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for my NON daily cars, after a drive (not after a rain drive... I live in LA, doesn't rain much here... ) where car is mostly just light dust... high lubricity detail spray and a pile of very thick Korean high density microfiber towels and wipe the car down. Good wax a couple times a year on each... I only wash those cars 1-2 times a year (and they get driven quite often). Paint shows really good on all of them ... just start with a good base and maintain. of course none of my cars are black :-)
Really depends on how dirty. I do waterless washes in the winter, but usually after hitting up a drive thru touchless car wash primarily. ONR is a great product to help the experience.
Turtle Wax ICE Seal n Shine is definitely a really nice budget friendly sealant.
I just did a polish on my wife's car and finished it with 2 coats of Turtle Wax's new hybrid ceramic coating and the results are really excellent.
Also agree with Dubber. I would only do a rineless wash if you had light dirt on the car. Anything heavier you should use a proper water wash to rinse as much off as possible before using anything to contact the paint.
As I've said, nothing beats a proper wash with water but if the season doesn't allow for that then waterless washes are a great option. It's a personal thing but I love detailing and find it therapeutic almost and nothing beats a windows down drive in a freshly detailed car! The idea behind waterless washing is to let the product to lift the dirt and create enough lubricity so you're not dragging the dirt on the paint and scratching it. It's quite easy to spray and wipe but if you take a closer look it's easy to see the scratches that can be left behind. Technique is also pretty important here.
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Also agree with Dubber. I would only do a rineless wash if you had light dirt on the car. Anything heavier you should use a proper water wash to rinse as much off as possible before using anything to contact the paint.
I have done a ONR wash after a 1,000 mile road trip and no problems. It's the product and the technique and common sense.
That's strictly a quick detailer, not a rinse less wash product. Speed Shine is good but only to be used an already clean surface, to remove minor stuff.
Nothing will substitute a proper wash with water, however, I would look into Frothe from AMMO NYC. Great product designed for just that that provides loads of lubricity. Larry, the owner is a well regarded detailer that makes his own products. Frothe, foam sprayer and a bucket with warm water and some mocrofiber clothes are a great way to do this. His YouTube channel is a great resource. Another option during winter is to grab the stuff, head to a self serve car wash and just use the pressurized water gun to get the worst stuff off and then do the Frothe regiment.
Been doing this for 2 years. Frothe is a great product.
Will say not living in So Cal and dealing with water restrictions. ADias correct on detailing vs wash. MY experience for detailing is Griot’s speed shine good, Best of Show Detailer really, really good. Pre-Covid when drove 911 to/from airport weekly, best of show was all I needed in DFW area. Only real reason for wash was wheels. Damn brake dust, but regardless of weather rest of car didn’t need wash, just detailing if good wax on car. I kept current quality wax on car, then weekly detailed dirt off paint and glass. Did wheels also but reality is wheels needed real wash every month, even with wheels waxed speed shine and microfiber cloth couldn’t clean like washing does.
That said, my car is a DD year round and I don't wash it that often - maybe once in 2-3 months.
I've used Meguiar's waterless wash products a couple of times and am quite happy with the results.
I would stress more on the process than the product.
The previous owner of my car used waterless car wash all the time as they lived in an apartment complex. To say it needed paint correction when I got it was a bit of an understatement.
My rule is - touch the paint as little as possible. Especially black or dark colors. Even clean microfiber towels and good products still drag fine dirt and fibers, that over time create swirls and dullness.
12-15-2020 | 10:23 PM
