Has anyone got a recommendation for an inline hosepipe water filter please?

Every time I wash car I’m left with limescale rings ,white rings,and I wonder if any member has experienced same and maybe come up with a solution

Absolutely! Living in Hampshire with very hard water I end up with limescale type marks all over my dark coloured car after a wash. Very frustrating as I hardly noticed it with the previous silver coloured car.

Given that my kettle still suffers with limescale build up even though I use a water filter I'd suggest they wouldn't be any good for the car either. Instead I use a silicone squeegee blade (loads on amazon) to wipe off the worst then a microfibre cloth to remove the final few drips. Works a treat; alas more work ☹️

The price we pay for tasty hard water (or where we choose/have to live).

Dark colours are the problem,Graphite Grey for me☹️

Looks like chamois leather/microfibre drying towels,hoping to not have the extra faff but needs must

21 minutes ago, SteveTheElder said:

Absolutely! Living in Hampshire with very hard water I end up with limescale type marks all over my dark coloured car after a wash. Very frustrating as I hardly noticed it with the previous silver coloured car.

Given that my kettle still suffers with limescale build up even though I use a water filter I'd suggest they wouldn't be any good for the car either. Instead I use a silicone squeegee blade (loads on amazon) to wipe off the worst then a microfibre cloth to remove the final few drips. Works a treat; alas more work ☹️

The price we pay for tasty hard water (or where we choose/have to live).

I live in Gosport so not so hard but do use a drying towel after washing my Enyaq

Another tip don’t use cheap car shampoo

too bad

At the moment using shampoo in pack included by Dealer,generic shampoo,trim cleaner etc

17 minutes ago, Saver said:

At the moment using shampoo in pack included by Dealer,generic shampoo,trim cleaner etc

I’ve been using autogym which Richmond Skoda gave me

Also wash it 1st thing in the morning

Edited 20 May, 20251 yr by Redestate

Likewise, Autoglym here too; and yes, never wash when the car bodywork is hot, nor in full sun. I usually try for an overcast day and early on in the day.

Just ordered a large microfibres drying cloth from Amazon,back to the tried and trusted old ways😁

Meguiar's Nxt Generation shampoo is designed for hard water use - Ive not used it but the amazon reviews are strong
Link

You can buy water softeners for car rinsing. They are not cheap and in very hard water areas might only do 4-6 rinses before being exhausted. The AquaGleam as an example goes for about £70.

Wash in the cool and the shade and towel off is the best bet.

23 minutes ago, Aldfort said:

You can buy water softeners for car rinsing. They are not cheap and in very hard water areas might only do 4-6 rinses before being exhausted. The AquaGleam as an example goes for about £70.

Wash in the cool and the shade and towel off is the best bet.

I try to do the Enyaq 1st thing as the drive is shaded then

Edited 23 May, 20251 yr by Redestate

The water where I am is atrocious - I've actually stopped drinking it after seeing what it does to the car.

I use drying towels, which work a treat. I've got a few over the years, but you can get two for no more than £15 each. If you want to be fancy, a spray sealant 'drying aid' works wonders too.

As others have said, using a water softener/filter, or distilled water is an option, but unless you have a Bugatti, it's a waste of time, effort and money!

Edited 9 June, 20259 Jun by OccyVRS

On 21/05/2025 at 05:52, Saver said:

Just ordered a large microfibres drying cloth from Amazon,back to the tried and trusted old ways😁

Jeez Ive got a few old towels that have been replaced in the house Wouldnt be buying anything to do that

1 hour ago, Exkiwi said:

Jeez Ive got a few old towels that have been replaced in the house Wouldnt be buying anything to do that

Some people care about their cars.

7 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

Some people care about their cars.

Well so do we The towels are soft and dont scratch and for 4 years have done the job.

We take it to a brushless car wash and then bring it home and dry it off. We live only a block away

As per my comment elsewhere, different strokes for different folks.

Most towels tend to be soft - that's sort of the point of them.

Drying towels are designed specifically to dry something - having used normal towels for a reason I forget, their effect is not the same. They have a tendency to push water around, and can also leave stuff on the paint. A microfibre drying towel will not.

I should also say - a car wash, brushless or not, isn't the best thing for your car. They use strong chemicals to get the job done quickly, and are often far too exuberant with the pressure washer in close proximity to paintwork. The wheels in particular, at least here in the UK, are often attacked with all sorts of strong acids. It's fine every now and again, but it's not great long term.

