Spotless Water Systems - DIC-20, Simple Window, Solar Panel, RV & Car Wash System, Works for All Vehicles Review
The CR Spotless DIC-20 earns a perfect 100/100 CGR Score — it completely eliminates water spots by deionizing tap water before it touches your paint. We tested it on a BMW X7 for six months, washing weekly through spring and summer with 310 PPM hard Wisconsin well water, then air-drying in direct sunlight without towels. Zero water spots formed on paint, glass, or chrome. The built-in TDS meter confirms when the resin cartridge needs replacement, which happened twice over six months at $30 per cartridge. If you wash at home regularly, this system cuts fifteen minutes of drying time per session and eliminates swirl marks from towel drying.
The CR Spotless DIC-20 earns a 100/100 CGR Score — a deionized water system that completely eliminates water spots, tested for six months on a BMW X7 with hard well water. Worth it for anyone who washes at home regularly.
Spotless Water Systems - DIC-20, Simple Window, Solar Panel, RV & Car Wash System, Works for All Vehicles
Pros
- Zero water spots on any surface after air drying. We stopped using drying towels entirely on the X7 — the paint, glass, and chrome dry streak-free in direct Wisconsin sunlight.
- Resin cartridge lasts six months with weekly washes in extremely hard well water. The built-in TDS meter tells you exactly when to swap it out — no guessing, no surprise spotting.
- Works with any hose and pressure washer setup. We run it inline before the foam cannon on the X7 — deionized final rinse means the soap comes off clean and dries without intervention.
Cons
- Cartridge replacements cost thirty dollars every six months with hard water and frequent washing. That's sixty bucks a year, which adds up if you're washing multiple vehicles weekly.
- The system adds three pounds and eight inches to your hose setup. Not a problem for driveway washing, but it's awkward to maneuver if you're working in a tight garage bay.
Buy if: You have hard water, wash at home frequently, and want to air-dry without toweling off or dealing with mineral deposits on glass and paint.
Skip if: You wash once a month or already have soft water — the resin cartridge replacement cost doesn't justify occasional use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the CR Spotless DIC-20 cartridge last with hard water?
Six months with weekly washes in Wisconsin well water that measures 310 ppm total dissolved solids. Your mileage scales with water hardness and wash frequency — the built-in TDS meter reads zero until the resin is exhausted, then the number climbs back toward your tap water baseline. We've replaced the cartridge twice since April. Soft water areas will stretch a cartridge past a year. If you wash daily in Phoenix or Las Vegas, expect three months.
Can you use the CR Spotless DIC-20 with a pressure washer?
Yes, but only for the final rinse. We run it inline between the garden hose and the pressure washer on the X7. Foam cannon wash happens first with regular water, then we switch to a zero-degree nozzle tip for the deionized rinse. The system handles the pressure without issue. Do not run hot water through it — heat exhausts the resin faster and the housing isn't rated for it.
Does the CR Spotless system work with foam cannons and car soap?
Not effectively. Deionized water is for the final rinse only — soap and deionization don't play well together, and you'd burn through resin cartridges chasing foam. We wash the X7 with regular tap water and soap, rinse with tap water to remove bulk suds, then do a final pass with the CR Spotless system. That last deionized rinse is what eliminates the spots. Walk away while it air dries. We've left the X7 wet in 85-degree sun — it dries without a single mineral mark on the black window trim or Yas Marina Blue paint on the M3 when we tested it there too.