Use the SPOT-FREE rinse water - it's filtered.

What I'd do is run it into the bay, use the high pressure regular rinse water to blast off what you can, then use ONR and spot free water. Pull it out of the bay and wash it with the ONR and dry it.

 

Is the "spot-free" water you are talking about, distilled water?

 

I like the touchless from several aspects-

1. it doesn't touch the vehicle so scratching is not an issue
2. It has high pressure to knock surface contaminents (dirt, slat, etc) off the vehicle
3. High pressure to blast salt, dirt, etc off the undercarraige

And since its typically a winter storm aftermath, I'm not worried about waterspots because anything that is on there is already there....the deionized water (rinse) won't spot anything to any degree that a good hand wash 7 polish/wax later won't cure!

 

I doubt it's distilled but I believe it's filtered and softened. It may also have a trace of silicone in it too.

 

Last time I drove thru a touchless carwash the strong soap stripped all my wax and and rubber/plastic protectants.

It caused more work than it saved.
Power Rinses and ONR are your best friends in the winter.

 

Ya Im 17 work at one of those too in NY. Its a bunch of kids who really don't care and we use dirty old equipment but in the winter every now and then to get the salt off woundn't hurt anything. Its the people that come everyday thats the problem