Waterless car wash or wash touchup spray

[masraum]

I've heard of sprays that you can get to touch a car up if it's clean and you take it out and it gets a little dirty. I live in an apt, so it's a pain to wash my car (no driveway, no hose, etc...). So maybe being able to wipe the car down here and there would keep it cleaner longer.

Also, I drive it regardless of the weather, so if I get home from work and it was raining, is there a recommended solution for that situation? damp rag to wipe down, then dry with a towel?

[TimT]

I've been using Meguiars "Ultimate Waterless Wash and Wax" on my Cayman since I bought it 2 years ago... Takes all of 15 minutes to go over the whole car.. Use a few clean micro fiber towels... and off you go.. car looks great.. I do it at least once a week... However now that winter is finally leaving the NE I'm going all in with a pro detail, then will get back to maintaining with the Meguiars. I'm sure there are similar products by other Mfg..

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by TimT

I've been using Meguiars "Ultimate Waterless Wash and Wax" on my Cayman since I bought it 2 years ago... Takes all of 15 minutes to go over the whole car.. Use a few clean micro fiber towels... and off you go.. car looks great.. I do it at least once a week... However now that winter is finally leaving the NE I'm going all in with a pro detail, then will get back to maintaining with the Meguiars. I'm sure there are similar products by other Mfg..

I use the same. Never have to roll out the hose...unless it's super dirty, I might hose off the crud first, then finish with the Meguiars.

[Nickshu]

I've been using rinseless washes for a couple of years now. I'm using Optimum products. Started with ONR now using their Hyperwash line. Will never go back.

Between washes the Macguires quick detailer is my favorite.

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[masraum]

Awesome, thanks guys!

[Eric at Pelican Parts]

I usually use Optimum No Wash Rinse & Shine, then throw on some Meguiar's ultimate quik wax as a wax topper. Sprays on and you can wipe it right off!

[masraum]

That's the other thing that I need to do is wax the darn thing. What I'd like to do is take it someplace and have a pro do a really nice detail and wax. Then I can maintain it from there on out.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by masraum

That's the other thing that I need to do is wax the darn thing. What I'd like to do is take it someplace and have a pro do a really nice detail and wax. Then I can maintain it from there on out.

Look into Opticoat Pro + ceramic coating. I've had my last 4 cars done. No more waxing!

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[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Look into Opticoat Pro + ceramic coating. I've had my last 4 cars done. No more waxing!

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While it takes about an entire day to complete correctly this is a huge +1 from me. I did it to my Mini Cooper and after a quick rinse with a hose it looked like I spent hours detailing it.

I am about to spend a day doing it to my E30.


Waterless car wash makes me cringe. All I can think is you are scraping dirt into the paint.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

While it takes about an entire day to complete correctly this is a huge +1 from me. I did it to my Mini Cooper and after a quick rinse with a hose it looked like I spent hours detailing it.

I am about to spend a day doing it to my E30.


Waterless car wash makes me cringe. All I can think is you are scraping dirt into the paint.

Once you understand how it works and how to use it you'll see that it's worse to scrape dirt around on a wash mit with soap and water. In my experience using the product you are more likely to swirl the paint with soap and water. With ONR the polymer encapsulates the dirt and lifts it away from the paint. That doesn't happen with soap and water. I have been using the products regularly for a couple years now on my 4 cars. No swirls.

The key to keeping paint nice is not to let it get too dirty in the first place...same whether you are using soap and water or ONR. I pre-spray the car off with high pressure water to get any sand/large dirt off, let it dry a little, then pre-soak spray the entire car with ONR in a pump sprayer, then do my ONR wash one panel at a time using a waffle sponge or multiple microfiber towels, using a 2 bucket technique, spray with the hyperseal drying agent, then dry with a fluffy microfiber.

I can wash my cars in a fraction of the time and they look excellent. Also I don't have to race around the car if I'm in the sun to keep from getting water spots. And with the Optimum ceramic coating (If you want to spend the $$ to have it done) I no longer have to waste 3-4 Saturdays a year waxing cars. Just wash with the ONR products and the water beads up better than any wax job I have ever had. The coating has a 5 year warranty, I am 3 years into one of them and it still beads better than any fresh wax job I've ever done. My detailer guy says if I don't do automatic car washes at all the coatings should last 8 years.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Once you understand how it works and how to use it you'll see that it's worse to scrape dirt around on a wash mit with soap and water. In my experience using the product you are more likely to swirl the paint with soap and water. With ONR the polymer encapsulates the dirt and lifts it away from the paint. That doesn't happen with soap and water. I have been using the products regularly for a couple years now on my 4 cars. No swirls.

The key to keeping paint nice is not to let it get too dirty in the first place...same whether you are using soap and water or ONR. I pre-spray the car off with high pressure water to get any sand/large dirt off, let it dry a little, then pre-soak spray the entire car with ONR in a pump sprayer, then do my ONR wash one panel at a time using a waffle sponge or multiple microfiber towels, using a 2 bucket technique, spray with the hyperseal drying agent, then dry with a fluffy microfiber.

I can wash my cars in a fraction of the time and they look excellent. Also I don't have to race around the car if I'm in the sun to keep from getting water spots. And with the Optimum ceramic coating (If you want to spend the $$ to have it done) I no longer have to waste 3-4 Saturdays a year waxing cars. Just wash with the ONR products and the water beads up better than any wax job I have ever had. The coating has a 5 year warranty, I am 3 years into one of them and it still beads better than any fresh wax job I've ever done. My detailer guy says if I don't do automatic car washes at all the coatings should last 8 years.

I ceramic coated the Mini myself, it took a lot of steps so I can see how it is big $$ to have someone do it.

I washed it down with Dawn dish soap. Then clay barred it, then did a mild compound, then wiped the entire car down with alcohol, then finally applied the ceramic sealer.

4 Months later, all it took was a quick rinse with a hose, then spray with foam spray then rinse again, dry with micro fiber towels and it looks like I waxed it too.

[JackDidley]

Cant help the OP but I have an 1800 psi pressure washer. Low pressure spray with soap then high pressure rinse. Ready to dry. No rubbing the dirt in. Too bad the previous owners did not do this. Original paint is not that great but I am not making it worse.

[masraum]

Lots of good stuff here, folks, thanks for the replies.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Another ONR user here, love the stuff! I almost never use the hose anymore.

[glewis80SC]

We use this to wipe down the fire engine every night at my station, I use it at home too it's perfect for the day of dust wipe down...great on windows !!

[scottmandue]

I use the turtle wax {old guy alert} wax and dry, you still have to wash the car but you spray this stuff on the wet car then wipe in down with a micro fiber cloth. Leaves the car spotless and waxed.

[ted]

before I spray wax I like a clean surface so I use water and car soap with the clay bar towel.
https://www.amazon.com/ABN-Grade-Towel-Detailing-Cloth/dp/B00Y1OBG8Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523191853&sr=8-1&keywords=clay+towel

[sugarwood]

Seeing is believing.
I cringe when I see people washing their car with a bucket and hose.

[ted]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Seeing is believing.
I cringe when I see people washing their car with a bucket and hose.

You can do a lot of damage with a dirty towel.
Is that a white mirco fiber towel of just a throw away white cloth rag?
Believe I'm seeing a dirty towel on a dirty car.
I take more care when I clean my enclosed trailer.

[ted]

Here is another water less way to swirl mark your paint.
It's claimed they work better the dirtier they get.
Paraffin treated duster.
I had a detailed black car and after just one dusting with one of these the swirl marks came back.