Washing cars with hard water can damage your car paint and exterior. But most people don’t realize that washing cars with hard water can also cause rusting and corrosion. So here we are going to discuss how to wash car with hard water.
Hard water corrodes metal just as easily as soft water does. And while you may not notice any difference between washing your car with hard or soft water, the difference will eventually become apparent.
If you want to prevent rusting and corrosion from ruining your vehicle, then you need to learn how to wash your car with hard water. In this article, I’ll teach you how to do it correctly.
What is Hard Water
First of all, let’s talk about what hard water really is. The term “hard” in the name refers to the mineral content of the water.
The hardness of a given water source varies depending on where it comes from. For example, tap water is generally considered to be very hard because it contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. On the other hand, well water tends to be softer than tap water due to its lower mineral content.
The amount of minerals in your drinking water has nothing to do with whether it’s hard or soft. It only matters if you’re using it for washing your car.
Hard Water For Washing
Now that we’ve defined hard water, let’s talk about why it causes problems when you wash your car. When you use hard water for washing, you are actually stripping off the protective coating of minerals that naturally forms over time on the surface of metals. This process is called oxidation.
Oxidation occurs when oxygen combines with metallic surfaces. As long as there is no moisture present, oxidation doesn’t happen. However, once water gets into contact with the metal, it starts breaking down the oxide layer.
This leaves bare metal exposed to air which allows more oxygen to enter the system. Once the metal begins oxidizing, it becomes much less resistant to corrosion.
Why Does Hard Water Matter to a Car?
When you wash your car with hard or alkaline water, you strip away the protective coatings of minerals that form naturally over time on the surface. These coatings help protect against corrosion by acting as an insulator.
But they aren’t perfect. They still allow some degree of exposure to air. And that means that even though they provide protection, they still allow some corrosion to occur.
Corrosion is one of the biggest enemies of vehicles. It eats through paint and finishes until the metal underneath begins to show. If left unchecked, corrosion can eat through the frame of your vehicle.
And since you have to clean your car every week, you’re going to see a lot of corrosion. So it makes sense that you should take steps to keep it at bay.
How To Wash A Car With Hard Water
So now that we know why hard water matters, let’s look at how to properly wash your car with hard water. Just follow the instruction below. Note that not everything is different from washing a car with hard water to washing your car with soft water. Just a few steps are different here that are described below.
Step 1: Use a Soft-Wash Detergent
In order to get rid of the buildup of minerals and contaminants that hard water creates, you first need to remove them. You do this by using a detergent designed specifically for cleaning cars.
There are two types of detergents: regular detergents and car care products. Regular detergents work just fine for washing your car, but they don’t contain any special ingredients to deal with hard water.
Car care products often include additives like citric acid or sodium carbonate. While these may seem like good ideas, they won’t solve the problem.
Instead, you want to use a product that will break down the minerals and contaminants that hard water creates. That way, you’ll be able to rinse them out of the soap and leave behind a cleaner finish.
Step 2: Rinse Away Dirt
Once you’ve used a detergent designed for hard water, you need to rinse it all away. But not just any old rinsing will do.
You want to make sure that you rinse away all of the dirt and debris from your car. The best way to do this is to use warm soapy water.
The reason for this is that cold water tends to dry things out. Since you want to avoid drying out your car after washing, you need to use warm water.
If you’re worried about getting too hot, you can always turn up the heat in your sink. Just make sure that you don’t exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius). Anything above that temperature could damage your car.
Step 3: Dry Off
After you’ve washed your car, you need to dry it off completely. This is important because if you don’t, you run the risk of leaving moisture inside the car.
Moisture can cause rust to grow. And while you might think that you can simply wipe away the excess water, you actually need to use a towel to absorb it.
This is because towels are porous. Meaning that they can soak up liquid without letting much of it go back into the air. That’s why you need to use a towel instead of a rag.
A rag would only trap more water inside your car. And then when you try to dry it off later, you’d end up having to scrub it off again.
