah, I remember those Flash kits, I've had a quick search on eBay and the filters seem a little scarce now, I'm guessing since they've stopped making them they'll soon disappear - shame as I'd have got one.

I also remember the last time I visited one of those hand car washes (of which the pro's and con's have been covered on another thread!) and after blasting/rinsing the car the guy twizzled the end of the lance and sprayed the car again (with must less pressure - more like a running tap) which seemed to have the same effect.

Does this mean that there is a 'fluid' I can buy that I can feed through my garden hose?

Not entirely sure but imagine if available that would be a really high tech/expensive bit of domestic kit!

A did do a quick Google search and it seems the biggest domestic users of 'RO' is the marine industry and window cleaners.

You can buy a kit that you can fit under the sink to feed an outside tap but it's £100 and again uses replaceable filters.

Agreed, the Flash kit seems a real good low cost solution, I'm guessing they didn't sell enough!?

Drying it is the key

However..if you use a QD as a drying aid, it will help

Yeah, I know, normally this is what I do.

When I washed the car this morning it was foggy and I had to dash off, I hoped the sun would stay hidden but alas it didn't and when I got home it looked a real mess.

Even washing the screen with the wipers/washers wouldn't clear it.

I just thought if there was a simple kit (such as the Flash system) that I could quickly connect to my hosepipe for the final rinse it would be great as a back-up...

RO kits are available for the domestic market and I previously used one as my wife had a Marine fish tank. The principle is very simple, water is pushed through an extremely fine filter which strips out the impurities. The kit we had also had an ion exchange column prior to the filter to make it a bit more efficient (I think). The kit cost about £100 and is easy to plumb into your water system. However it will be expensive to run if you are on metered water as it is not an efficient process (think it was barely 1ltr made for 5-10 down the drain), possibly more efficient if you get a more expensive kit.

You can also buy the RO water from any decent tropical/marine fish shop, not sure what the price is as haven't used it for a copile of years.

RO water is used by quite a few window cleaners as it doesn't leave marks and they can use a long pole and hose.

I read on Wikipedia that for every 1 litre that gets 'filtered' 5 litres are wasted.

So I agree, it is wasteful, however I'd rinse the car using normal water and then give it a quick going over with the RO water so hopefully the cost wouldn't be too noticeable.

Do you think the 'handwash guys' have a water butt full of already treated water?

Just get one of these:

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/aqua-gleam-350-mm-de-ionising-water-filters.html

According to their map I live in a 'hard water' area.

Using the 30 PPM filter at £55 will get me 25 washes, that's £2.20/wash.

Expensive but then I guess I wash my car one every two weeks on average so one filter will last me a whole year.

There will be times when I dry it manually too so in theory it would last even longer.

Think I'll put it on my Christmas list, thanks Chris!

Get yourself some QD (quick detailer), spray on, wipe off, job done. If you put an LSP (last stage protection) on your car make sure that you get one which won't strip it off, my go to product is Meguiars Last Touch.

I really like chemical guys pro detailer. It's fantastic.

How should it be used?

Do I spray it onto the car after I've dried it or whilst I'm drying it?

http://www.chemicalguysuk.com/Chemical_Guys_Pro_Detailer_p/prodetg.htm

Never mind all these branded names that promise the earth. just buy a inline water mains filter, it will get rid of all the lime etc that cause's the water marks. alot of valeters use them for the water inlets into the power washers.

Bilt Hamber QD for me

How should it be used?

Do I spray it onto the car after I've dried it or whilst I'm drying it?

I've just been out to check and the one I've been using is P40 Detailer+

It looks more or less identical to pro detailer but I just wanted to set the record straight

that the one I'm raving about is this one http://www.chemicalguys.com/Automotive_Detail_Quick_Detail_Spray_and_Clay_Lube_p/wac_114.htm

I've only had a small trigger spray of it so far to try it but I'm buying a gallon next as

it's better value for money.

After you've towelled the car dry. Spray it on a MF cloth, (not the car) and then

wipe on to more or less any surface, plastic, rubber, glass and of course paint

then polish off with a clean dry one, Gets watermarks off lovely and if anything builds

up LSP rather than strips it.

It's very good on glass, plasti chrome trim, Headlight lenses, does rubber window trims

etc without leaving residue behind.

Actually, it's also good for removing white residue left behind from when you've waxed previously

and you've smudged a bit on say a black bumper trim or aerial mast.

I just polished up a stainless steel and glass picture frame in my kitchen with it

today, absolutely fingerprint free, streak free and shiny as you like. Took seconds to do.

I clean fingerprints off of my laptop with it too, and the screen for that matter.

I'm just about order a 5 litre of it this time. Better value.

How should it be used?

Do I spray it onto the car after I've dried it or whilst I'm drying it?

Either or both. QDs are a drying aid if you're in a rush, I never am. However they're good for things like removing water spots or if you've missed buffing a bit of wax off just like I noticed this morning on mine after yesterdays Winterisation detail

Even if you have an in line filter you can still get water spots as the atmosphere is full of tiny dirt particles; dust, sand, ash etc.

You could move

We have very soft water here so no limescale in kettles etc and water marks are very faint and easy to avoid

Edited 21 October, 201213 yr by Aspman