WATER SOFTNERS = RUST??????
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 7
From: St. Charles, IL
RE: WATER SOFTNERS = RUST??????
What Texas said, you always wash your vehicles with soft water. All car washes use soft water as the soap rinses off easier with soft water and no water spots
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,172
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From: WI/ The State of Harley
RE: WATER SOFTNERS = RUST??????
We have a well & a softener...........water for the outside faucets -bypasses the softener..........alot of the homes around me have the same setup...............you may want to check out your plumbing........Just my unsolicited $ .02 
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 7
From: St. Charles, IL
RE: WATER SOFTNERS = RUST??????
Yes they do. I had another pair of faucets installed in the garage. One for hot and one for cold, softened water. Makes washing the cars/truck/bike in cold weather a breeze 
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2007
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From:
RE: WATER SOFTNERS = RUST??????
If you all want the best water to wash your rides with get a RO (reverse osmosis system). A water softener only "exchanges cations" calcium, magnesium, etc... that cause hardness (white scum) for sodium. The salt, sodium chloride, uses the sodium ion to displace the hardness ions.
Whereas a RO system actually removes these hardness ions and other anions as well to actually purify the water. A water softener does not purify it just exchanges one ion for another. Some car washes use RO systems for the final "spot free" rinse. They typically specify less than 50 ppm of TDS (total dissolved solids) for their rinse water. You can get a residential high-flow RO (5 gpm) for under $300.00. That is what I use when ever I wash any vehicle.
Probably more than you wanted to know. Sorry just cant help myself.
Whereas a RO system actually removes these hardness ions and other anions as well to actually purify the water. A water softener does not purify it just exchanges one ion for another. Some car washes use RO systems for the final "spot free" rinse. They typically specify less than 50 ppm of TDS (total dissolved solids) for their rinse water. You can get a residential high-flow RO (5 gpm) for under $300.00. That is what I use when ever I wash any vehicle.
Probably more than you wanted to know. Sorry just cant help myself.
Ultimate HDF Member
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From: Wesley Chapel Fl.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Fredericksburg,VA
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 200
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From: West Bend, WI
RE: WATER SOFTENERS = RUST??????
Hey yes the Culligan man is here to the rescue. Water softeners (ion exchange systems) will not cause your scoot to rust. The salt (brine) mixture is used to bump them nasty Magnesium and Calcium ions out of your water. In fact I would rather wash my toys with softened water than hard water. The ultimate would be using softened water and then runningitthrough a set of DI (deionization) tanks. There would be no............water spots on your bike. Just blow it dry. Of course for most this is not pratical or cost effective. You would have to swap your exhausted DI tanks $$$.
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bigblock59
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