Gang, I'm one of those that tries to keep a full body paint unit clean and shiny all the time. And, using regular water from the hose to wash and rinse severely sucks due to that even with the DW helping on the low side, I get water spots because I can't do it fast enough to dry before some take place. We live in a semi-dusty area and, the coach is under a drive-under cover but, it still get's dusty and, that includes the top too which, I keep vigorously clean too. So, at this time, please do not try to sell me a "waterless wash system" as I'm not interested in them. I don't mind the work, I like doing it the way I do it. It's just the spots that are a pain to remove. Yep, I have a bottle of vinegar and water that I spray on the coach as I'm drying and the spots are appearing and, that works but, what I'd like, I think, is a deionized wash system. Costco sells one that's around $430.00 and comes with extra components for extended time before ordering up new re-fill items. Dealerships have been using the portable units for decades. Of course those are way move of a commercial unit. I've seen on line, some home built units and, it's possible I may go that route. But, I thought I'd ask here to see if anyone's using any, home built or, store bought. Likes, dislikes, would you recommend the system or, don't mess with it etc. Again, please don't try and push the waterless ones, I'm not interested in grinding the dust and dirt into a very nice paint job. Thanks for your help. Scott

Scott....I'm the same as you and have looked into this several times. It always seems that the answer is either very expensive or requires constant reloading, which again becomes expensive. I have a water softener attached to the house, but it's only hooked to the hot water.I just wash the coach in six equal parts. I always have a breeze blowing from the front of the coach to the rear. I wash and dry the front, then half of one side, the other half and then move to the opposite side. The rear gets done last because I open the engine doors and wash out inside and then use the damp towels to dry this last.My wife often helps too. She gets all of the low stuff and rims.

I have the Costco system and I like it. It works and is a real time saver. All it is is a final rinse that makes the coach (or anything else) air-dry spot free. You wash and rinse as usual, then rinse with the CR Spotless water. No need to dry it off. How often it needs chemicals depends on how hard your water is. As I said, I like it

Don, Thanks for your insight on this. May I ask, which system you used? Was it the Costco one or, another unit like it? The Costco one has a dual cartridge setup so, I'm not sure of the time frame for the amount of washings it will give before it must be replenished. I'm new at this so, still learning. One thing the DW read was that some folks are washing and rinsing with regular water and then, rinse again with the deionized setup so as to not waste it. Seems like kind of a pain to do it that way but, I suppose I would get used to that procedure if, the system worked and, it prolonged the chemicals/pellets/whatever is used. A deionized system sounds on "on the surface" so to speak but, I'd sure like to see one in action on something like our coach before committing. ScottOn edit: MRUSA, I was tying my response to Don when you entered yours. That's the EXACT info I was looking for. A hands on user. At this point, I think I'm going to order one up. Thanks for your input here.Scott

I use an RO system, 60gal/day, fromAir Water IceI also purchased a refillable DI cartridge.I use the water straight from my tank if it is under 40ppm. If not,I use the cartridge, attached to my tank or cg faucet.

FIRE UP wrote:One thing the DW read was that some folks are washing and rinsing with regular water and then, rinse again with the deionized setup so as to not waste it.That is the best way to keep costs down. DI water is pretty pure, adding soap and washing dirt away makes using DI water useless during the scrub process and that is why DI water should only be used for final rinse. Of course you want to rinse ASAP before your rig dries.Just a couple things to point out, if its dust that is leaving water spots DI is not going to do anything for you. If it's mineral deposits from water then DI will work. I would invest in a water softener first as in the long run it will be cheaper. That may be all you need and if you still need DI the softer will help extend the DI cartridge life.

Anyone wash their coach with a deionized wash system?

cvbdsl
Explorer
Aug 30, 2013
You've got me interested as I have hard water and my Mr Clean device is no longer made or supported.

