Waterless car cleaning - has anyone tried it?

[rags]

Hey guys I was planning on buying water less spray online and was wondering if anyone has ever tried them and if they had any feedback?

I live in Central London so cleaning a car is always a problem so wanted to use the product. Also came across this company which seems to be launching soon and seems to be using these sprays as well : http://glint.instapage.com/

[finlo]

Yes done it on the works van with good results
not sure i'd clean my own car that way though.

[finlo]

Yes done it on the works van with good results
not sure i'd clean my own car that way though.

[swisstoni]

I suppose you have to take it seriously when people like Meguiars make this stuff. If I lived somewhere without a water supply I'd at least give it a try.

[Dave3166]

Find your local jet wash, clean the car, bring car home then use that product to give car a shine.
No one will ever convince me that this stuff is ok to apply to your car after 3 weeks or so going up & down a salty crappy winter motorway.
Your cars will always require a hose to remove all the main crap on them.

Tread with caution.
This stuff is only good as an instant detailer after proper washing.

[rags]

Thanks good to get your thoughts. Agree with Dave, unlikely to work by itself, but I might give something like Glint a try if it is a week after I get the car washed and it just has rain marks.

[tgr]

You just need to have caught a bit of grit on the mop and you'll put scratches in the clearcoat before you notice. Why cut corners?

[Rich_AR]

I use waterless wash on my Cayman GTS. Mainly I have no choice as where I live in Dubai, the condo management have banned the use of hosepipes! So rather than letting some muppet at the car wash station clean it and scratch it, I do it myself with care. I was very skeptical at first, but after reading reviews I gave it a go and I'm suitably impressed.

I did some research on techniques and so far I've seen no swirl marks and I wash the car once a week. Having always used the two bucket method in the past, I'm wary of marring or swirls.

The product I use is Optimum No Rinse (ONR) Wash and Shine:: http://www.optimumcarcare.com/onrwns.php

2 x Ultra soft/fluffy MF towels (to wash with)
1 x Drying towel (extra large, 40x24)
1 x Ultra soft/fluffy MF towel (to buff)
2 x 10L buckets (one for ONR solution, one for clean water)
2 x Grit guards

Method:

- I use a garden pump sprayer full of ONR solution mix and pre-soak the whole car and leave it for 5 mins to lift the dirt.

- Soak one MF towel, wring it till some solution is just dripping and fold the towel into a square. Wipe in one direction, flip over the MF towel, wipe next section, fold the towel over. The idea is to not use the same side of MF towel after each wipe.

- Once all sides of the MF towel are dirty. Rince MF towel in clean water, agitate it against the Grit guard. Wring out and place back into the ONR solution.

-Once the panel is clean. Dry with drying towel and then buff off with clean soft MF towel.

- I use 1 MF towel per half car. Ideally you could use more to reduce further chance of swirls.

- Takes me a good 30 mins or so


Pics (I washed the car yesterday, no polish or anything after)





I do have to say, in the UK with a car caked in road grime I'd be reluctant to use this stuff and as suggested, I'd pop to a jet wash first to rinse it and then use the waterless stuff when I got home. But for me here the product works well.

Edited by Rich_AR on Monday 14th December 15:36