Window Washing Guide
§ THE TOOLS  ·  02 / 09  ·  GEO-AWARE

Hard Water Severity Scorer.

Enter your ZIP code. We pull regional water hardness data and tell you exactly what you're dealing with — and whether you can keep cleaning with tap water or need to switch to distilled.

US zip codes only. Sources: USGS Water Hardness Survey 2023, EPA municipal CCR data.

Result prefilled from ZIP 52405
◆ DIAGNOSIS · ZIP 52405
YOUR REGION
Cedar Rapids, IA
UTILITY-LEVEL DATA
234
MG/L CACO₃  ·  14.6 GPG
CLASSIFICATION
Very Hard
SOFT
0–60
MODERATE
61–120
HARD
121–180
VERY HARD
181–250
EXTREMELY HARD
251+
⚡ THE WORKING ANSWER

You need a system, not a habit.

At this hardness, mineral deposits begin etching the glass surface itself within 18 to 24 months of routine cleaning with tap water. The film is no longer "on" the glass — it has bonded to it. Distilled water for both wash and rinse, or invest in a deionizing filter cartridge that fits a standard hose.

№ 01   Wash water
Distilled, or DI-filtered.
№ 02   Rinse water
Distilled, or DI-filtered.
№ 03   Soap ratio
One drop Dawn per quart. Strictly.
№ 04   Frequency
Monthly. Quarterly vinegar maintenance pass.
◆ A $40 DI cartridge from XERO or IPC pays for itself in two months.