# Do "no mineral" garden hose water filters really work? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828 "2013-03-06T21:49:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/1 "2013-03-06T21:49:57Z")
After long-distance bloodeliveries, I rarely have time to wash our Expedition, especially when arriving home at 2 a.m. and 20° F. When I cannot wash with soap, I still try to spray road grime off with the garden hose. Much minerals in the water dry on the vehicle. I’d like to rinse the mineral-laden water off with clean water and let the vehicle air dry. Do these water filters really work? Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/2 "2013-03-06T21:56:32Z")
They do help but they are not miracle workers. I used a filter when I lived in Kansas to fill my hot tub (recommended by the manufacturer). The water is very hard there and I had two water softeners for my home system. I filled the tub and my kid’s swimming pool with “unsoftened” water that went through the mineral filter only. I’m fairly certain that you will get water spots even with the filter. It all depends on the quality of your water. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/3 "2013-03-06T22:03:28Z")
If you’re talking about getting a water softening system for your home’s plumbing, yes, they absolutely do work. I’m sure there are filtering systems for hoses too, but I’ve never had any experience with one. ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/4 "2013-03-06T22:03:40Z")
Thank you. I was considering installing a water softener with a branch line to a dedicated garden hose spigot for rinsing. But that’s a lot of trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/5 "2013-03-06T22:10:06Z")
Filters do not take out dissolved minerals. The best solution is to dry rthe car with a chamois immediately after using the spray. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/6 "2013-03-06T22:44:22Z")
> The best solution is to dry rthe car with a chamois immediately after using the spray. > Try a California Water Blade sometime and you’ll never go back to the chamois! ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/7 "2013-03-06T22:53:04Z")
It’s true that regular particulate filters don’t take out dissolved minerals, but there are filters that contain a substance that absorbs the minerals. > **[Ion-exchange resin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_exchange_resin)** > > An ion-exchange resin or ion-exchange polymer is a resin or polymer that acts as a medium for ion exchange. It is an insoluble matrix (or support structure) normally in the form of small (0.25–0.5 mm radius) microbeads, usually white or yellowish, fabricated from an organic polymer substrate. The beads are typically porous, providing a large surface area on and inside them. The trapping of ions occurs along with the accompanying release of other ions, and thus the process is called ion exchange. ... They’re not filters in the regular sense. I have one on an ultrasonic humidifier to prevent a white dust coating on everything nearby. It has little beads inside which swell over time with the minerals and eventually clogs. I’ve also seen similar ones for use with steam irons. I think the water has to go through at a slow rate to be effective so I’m skeptical of one that can handle the flow rate of a garden hose. Water softeners exchange the minerals with salt (sodium or potassium), and you wouldn’t want to spray that on your vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/8 "2013-03-06T23:44:06Z")
_**" Water softeners exchange the minerals with salt (sodium or potassium), and you wouldn’t want to spray that on your vehicle. "**_ I don’t know everything about water softeners, but I had one for many years before getting a new 350’ artesian well and not needing it, I sold it a yard sale. I now have naturally pure and soft water flowing from the ground. It didn’t exchange the minerals for salt. It used some sort of resin beads to take minerals out of the water. The salt was used one time each week to flush the minerals out of the resin beads, not to treat the water. My softened water worked great for car washing and the dish washer, too. Spotting on cars and dishes was not a concern. _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/9 "2013-03-07T00:06:52Z")
CSA, that was my understanding of how they worked too. I looked into a system once, and seem to recall that the process is as you describe. The OP might be well served to do his own research if he considers a water softening system. ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/10 "2013-03-07T01:03:21Z")
Yes, a water softener uses beads which absorb minerals from the water. NaCl allows the minerals to be stripped from the beads and flushed down the sanitary sewer. As a GREEN tree-hugger, I wish that recharging water could be discharged onto our lawn rather than wasted. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/11 "2013-03-07T01:36:05Z")
> CSA, that was my understanding of how they worked too. I looked into a system once, and seem to recall that the process is as you describe. I have a water softener…mine uses Sodium. My water isn’t hard…but it contains Magnesium…which if left untreated will etch ceramic (i.e. toilets, showers, sinks). I have a Carbon filter attached to my hose to remove a lot of the impurities. It will NOT remove minerals dissolved in the water. That alone made a huge difference when I wash our vehicles. My water-softener is NOT attached to any outside faucets. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/12 "2013-03-07T03:19:56Z")
This reference might give you some ideas: [http://www.coleparmer.com/Category/Water\_Purification/7159](http://www.coleparmer.com/Category/Water_Purification/7159) Either a deionizer of reverse osmosis system is probably what you want. This company is a reseller, and there are others that resell products, too. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/13 "2013-03-07T04:23:22Z")
“It used some sort of resin beads to take minerals out of the water.” See my link above about “ion exchange resin”. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/14 "2013-03-07T04:59:19Z")
I recall several friends being impressed with the Mr Clean wash system that included a filtering element in the wand. My brother has a home filtering system and the water spots his car but using the Mr Clean wand eliminates the spotting. I’m not so meticulous myself. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 5:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/15 "2013-03-07T05:20:57Z")
Robert tongue in cheek as you do seem to really obsess about finer points I let go, let’s see my last car wash, oh yeah the big rainstorm. Why not make your own distilled water and wash your car with that? ps thanks for the volunteer work! ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/16 "2013-03-07T12:05:11Z")
> _Why not make your own distilled water and wash your car with that?_ Rarely does a rain storm occur when one is needed. But I have returned in time to wash the Expedition in rain and the rain rinsed it with its distilled water! Then a hospital called for an emergentransport and I returned dirtier than before. A vegetarian friend gave his old distiller to me and I considered making distilled water. Would not take much to wash off the garden hose rinse water used to flush off the soap. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/17 "2013-03-07T17:46:38Z")
If you live on a dirt road, the minerals will find us regardless of home many filters we use. I wish I could contribute something to proper car finish maintenance…but that’s just a distant memory. Rust prevention on cars that always look like mud is as far as my experience will take me. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/18 "2013-03-09T02:34:58Z")
Late, but I would say that if the filter doesn’t slow the water down it doesn’t work. If you run into one of those garden sprayers with the pressure pumps on them, maybe you can fill it with filtered water. You will be able to rinse the bad water off in about three minutes. That’s about what the car wash will do when you use it on anti-spot. ---
**Author:** ![PAW-PAW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@PAW-PAW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PAW-PAW)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/19 "2013-03-10T02:32:19Z")
find a self wash or drive thru that you feed $ bills in then drive in and a spray arm goes around car with soap then rinse water. maybe even a 2am the you may find one. ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-no-mineral-garden-hose-water-filters-really-work/77828/20 "2013-03-10T12:56:07Z")
> _find a self wash or drive thru that you feed $ bills in then drive in and a spray arm goes around car with soap then rinse water. maybe even a 2am the you may find one._ Just retuned from a delivery. Now 01:52. Often dead-tired and do not want to wake up even more. Also too cold and too cheap and no car washes on the way home. Now I'll watch the computer time change and the cell phone clock change.