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Anyone else do either of these? I do both, waterless when it’s just dust and rinseless when it’s a little dirtier. In fact, I’ve been cleaning my cars with these methods a lot more than traditional washing because it’s super easy and can be done in the garage at any time. I may never hose wash my cars again. Also, I have a special wheel brush and will waterless spray/clean my wheels with the same stuff and it comes out great.
I use a quick detailer for the waterless wash. I discovered it by accident and it works a lot better than dedicated waterless washes. It’s Chemical Guys Hydrospeed Silicon Quick Detailer and this stuff is ultra slick and traps dirt really well. I simply drench the panel with this stuff then gently wipe it down with a clean microfiber cloth then buff it out with a separate clean microfiber towel. It cleans and adds a nice depth to the paint. No scratches.
For the rinseless, I’ve been using either Optimum or Mckees. They both work the same, Optimum is cheaper. I fill a bucket with this stuff and also a pump sprayer. I’ll simply spray down a few panels, then use a special rinseless sponge, completely rinsing it after each panel. Then, it’s just a matter of drying it. The only downside to this method is that there is some water runoff and it will drip on your floors. I also wouldn’t recommend doing your wheels like this in the garage, unless you’re really careful with the runoff. I would use the waterless method to clean the wheels.
I highly recommend Koch-Chemie products, they are German made and started being available in US recently.
By far better than ones you had listed. And it smells way better than chemical guys too. From what I here, many professional detailers are switching to it.
I've had great results with all of their products.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
I have a 2019 SL450 that I ordered new. Unfortunately, it is a “Garage Queen,” as it just turned four years old this past May and yesterday, it turned 4,000 miles. Anyway, I keep it clean using a detailing spray. If I ever let it get just a tad too dirty, I use a bucket of plain water with a soft sponge to “wash” one panel at a time, drying with a microfiber towel. I did run the car through a “hand” car wash a couple of times when I first got it, but after I put the Carbon Ceramic Brakes & the forged wheels on it, I’ve maintained it myself, as I can’t handle letting anyone touch it.
I found something that actually works better than McKees and is cheaper.
Optimum No Rinse Wash and Shine - ONR Car Wash, New Formula Version 5, Safe on Paint, Coatings, Wraps, and Interior, Rinseless Wash provides a Car Wash Soap Alternative (32 oz) https://a.co/d/hyO7fLm
The big difference is that it doesn’t sud as much as McKees, making the wipe down/drying easier. Rinseless is my goto wash method now. It’s so easy and can be done in a closed garage. Just get the special sponge and sprayer.
Every single car I owned in the past 4-5 years, have been strictly maintained and washed using the ONR solution. Not because I do not have access to car washing stations, I do, and I even have a flat water rate regardless of my water usage, but the waterless washing method using ONR has proven to me as the easiest and best method to eliminate scratches. It is just that good. From time to time, I do a full wash via a pressure washer and the 2 bucket method, but 8 out of 10 washes are simply using the ONR solution, the red sponge, and towels. I also make my own exterior detailer spray from the ONR solution at a higher concentration (1 to 16 “ONR-Water” oz). As for washing, I use 1 oz per 1 gallon of “distilled” water. The car is spotless after am done. All I need is 2 gallons of distilled water “$1 each”. I also have a water softner, and sometimes I just use my residential/house soft water, but only distilled water for the detailing spray to avoid spots.
As I gotten older I usually employ a product called Some Young Men; it's a little expensive, but effort is very low. Sometimes I need to sneak a wash in between though and then it's leaf blower action. That's the old school method where you keep the car wet during the wash and then quickly blow off the water with the leaf blower. It's how us cavemen used to do it back in the day and still effective at preventing spotting now.
08-19-2023, 08:59 AM
