street rod

Has anyone used the waterless car wash products on you cars? How does it work? Positives / Negatives? Was thinking about using this over the winter.

hatchetf15

I use it to remove dust, but nothing heavier. It feels just like the same stuff sold for claying. So I also use the waterless wash for claying, cuz it’s cheaper.

OKB

the problem with no water is, you are rubbing the dirt particles against the paint with no lubrication. It s like sanding the paint. You always need to wash whatever will come off with water first, then wash away the particles with soap and soft cloths. Theres no amount of a substance that you can put on a cloth and rub against a dry car that will be as efficient as using alot of water

street rod

Thanks Hatchet and OKB. I was skeptical and that is why I posted. I read where some high end detailing places use it but want to learn more before I try it.

ADias

Optimum No Rinse (ONR) works perfectly and adds no harm whatsoever. ONR encapsulates and removes dirt particles off the surface.

Pre-rinse if you want. Better yet liberally pre-spray with ONR at he 1:256 dilution.

Wash panel by panel. If you want be extra careful apply ONR with a MF towel and use a different towel for other panels.

Dry as usual with a good MF towel.

I do it all the time and no swirls.

VT Blue

The guy who paint corrected my car recommended the same as @ADias, so I tried it for the first time this weekend in my garage. Seemed to work fine, though I was careful (even with a full PPF) and used a separate MF and water first to rinse the lower panels. Pretty impressive stuff, though the "science" side of me still thinks Dirt = Friction...I'll likely rinse with water before using it on anything more than dust.

Thx!

Bob

Dk27

ONR is excellent stuff. I also like Ammo's frothe. It has a ton of lubrication and using multiple microfiber towels with rolling motion, I have yet to put scratches and love marks in my basalt metallic black paint. The waterless wash is primarily used for dust cover, anything more and i would be doing a full two bucket wash

8KaboveMSL

I just did paint correction on my 06 C4S Cab and used Ammo Frothe to get the inevitable layer of dust off the car. Worked really well.

I also wouldn’t rely solely on the waterless wash for anything more than dust. If it’s warm enough, go ahead and rinse w/ water first before applying the waterless wash. Also, be sure to follow the instructions of the manufacturer. Most have how to’s on YouTube.

Ripking

If you're going to do it, this is good advice. Only do one wipe per side on the microfiber and then fold to a new side. The key is to never reintroduce dirt or grime back onto the paint. People debate whether pre-soaking the panel with ONR before hand helps to reduce marring. I think it does, your mileage may vary. Personally, I prefer a 2 bucket method with foam cannon. You can still contact wash with individual microfiber cloths or a few mitts. I personally find this method to add more lubrication to the paint and I feel safer in contacting it (I have a black car). That being said, if you have water restrictions in your area, or you want to be able to wash the car in your garage at night, ONR is a good path! The stuff also makes the best clay lube.

mjsporsche

Agree with Ripking. I also use Griots waterless car wash for years with no swirls or scratches. Need to use liberal amount of product to "lift" the dirt and use clean micro fiber towels with each sweep.

Floyd540

They work just fine. The only one I am familiar with is Maguires waterless car wash. They are all going to be the same (almost). Comprises of mostly water, emulsifiers, surfactants, light solvents (alcohols) smell good components and volatile oils for shine.
For light dust or fingerprints on garage kept cars it is ideal. Understand your chemistry !

plpete84

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.

shyamvenky

This =>
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.

plpete84

That's exactly it. I'd also highly recommend Turtle Wax Seal and Shine as a drying agent or something to spray on and wipe off once you're done. Lasts a long time and creates a nice slick surface that will make cleaning easier. It's quite durable so it should last through winter.

street rod

Great stuff guys, extremely helpful. Thanks for all of your advice.