Waterless washing discussion

[Bob]

It's that time of the year again where I start thinking of putting the hose away and moving the operation into the garage. I'm sort of thinking of going all waterless wash from now on though. Our new house doesn't have as wide of a driveway so there is not the most room to work around the car and the way the water drains I end up with a mess at one side before I'm done. I've always used a hose and a traditional wash except for winter. I'm curious as to how you guys go about doing your waterless washing. What steps you take and so on.

[Jose]

I used rinseless washed suring the winter while I lived in Ohio. It's somewhat brutal and you have to work quick, so water doesn't freeze on you. I used hot water with ONR and work one section at a time. started at the wheels and changed to the body with a new bucket and dried ASAP.

Speaking of which, Danase line could have a waterless wash or rinseless type. That would be a great addition!

[rjt65]

I used ONR last winter--- as quick detailer and wash -- really prefer water hose and my ultima wash

but ONR is a gr8 product IMO

[Bob]

I used rinseless washed suring the winter while I lived in Ohio. It's somewhat brutal and you have to work quick, so water doesn't freeze on you. I used hot water with ONR and work one section at a time. started at the wheels and changed to the body with a new bucket and dried ASAP.

Speaking of which, Danase line could have a waterless wash or rinseless type. That would be a great addition!

Thanks man. I've actually had a no rinse product for about a year now. Since last winter. Just been tweaking with it to make sure I'm 100% happy.

[bunky]

I use a rinseless product during the colder months. Waterless is just too expensive for me...use too much.

[Russecu]

I will use a rinseless wash like ONR but a waterless wash scares the heck out of me. Plus it doesn't get cold enough for me to not do a conventional wash if needed.:p

[bunky]

I know companies like Adam's at least admit waterless washes are not intended for moderately dirty cars.

[Bob]

I guess I mean a rinse-less, not waterless.

[Dave]

I usually just hit the car wash and rinse most of the grime off followed by ONR at home. Last winter my wash mitt froze to the car and my grout sponge stuck to the wheel and ripped. It was 10 degrees if I remember right.

[Bob]

I usually just hit the car wash and rinse most of the grime off followed by ONR at home. Last winter my wash mitt froze to the car and my grout sponge stuck to the wheel and ripped. It was 10 degrees if I remember right.

That's when the car can just stay dirty! LMAO

[rwisejr]

That's when the car can just stay dirty! LMAO

I agree on that one Bob LoL

[Bob]

I agree on that one Bob LoL

Or get a heater! LOL I use a propane heater in the garage. It works pretty good. Worked a lot better when I had a smaller garage and insulation. But I'll take the bigger garage and no insulation any day. LOL

[rjt65]

Ok so long island has had ton snow this year---so had lots of salt et al on my black car--wifes dark blue truck looked severe! 3-4 snow storms over past 3 weeks ..

but the paint is nite and day diff--ford expedition is super hard--clear coated--so car wash and with that the shine from the pre-winter detail is back... so easy!

my car has no clear coat so no car wash for me :( (but it shines so well :))--- don't have a do it yourself car wash spray close by... so when i got wife's truck home i had few hours so looking at my salted black baby uggh (21 degrees but sunny) so 2 gallons hot water in my bucket w/grid and ONR!

1st I used diluted ONR spray to loosen up the grime --than using MF towels soaked i got the the crap off with little to no wiping --- used 3 mf towels top car with lil to no grime middle sections more bottom car and wheel wells than the wheels ...well u can guess

very cold --so moved fast did sections than wiped with big mf dry towel ---some ONR streaking (cold outside so lil h20 streaking) and lil salt streaks on car so tried some Danase turbo shine (worked well on my interior rubber mats -black had all white streaking from snow salt et al) --but still left some streaks (windows i tried it but to cold i think--cloudy-so sonus glass cleaner cleaned em up) so i took out my fav shine-detailer fk 425

Got compliments from peeps walking by with dog--not to many clean cars sparkiling round here--- cleaned inside--than off on some errands --return home in garage (few wet splatters so I wipe off and of course i go to other side of car on front hood lil birdie left me a new year surprise !@#$%) lil 425 mf towel cleaner up!!!

so hopefully we get a few weeks no snow... than i can do an easier ONR wash in the garage or maybe we get an indian summer day where we hit 40 degrees!!

So how are others in snow areas dealing with the salt and snow ???

[BigLeegr]

It's been around -40º here for the last while. I haven't even used my wipers unless I had to. It's supposed to be getting warmer over the next couple weeks, so I might try some of my various QD type washes that I recently acquired. There were a couple "special buys" at a department store here and I bought a sample of each. The aerosol one I tried earlier (before temps got too cold) seemed OK, but the spray pattern is too concentrated for my liking, so it's going to be relagated to very light dust or even after a coin op wash. (Although it doesn't play well with water-petroleum distilates are very noticable in it.)

[Bob]

I have a new no rinse product I need to try out too. It's been so freaking cold I don't even want to think about it right now. It's supposed to be in the high 30's next week though so maybe then.

[Dave]

I have to admit that I have not been washing as much this winter lol. I don't have as much time and the weather has been weird here. Oh well, it could be the makings of some polishing vids this spring.

[Bob]

I have to admit that I have not been washing as much this winter lol. I don't have as much time and the weather has been weird here. Oh well, it could be the makings of some polishing vids this spring.

I'm thinking of running mine through the touchless tomorrow if I have time or try and do a no rinse in the garage. My garage is a mess though. I was just finishing up working on my bike and it got too cold out so everything from the bike is sitting on the floor. I'm going to try and get it cleaned all up this weekend.

[rjt65]

the weather in Long Island been real messy... more rain today --had long streak of like 5 days since snow rain etc....

so been real tuff i have had my car dirtier this winter too--- tooo busy during week---

ah well --- :rip: will get em! some ez detailing to get the spots off me thinks!!!

[bert31]

I have a new no rinse product I need to try out too.

Which one? I have been using CG's Hose Free Eco Wash for the past two washes and I like it quite a bit.

[Dave]

Anyone try HD Free? It smells funny to me but seems to be alright for light dust and glass.

[rjt65]

HD free? never tried it or heard of it....

[Dave]

I like the idea of waterless washes but still stick to rinseless like ONR. Conventional washing is still my washing of choice though.

HD Free is a waterless wash.

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-23057745957616_2088_858274 (http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-23057745957616_2088_828015)

[Bob]

Anyone try HD Free? It smells funny to me but seems to be alright for light dust and glass.

I had dealings with 3D and would never use them. The stuff they sent me was the worst stuff I've ever used too. I was not happy with a single item.

[Dave]

I have the entire HD line up but it's been collecting dust since September, Free is the only product I have used.

[Bob]

I have the entire HD line up but it's been collecting dust since September, Free is the only product I have used.

Let me know how you like the rest when you use it. I threw all of it away after trying it all twice.

[Dave]

LOL! I will send it all to you in an anonymous box.

[Bob]

LOL! I will send it all to you in an anonymous box.

Nice. Thanks! LMAO

[paulisher]

I operate a mobile auto detailing service in San Diego and the weather is nice here most of the time. Too many sunny days however have put us into a drought and our city has imposed water restrictions. For over a year now we have used a reduced water wash system and we are saving from three to five gallons of water per car wash. There is almost no need to reclaim the waste water since there is rarely any run off. We still pressure wash then reclaim when cars and wheels are excessively dirty but this is rare. Our pressure washer is used mostly to clean our micro fiber wash mitts and applicators. I'm not selling any products at this time but you can learn more about our process at:
http://www.applepolishingsystems.com/environmental-friendly.html