Thread: Is store bought Distilled water adequate for pure water cleaning??

It should have 000 TDS.

Spots usually form from inadequate rinsing, but can occur from overspray from (dirty) frames and windy conditions, too.

Tom what was your process for applying it, did you put it in a backpack and pump it through with a wfp?

Originally Posted by tomc

I tried some pure water cleaning today and let's just say I'm on that error side of the trial and error. I bought distilled water for my first attempt at cleaning. I don't have a way to test the water right now so I'm assuming it is up to snuff as far as dissolved solids. Everything looked all good but when the water droplets started to dry they left behind spots. So, I'm wondering a few things here:

Maybe I'm not rinsing enough. I did a test when I got home on a single window pane. Brushed everything well and rinsed with pure water. Same thing. As it dried spots appeared. This is the same thing that happened on the job and I ended up just re-doing them traditionally. A lot of suds came out of the window from previous cleanings but thought I rinsed enough. Not sure now. But at home I really rinsed that one window with the same results.

Maybe the distilled water has too high TDS. Is this possible?? I thought distilled water was basically pure water with a TDS approaching 0.

Maybe the pure water became mixed with the soap and that's what left behind the spots.

Not sure what's happening here so thought I'd ask for your opinions. Little frustrating but I expected some frustration. Just not sure what to do from here.

Chris- maybe this wasn't the correct way, but I got the windows wetted down with the backpack wand that comes with it. Then I went to work and brushed everything well. Then I started rinsing, again with that wand that came with it (3ft section with adjustable brass nozzle). I intend on getting a WFP soon, but wanted to try it out anyway. Guess maybe that was a mistake?? It wasn't windy which makes me think I didn't rinse enough (How do I know when I'm done?). I did seem to use a lot of water though. Even at home with a front door window it did the same thing. Operator error I suppose. Maybe I'm putting the cart before the horse here.

The wand isn't sufficient for rinsing.

What did you brush with?

Originally Posted by llaczko

The wand isn't sufficient for rinsing.

What did you brush with?

Let me do my Rick Perry, .... oops!
I brushed with a store bought tampico brush. ... which, let me guess, isn't sufficient either?

Not enough pressure for rinsing with that wand?? Or too much?

Either way thank you for the info guys.

Originally Posted by tomc

I tried some pure water cleaning today and let's just say I'm on that error side of the trial and error. I bought distilled water for my first attempt at cleaning. I don't have a way to test the water right now so I'm assuming it is up to snuff as far as dissolved solids.

Here in my neck of the woods, I tested DI water for home cleaning appliances - .010, the car wash RO tested much worse in the .050 mark. The water they sell to bars that has meant to have been decalcified was +225. Much like the ingredients on food packaging, I wouldn't expect too much to believe what they say it is.

The brush and jets that come with a wfp are designed to scrub and rinse at the same time. Believe me I have tried many applications over the years with pure water cleaning but none work as good as a wfp with 1/2 gallon a minute water flow. As Carl said yor distilled water may have not been distilled.

Just invest in a good wfp and pure water system and you will not be dissatisfied

I have used store bought distilled water as a test also. It worked fine, when applied with a water fed brush and backpack sprayer modified to connect to the tubing for the brush. The one thing you have to watch out for is that some of the distilled water in the stores has minerals added back in for taste. Make sure to buy water that has nothing added in.