Waterless wash opinions

[ParagonDetail]

Why anyone would use a waterless wash product is a mystery. If you are washing your vehicle for its appearance, why would you use something that will inherently scratch the surface of the paint when you use it?

Waterless wash is not going to scratch your paint when done correctly. And as long as you’re using enough product and using safe towels, you will not damage the paint whatsoever. The polymers are going to encapsulate and emulsify the dirt and will provide a microscopic barrier between the dirt and the paint. And in most cases leave a layer of protection on the paint - This also reduces the chances of scratching while drying because the slickness the protection leaves behind.

ONR is another polymer soap, much like an waterless but they market it as rinseless. So you wash your car with soap and walk away. No rinsing the soap off. It was created by DR. David Ghoudussi - the chemist who created the modern day clear coat In the 1990s. It was created solely because there wasn’t a chemical on the market meant to properly clean and maintain the new easily scratched clear coat systems. If we are getting technical it’s the safest way to wash a car.

And most scratches instilled during aby wash are from the drying process not the wash process

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[ParagonDetail]

What about a car duster (California Car Wash Brush)? Is that an option between washes?

Absolutely not!!!!

 

[ParagonDetail]

Not exactly "waterless", but ONR:

This is my go to for maintaining my personal vehicles. It’s the only “soap” you’ll ever need. And probably the only one anyone who isn’t a trained detailer should use lol. It was designed solely to clean the modern day paint systems. It’s zwitterionic so it is both + & - charged meaning it can pretty much bond to and with anything and It will soften your water by removing minerals from the water. Soap contains nothing that will do that. Soap is just lubrication. This is a cleaning agent. It’s a fascinating product and I stand firmly behind their technology.

 

[ParagonDetail]

This is probably one of the best rated and used waterless washes. https://optimumcarcare.com/product/optimum-no-rinse-wash-shine1

I have personally used it for many years, on many many different vehicles. A gallon will last a LONG time as long as you follow the directions. The Rag company makes great microfibers, I use them for all my towel needs. The microfiber towels from costco are good for general purpose uses, not for use as a wax/sealant applicator or removal towel.

Also please please please do NOT use a California duster on your vehicle, that device will leave micro marring on the clear coat. If your vehicle is dusty but not dirty, use a quick detailer with good lubrication properties and a microfiber cloth, flipping the cloth after each panel of the vehicle is wiped clean, and then changing the cloth for a new one once you run out of clean cloth sides.

Yessir. And let’s remember there is a difference between rinseless and waterless. I would not necessarily recommend ONR for waterless. It can be done but there are products like Epic Waterless that are designed for use without water. ONR was designed with use of water in mind.

Some people don’t have access to water and waterless is the only way to go. If you have access to water, I suggest a rinseless.

 

[ParagonDetail]

I use the one on my Lexus all the time for garage dust. Has’nt bothered paint at all. Won’t really remove road dirt and stuck on stuff.

Putting anything on paint without proper lubrication will scratch the paint. Theres no exception. Whatever is between your paint and that brush is being scratched into the surface. Whether you see it or not, it’s happening. A trained detailing eye won’t be fooled.

 

[All4spl]

Yessir. And let’s remember there is a difference between rinseless and waterless. I would not necessarily recommend ONR for waterless. It can be done but there are products like Epic Waterless that are designed for use without water. ONR was designed with use of water in mind.

Some people don’t have access to water and waterless is the only way to go. If you have access to water, I suggest a rinseless.

Yes it does require water, however when I went to IASCA finals in 2016, I took 5 gallons of water (gallon jugs) and the rest of my detailing supplies with buckets and literally cleaned my full size truck in the hotel parking lot.

So for clarity I drove 14+ hours from FL to Kentucky then washed my truck with this product. And this is the result.

The only products used where ONR, water, microfiber towels, glass cleaner for the glass and tire shine for the tires. So as long as you can buy a gallon or two of water ONR should IMO be your goto wash product if you are in a heavily restricted water use region.

 

[Wnbasac]

What about a car duster (California Car Wash Brush)? Is that an option between washes?

NO! collects dirt and scorches paint

 

[Dochatley]

Putting anything on paint without proper lubrication will scratch the paint. Theres no exception. Whatever is between your paint and that brush is being scratched into the surface. Whether you see it or not, it’s happening. A trained detailing eye won’t be fooled.

Thank goodness I don’t have a trained detailing eye along with 99.999999% of the population.

 

[Dad]

Of course. I think so, I believe they only make one car towel lol. The yellow towels that come in 36 packs?

Well I’ve had nightmare experiences with those towels and I don’t know a single detailer who would recommend them to anyone for anything relating to car paint. I just detailed a FireTruck for Cal Fire and we ripped them apart for using them on the trucks.

Buy a quality towel, 70/30 blend like one from Autofiber or The Rag Company and then tell me Costco towels are quality

I don't doubt your experience one bit. The towels I was referring to are not yellow. They are labeled as bar towels and have a green stripe down the middle. Maybe ten to a package. I've had no issues with them.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

What about a car duster (California Car Wash Brush)? Is that an option between washes?

imo not my cup of tea, unless its an older one that you dont care about as much. imo the more lubrication th ebetter, and although it is probably high pile (looks so from images) its still a dry wipe and eventually the dirt/dust builds up in the fibers and will have to be washed, which isnt a big deal, its just the dry wiping part. i still swear by 2 bucket method, so maybe tech has evolved a bit? my thought process is somethin more like: i'd rather have a dusty but undernearth mar/love mark free rig than a not dusty but slightly marred finish. depends on how picky you are about that stuff. if ya willin to take it thru a automated wash, then maybe its for you. no judgement either way

eg. on my 98 XLT in my profile, i dont mind taking that to an auto wash once in a while (yes, even though its a froader for some reason i still 2 bucket wash 75% of the time, im crazy), although i wax it and keep er shiny theres already marring an some swirls i just dont get out, cause its going to get scratched up against a bush next week. I could see myself using it on that for example.

imo something like ONR could work between washes, when paired with a good towel, or even maybe a s asubstitute all together.

 

[Bill Blair]

Why anyone would use a waterless wash product is a mystery. If you are washing your vehicle for its appearance, why would you use something that will inherently scratch the surface of the paint when you use it?

Unless you’re dying of thirst. That would be the only way I would use it.

 

[Suma Performance]

Make sure you have sufficient lubricant. Don't want the dirt and containment to scratch your paints. Ideally, we should always use water to rinse off all the dirt and grime first to protect the paint.

 

[icegradner]

Unless you’re dying of thirst. That would be the only way I would use it.

The reason to use water-less wash would be if your region has water use restrictions during periods of drought. Not everyone is on well water, and if the city/region restricts water use, you might not have another option. One summer the water levels were low enough that all car washes were shut down, and hand washing vehicles (with city water) was banned.

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