Waterless car wash products?

[GH85Carrera]

I am hearing about water-less car wash products.

At home I wash my car in my driveway. No big deal. On a road trip, it is often hard to find a place to clean up my car.

Does anywhere here have experience with a waterless car wash product, and which one really does work?

Do you just use a lot of towels and keep folding the towels to get the dirt away from the paint?

Any input will be appreciated.

[BK911]

Windex / glass cleaner!
Used it on several of the race teams I've worked on.
And use it on my cars sometimes.

[stevej37]

I have used Meguiars Ultimate Waterless Wash & Wax for a few years now.

The stuff works great and it's easy to use. I think it's actually faster than using a water hose and sponge.
Just get plenty of micro-fiber towels. They can be re-used...just throw them in the clothes washer.

[Eric Hahl]

^
+1

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I am hearing about water-less car wash products.

At home I wash my car in my driveway. No big deal. On a road trip, it is often hard to find a place to clean up my car.

Does anywhere here have experience with a waterless car wash product, and which one really does work?

Do you just use a lot of towels and keep folding the towels to get the dirt away from the paint?

Any input will be appreciated.

For 7 years, I lived in an apt complex with no good place to wash a car. I don't like to go to those automated car wash places or the unattended ones with the long brush on a stick.

I used this stuff with excellent results. It cleans well, and afterward offers protection as well, water beads and the car feels very slick.



You put an ounce or two in the bottom of a spray bottle and then add water. Spray on in small sections and then wipe/dry with a clean cloth. Easy peazy, especially if you're car is pretty clean. If you drive down 100 miles of dusty dirt road after spraying your car with the hose, that would be asking a bit much. But if you keep your car fairly clean, this works great to keep it clean. I have let my car get too dirty and used this stuff. It still works, but you are probably going to want more towels so you can switch to a clean towel surface frequently.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by BK911

Windex / glass cleaner!
Used it on several of the race teams I've worked on.
And use it on my cars sometimes.

With ammonia or ammonia free ? Have never heard this method . So spray and wipe with microfiber towel ?

[Sarc]

I recently had a car shipped from Europe, and while it was spotless going into the container, it arrived to me with a thick layer of dust.

I used Chemical Guys Swift wipe with about 10 microfiber towels and it came out great.

[Nickshu]

Happy ONR user here for many years. Currently using Owner's Pride rinseless products and very happy w/ them. Used Optimum for years before swtiching. Love washing my car in my heated garage in the winter, or out of the sun in the summer. I usually powerwash the car off w/ water first outside, do the wheels outside, then into the garage for the rinseless wash.

Personally I think rinseless wash products are intended to compliment ceramic coating. My one car that is not coated I just soap and water wash still.

Here is my current favorite to wash: https://ownerspride.com/product/eco-wash-concentrated/

Then dry with this drying agent/sealer: https://ownerspride.com/product/ceramic-detailer/

I had a local car detailer teach me how to do it years ago, but there are many videos out there.

[BK911]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

With ammonia or ammonia free ? Have never heard this method . So spray and wipe with microfiber towel ?

Not really sure, just plain glass cleaner with old t shirt.

[wildthing]

+1 on Meguiar's. Note that it's for light cleaning only. Also, I use a California Car Duster first, then follow it with the Meguiar's. Good for use after short trips, dust removal, even bugs. Once it rains hard and there's mud spots or more visible water spots, it's regular wash time.

Last purchase was a gallon off AMZN: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B449PNK/

[rcooled]

My two old VWs are always garaged, so they usually just get a little dusty over time. They rarely ever get really dirty.
I use one of these products and some microfiber towels to clean them...works great and it's quick. Can't remember the last time I actually washed either car with a bucket & hose, although I do use a chrome cleaner on the bumpers now & then.

[GH85Carrera]

My challenge is I am driving 1,300 miles and then washing the car. I have used the spray on stuff to get off light amounts of road dirt.

I am not expecting a perfect car cleaning, but I want it to look OK after driving for two full days. And remember, I am driving my 85 911 1,300 miles with enough luggage for 10 or 11 days, and room is not unlimited. I will not be bringing a 5 gallon bucket on the trip.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

My challenge is I am driving 1,300 miles and then washing the car. I have used the spray on stuff to get off light amounts of road dirt.

I am not expecting a perfect car cleaning, but I want it to look OK after driving for two full days. And remember, I am driving my 85 911 1,300 miles with enough luggage for 10 or 11 days, and room is not unlimited. I will not be bringing a 5 gallon bucket on the trip.

For the stuff that I posted, I believe there's a premixed version that comes in a spray bottle. One bottle should be more than enough. I'm sure that when you set out, the car will be clean and waxed, so once you arrive a cleaning should be fairly light.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by masraum

For 7 years, I lived in an apt complex with no good place to wash a car. I don't like to go to those automated car wash places or the unattended ones with the long brush on a stick.

I used this stuff with excellent results. It cleans well, and afterward offers protection as well, water beads and the car feels very slick.

I ordered from autogeek (a handful of orders over a few years) and always had good service.

https://www.autogeek.net/waterless-car-wash-products.html#query=c1223&filter_brand.filter=ultima%20finish%20care&items_per_page=24&sort_method=_score/desc&page=1

[masraum]

Originally Posted by masraum

I used this stuff with excellent results. It cleans well, and afterward offers protection as well, water beads and the car feels very slick.

Originally Posted by rcooled

Our host carries the Griots product at what looks like a reasonable price. And the Griots stuff looks like it could be a rebranded version of the stuff that I've used based on the color of the liquid.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/GG10984.htm?pn=GG-10984&bc=c&SVSVSI=3239

[GH85Carrera]

In Pennsylvania we got to tour the Groits garage warehouse. It is a n impressive place, and we even saw where they have the chemical mix area and bottler. They make all their own products. Not to say it might be some licensed product that they label as their own. They have a huge building and a neat warehouse.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

In Pennsylvania we got to tour the Groits garage warehouse. It is a n impressive place, and we even saw where they have the chemical mix area and bottler. They make all their own products. Not to say it might be some licensed product that they label as their own. They have a huge building and a neat warehouse.

Ah, OK. I know that these days a lot of stuff is made by one group and then marketed by others with their own bottles/labels, so I wasn't sure if this was that kind of thing. It sounds like that's probably not the case.

[GH85Carrera]

It was a large room, just for the bottling part, and the guide said they make all their own liquid products right there. The best part is they gave each of us a bag of 4 micro fiber towels, and a free sandwich! No doubt they hire out someone to make the orbital polishers, and endless other products they sell. They don't make the microfiber towels there, and likely have those subcontracted out. The warehouse is huge.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

It was a large room, just for the bottling part, and the guide said they make all their own liquid products right there. The best part is they gave each of us a bag of 4 micro fiber towels, and a free sandwich! No doubt they hire out someone to make the orbital polishers, and endless other products they sell. They don't make the microfiber towels there, and likely have those subcontracted out. The warehouse is huge.

The real question is "did they make the sandwiches?!?"

[herr_oberst]

The last Porsche Parade I was at, Griots had a huge presence at all the concours events. Maybe when you get there you can corral someone to 'demonstrate' on YOUR car!