Dilution products- distilled water or purified?

[TrustJesus]

I just got Meguiars All purpose cleaner with a few other things. I know someone said to use distilled water for product to be effective. Can I use purified water instead and have same results or it has to be distilled.

[Klasse Act]

Distilled is better for storage as alot of us make gallons at a time.

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[Bruno Soares]

If you’re going to use all of it at once (like a bottle of clay lube) then purified water is fine. If you’re storing and using the product slowly, distilled is the way to go.

[TrustJesus]

Ok, I looked for a thread but couldn’t find one. I’ve heard if you mix regular tap water sometimes the end result will leave white residue. Keyword “sometimes, at that point your wasting product.

[acuRAS82]

Ok, I looked for a thread but couldn’t find one. I’ve heard if you mix regular tap water sometimes the end result will leave white residue. Keyword “sometimes, at that point your wasting product.

Tap water has minerals. The minerals will arise in the bottle and in tiny amounts, are being deposited into the paint when sprayed. But I’ve never seen issues on paint due to not using distilled, it’s just known that minerals are in the water (as they are in rain, sprinkler water, etc.). As my toilet bowl or sink knows, if you let minerals sit in water long enough, they will eventually settle on the solid surfaces, such as a spray bottle that has been in storage for weeks/months.

Klasse and Bsoares explained all you need to know, above. Use distilled if not finishing quickly.

[TrustJesus]

ok thanks for clarifying, I got it.

[pilotpip]

Depending on your location, tap water will have mineral deposits of varying degree. Chemistry of the water can have a huge effect on a lot of things. In fact, breweries with different locations will actually change the chemistry of the water to mimic where they are based so you get a consistent product. If you like to drink beers that have "bud" in their name, the brewer is mimicking Mississippi River water going past St. Louis regardless of if the bottle was brewed here, or Jacksonville, or Los Angeles.

Distilled water has this stuff taken out. It can be bought for less than a dollar a gallon at grocery stores around here. That's what I use for APC, Uber, and other products I dilute myself.

[Mike Phillips]

I just use whatever water is closest to my hand....

[ducksfan]

I just use whatever water is closest to my hand....

Since you know some pretty good chemists. You might want to have them show you the difference in performance distilled can make with some of their creations.

I used to think it just kept products from getting funky if they sat for a period of time. Then I had someone who was trained in water purification show me how much better cleaners work that aren't polluted with what's in tap water. I've never looked back. In small amounts, <$1 a gallon isn't that much.

[Eldorado2k]

I’ve always thought about the difference distilled water could make in regards to claylube.
Reason being is sometimes I can get a bit liberal with the lube and on panels such as the hood if I spray a ton of lube it can drip onto the bumper... And if you forget and let that water dry it could possibly cause water steaks/spots?

Maybe I’m overthinking... Maybe it’s because I once detailed a Chrysler 300 and at the end of the detail I noticed these nasty streaks on the bumper that were impossible to remove and I wasn’t completely sure whether I caused them or not..

Looking back I’m pretty sure I didn’t cause them due to how impossible they were to remove, but when the owner showed up for the car they stuck out like a sore thumb and I’m certain he saw them.