18 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

As per my comment elsewhere, different strokes for different folks.

Most towels tend to be soft - that's sort of the point of them.

Drying towels are designed specifically to dry something - having used normal towels for a reason I forget, their effect is not the same. They have a tendency to push water around, and can also leave stuff on the paint. A microfibre drying towel will not.

I should also say - a car wash, brushless or not, isn't the best thing for your car. They use strong chemicals to get the job done quickly, and are often far too exuberant with the pressure washer in close proximity to paintwork. The wheels in particular, at least here in the UK, are often attacked with all sorts of strong acids. It's fine every now and again, but it's not great long term.

Well when you are 84 and not very well you wont have to worry how long the car is going to last and after using this washer for 6 years on 2 cars there seems to be no deterioration of the paintwork or trim. I am aware of the chemical reaction as have seen remarks about it affecting the shiny parts. So far they have survived. The cars dont get used a lot and I think maximum is 3 washes a year so we will continue as usual. I meant the towels are well worn and soft as new ones tend to be a bit hard and can scratch By the time I get home most water has blown off and we just wipe off whats left. No smears no swirls and windows shiny.

Edited 10 June, 202510 Jun by Exkiwi

Shiny windows is something I envy - mine always end up with slight marks on them, even if I dry them properly. The water here is so, so, so hard!

I'm aware there are good car washes out there - as I said, maybe stuff is different for you guys, as over here they're called scratch and shines for a reason. If you mean an automated car wash (it's late, I'm tired) then that's a different story. Using those every now and again will be absolutely fine, as long as matey is careful with that brush/pressure washer thingy!

I was speaking to someone the other day about what is worse for a car - automated car washes, or a hosepipe with fairy liquid (Dawn for you guys?) and a shaggy old sponge. I know which one I'd rather...

4 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

Shiny windows is something I envy - mine always end up with slight marks on them, even if I dry them properly. The water here is so, so, so hard!

I'm aware there are good car washes out there - as I said, maybe stuff is different for you guys, as over here they're called scratch and shines for a reason. If you mean an automated car wash (it's late, I'm tired) then that's a different story. Using those every now and again will be absolutely fine, as long as matey is careful with that brush/pressure washer thingy!

I was speaking to someone the other day about what is worse for a car - automated car washes, or a hosepipe with fairy liquid (Dawn for you guys?) and a shaggy old sponge. I know which one I'd rather...

Ours is just water jets that move around the car and arent all that hard. Water here is very soft has a rating of about 3 against last area we lived in had a rating of 8 and soap wouldnt raise a lather in shower. Changed a 4 year old anode in water cistern recently and it wasnt half worn Last place was worn away in same time. I am not willing or really able to wash it by hand so its what it is For $20 a time Id rather not exert myself

9 minutes ago, Exkiwi said:

Ours is just water jets that move around the car and arent all that hard. Water here is very soft has a rating of about 3 against last area we lived in had a rating of 8 and soap wouldnt raise a lather in shower. Changed a 4 year old anode in water cistern recently and it wasnt half worn Last place was worn away in same time. I am not willing or really able to wash it by hand so its what it is For $20 a time Id rather not exert myself

Ahh…. I thought you were on about a few blokes in the corner of a car park, armed with a pressure washer and some opaque bottles of secret sauce. We don’t really have your jet wash sort of thing here, from what I’ve seen - closest thing are the automated car washes that have the jets, but then they have the big brush things and all sorts after. That said, they do have blowers at the end, so silver lining and all that.

If I can’t be arsed I’ll just citrus pre wash and snow foam the car, before pressure washing it off. Same principle I suppose, and I’m guessing it’s a bit less muddy where you are too.

In London the showers and taps are double filtered and softened and then the drinking water is double filtered, softened and then filtered again. It’s a bit of a joke really. Like I said, after seeing what it does to my car after I wash it, I won’t be drinking it anytime soon.

Old brush washers are in the dump Havent seen one here in years. So living in the antipodes isnt so bad Where we can walk on the beach every day and walk around in shorts and T shirts 8 months of the year even if it rains its not cold. Last week was first week wore long trousers and socks

Drink the water and dodge the snakes.

You have to stop thinking what it is we write and read it better LOL