I did some more searching and found another more portable device called a water stick that sells for around $180. Has anyone used one?

waterstick (first try at a cliky)

Chris
cvbdsl
Explorer
Aug 30, 2013
Hey Scott, have a look on eBay. I see there is one for $280.99. Not the same model as the one at Costco but same brand.

They also show an estimate of how much water it takes to wash an RV or car.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CR-Spotless-Car-Wash-De-ionized-Water-System-/180677018487

Chris
Chris_F
Explorer
Aug 30, 2013
SCVJeff wrote:
I have a small DI system that I route through a portable soft water tank to help "pre-condition" what's feeding the DI.
Back to the resin: Who recharges the rechargeable resin vs. replacing both. Anyone find a bulk supplier?

DI systems use either two tanks or one tank. Pre-treating a two-tank system will result in slightly lower quality, more alkaline water. Soft water feed to a single-tank system will help only if the resin will be regenerated. Soft water will not yield more water from either DI system. Use soft water with detergent for washing, and feed hard water into the DI system for rinsing.

Softeners use one type of resin that can be regenerated with salt. DI systems use two types of resin. One is regenerated with concentrated hydrochloric or sulfuric acid; the other is regenerated with a concentrated solution of sodium hydroxide (lye). Handling these chemicals is so dangerous I've never heard of anyone other than trained operators regenerating DI resins.
JoeH
Explorer III
Aug 29, 2013
the_armadillo wrote:
Scott (FIRE_UP)

If you hold off for a about a week, I believe the CR Spotless unit goes on sale at Costco on 9/4/13. The latest Costco "Fall Into Savings" that we just received shows that deionizing system will be $369.99 from 9/4/13-9/22/13. This price is an ONLINE-ONLY OFFER and includes DELIVERY. The item number during the sale dates will be #667322. The picture in the flyer and amount of sale savings corresponds to the current item #180790 on the Costco site.

Been thinking about the same purchase as well.

Thanks for the info.... I've been thinking of getting one ( have ben using the old Mr. Clean, but ran out of cartridges) -- I'll pick one up when the sale starts. Between the dark MH, our dark toad and other vehicles, along with our hard water, that should help.
CARBONE
Explorer
Aug 29, 2013
I wonder If you do a RED MAX PRO or the like would make a deference, we did a a 31' coach and never had spots or streaks, live in HARD water area
AL
Don_Don
Explorer
Aug 29, 2013
Blue Becon does just fine.
SCVJeff
Explorer
Aug 29, 2013
I have a small DI system that I route through a portable soft water tank to help "pre-condition" what's feeding the DI. I do a full wash and rinse with the hose before the DI rinse because that replacement final resin isn't cheap. Done properly the finished job is great, but you MUST rinse throughly BEFORE THE DI !! The whole point of the final rinse is to get off all of the previous water. Any soap leaking from a seam, etc. will show up As a beautiful streak. I have a friend that just bought the Costco system. I'll check on his opinions too.

Back to the resin: Who recharges the rechargeable resin vs. replacing both. Anyone find a bulk supplier?

Scott: Sorry about the cancelled trip/ meet. I realized Heather was at the house when she should have been 120mi South and suggested she might wanna check in w/ you....
Seamutt
Explorer
Aug 29, 2013
Mr. Clean used to sell a car wash system that included a cartridge to remove minerals from the water. It worked great. The cartridge was used on the final rinse, no scale anywhere. It also works excellent on the house windows.

The system was kind of expensive so for that reason never really caught on I guess. When they quite selling them a bunch of cartridges showed up at a local surplus store and I scooped them.
DSDP_Don
Explorer
Aug 29, 2013
Scott.....I never got one....just wasn't impressed with what was out there. The Costco unit sounds promising. Why don't you order it, I'll bring the coach by and we'll do a side by side comparison and then write it up. ;)
C_SL
Explorer
Aug 29, 2013
dverstra wrote:
I need all of you guys and gals at my place over the Holiday weekend. Free beer if you wash and wax my coach. :)

Wow~~~ Free beer, I think you might come out on the short end of that deal!!! Lol
:)