That’s why you need to dry your car thoroughly. After all, there’s nothing worse than finding yourself with a dirty car on a rainy day.
What Are Hard Water Spots On Cars?
Hard water spots on cars are caused by calcium deposits that form over time. These deposits are usually found in areas where water collects such as under the hood, around door handles, and along the bottom of the windshield.
These spots are especially common in older vehicles. In fact, they tend to appear most frequently on cars built before 1980.
Fortunately, there’s an easy solution. All you need to do is take some baking soda and sprinkle it around the area where the spot appears. Then let it sit overnight.
The next morning, you should find that the spot has disappeared.
What Causes Hard Water Spots On Cars
There are several different reasons why your vehicle might have hard water spots. Here are some of the main ones:
1) Water leaks
Your engine is going to produce a lot of steam. And since steam condenses easily, it’s likely that you’ll get water droplets on your car.
2) Poorly maintained cooling system
Water can also collect in the radiator. If you notice that your coolant level is low, then you know that you need to drain it.
3) Dirty windows
Water can also build up between the glass panes. If you notice that you see streaks or fogging on your window, then you need to clean it.
4) Leaking faucets
Another common source of hard water spots is leaking faucets. You can fix this problem by replacing the washers in your faucet.
5) Bad weather
Rainwater can also leave behind a residue that will eventually lead to hard water spots. So if you live in a region that gets lots of rain, then you may be at risk.
Tips For How to Wash Your Car With Hard Water
Now that we know what hard water is, let’s discuss how to properly clean your car with it.
You should always use hot water when washing your car. Hot water helps remove dirt more effectively than cold water does.
You should never use soap when washing your car. Soap removes grease and oil that protects the surface of the car. As a result, soap leaves behind a film of residue that attracts dirt and dust. This makes cleaning harder.
Instead of soap, you should use a mild detergent like dishwashing liquid. Dishwashing liquids are made specifically for cleaning dishes. They contain no harsh chemicals that could harm your car.
When washing your car with hard water, you should make sure that the area around the wheels gets cleaned thoroughly. Dirt collects around the wheel wells and can cause serious problems later on.
To ensure that you get the best results possible, you should rinse off the entire car after each wash cycle. You should also allow the car to dry completely before driving it again.
Is hard water good for a car wash?
No, hard water is not good for a car wash. It will consume more detergent to wash your car and your car washing efficiency will also lose by using hard water. Above all hard water can cause corrosion and rusting to your car make it bad for a car wash.
How To Soften Hard Water To Wash Car?
It is really hard to soften hard water to wash a car since you need a lot of water for a car wash. The best method to soften hard water for car wash
- Boil the water.
- Let it cool down. It will create precipitations.
- Then filter the water.
But unfortunately, this method is not fully applicable for a large amount of water required for a car wash. For a larger amount of water, you can follow the following instructions too.
Use a Water Softener
Water softeners are specially designed to soften hard so you can use them safely.
Use Water Cleaners
Raher than water softeners water cleaners is also available in the market that can soften the hard water to wash a car. Even you can also use water cleaners to clean mild dirty water easily.
Conclusion
In conclusion, washing your car with hard water can be a real pain. But luckily, there’s an easy way around it. Just use our guide below to help you figure out which type of soap is right for your situation.
The first step is to check the label on the bottle of soap you already have. If it says “hard water safe,” then you know you’re good to go. If not, you’ll want to look for a brand that specifically states that it’s made for hard water. Then, you’ll want to read the directions carefully to ensure that you follow them correctly.
Once you’ve got the soap you need, you’ll want to make sure that you rinse it thoroughly under hot water after each use. This will remove any residue left behind from previous uses. After that, you can let the soap sit overnight in the sun to dry completely. That way, you won’t have to worry about it drying out and cracking during the winter months.
Finally, you’ll want to keep it away from direct sunlight. This will prevent any additional discoloration from forming over time.
Leave a Reply