BMW Blog

I was looking at some video on You Tube about car waxes, such as Adams, Zaino, etc. When I stumbled upon this spray on waterless wash system.

Apparently it's made so that you spray it on the car and wipe it off. Supposed to remove the dirt and clean, then impart a shine.


Logically, it doesn't make sense to me because you need a carrier to lift off the dirt and move it away. This being water and an agent to loosen that dirt, that being soap.

One you do that then you have a clean car ready to apply whatever protectant or polish.

But it's difficult for me to believe that one product can suspend the dirt in a towel. The same towel that is wiped around the same place without damaging the paint.

Is my logic flawed according to your experiences with this stuff? Just curious as I ever am. This is what irritated my teachers as I went to school. Why, what, whereing everything.:clap:




I would have the same reservations as you.
Theoretically, it could work. If it was a very potent surfactant, amongst other things
Still, depending on how dirty your car is, you'd need some seriously big microfiber towels...

It might clean, but if you keep using the same dirt ridden side, you will impart your finish with a nice deep set of swirls.

I say, Keep it to water and soap until at least this technology becomes more mainstream and proven!
Meguires has a "mist and wipe" product. I've used it for a few years. Granted, it's only intended to be used if the vehicle is slightly dirty. Basically, water spots after a rain, dusty, etc... It acts as a lubricant that lifts the dirt off the paint. I use a few microfibre towels to wipe it off... one panel at a time. It has always worked well for me, and my paint is perfect.
Do you mean stuff like this:
http://www.meguiars.com/estore/products/product_A3316.jpghttp://www.mothers.com/products/productcatalog/productpics/08224.jpg

I keep a bottle of this stuff, or similar, in the car but I only use it to clean bird droppings.
Yeah, that's it. I'd never use it on a really dirty truck, but it's great in between washes.
There are ways to wash a vehicle with a limited amount of water. A couple buckets. But I don't see how you could do it without any water at all. I would think that it would put tons of swirls in your paint.
The only "low water" product that I've seen endorsed repeatedly by many detailers and enthusiasts is Optimum No Rinse.

http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-no-rinse.html

I purchased some recently, but have not tried it yet. You use the two bucket method, and you're supposed to be able to wash one panel at a time, then dry, with no rinsing, so no hose required. Since you wash and dry one panel at a time, and no hose, you're supposed to be able to use it in full sun, or pull the car in your garage and wash in bad weather, etc.

You can find demo videos using ONR on YouTube. There's also a lot of talk about it on autopia.org if you want to research it.