“DRY” car wash in the garage

[cerven]

I live in N.KY just outside of Cincinnati and it's really too cold out now to wash the car outside, won't use a drive-through car wash but want to drive my car and keep it clean. Here's what I discovered to work for me.

Essentially this is a microfiber cloth wipe down of the entire car twice with no rinsing and no water spots. I have watched carefully and have not found this method to cause scratches or swirls on the clearcoat.

You must use Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner (there may be other brands that work also). I tried another car wash product that left water spots and had to be rinsed. Mix 1to 2 capfuls of Meguiar’s into 2 gallons of gallons warm water (this is about ½ of what the directions say). This makes a lot of suds but don’t worry about the foam. I use a large yellow Meguiar’s microfiber cloth to wash with because I can see how dirty the cloth is getting so I can keep it clean while washing.

IMPORTANT: This is the key: after each cloth use, shake the cloth under the solution to release the dirt back into the bucket and ring the cloth out pretty hard to keep water from running off the car (this is the key). Good microfiber cloths for some reason will not hold the grit and dirt and grit like cotton terry cloth will.

Logically, start on the roof and ending with the wheels or dirtiest parts. You might need to change the bucket during this first wash if you car is really dirty, but I can usually get by with one bucket on the first wash. This bucket will get really dirty black but the microfiber cloth surprisingly won’t be too bad. The Meguiar’s “conditioner” must release the dirt somehow. Don’t worry about any suds or water droplets left on the car. Let them dry on if you like.

After going over the entire car once, make up a more dilute clean solution about ½ to 1 capful in 2 gallons of warm water and wipe the whole car down again. Use a new clean microfiber cloth. This time wring the cloth out hard to almost dry. Rinse it out often in the solution. I can get by with two wipe downs but if the car is very dirty it may take three. Now, at this point after washing the car twice I would normally rinse it with tap water and dry it to eliminate water spots but this is not necessary.

I was washing the car the first time and got interrupted after the second wipe down before I was going to rinse it in tap water. When I came back, the car was dry with no water spots and it looked like I had just waxed it. I did not need to clean the outside of the windows with cleaner, just left the Meguiar’s dried on. Normally I would have rinsed and finish wiped with Meguiar’s spray detailer to remove any water spots but this was unnecessary.

The next day I drove the car about 150 miles in intermittent heavy rain on an interstate with trucks and never turned on the windshield wipers. Surprisingly, the Meguiar’s dried on the entire car and windows like RainX. I have washed the car in the garage three times this way. It really doesn’t take much longer than a full hose job and doesn’t require final rinsing, drying and finishing with Meguiar’s spray detailer to remove water spots. It took almost as long to write this as to wash the car.

I’m thinking that a third wipe down with the second diluted Meguiar’s solution might be necessary this winter if the cars gets horrible. I drive the Elise year round.

[ottawa1]

i just recently bought an orange exige s. unfortunately, they use tons of salt around here. what effects will the salt have. i'd like to drive the car but i think there will be salt around until march. i'd like to try your system but am concerned about the salt. i live outside of chicago.

[Bane]

Use 2 buckets and you won't dirty up your soap bucket

At least you don't have to worry about water getting into your trunk using this method!

[jasond]

I have a really "dry" method I use, since in my apartment's parking garage, I have no access to running water (so no bucket of water). I just use Griot's speed shine with a microfiber cloth, and wipe down the entire car (I'd imagine this stuff is similar to the Meguiars Quik Detailer). It works Ok as long as the car doesn't get too dirty.

[cerven]

We have more salt around here than Chicago (and ice storms) I used to live there. That's why I need to be able to wash the car and I can lift it to do the underside if necessary. Here they normally liquid pre-spray with calcium chloride or some secret formula then salt during or after the storm. But I try not to drive in the salt because of all the aluminum which salt eats very well.

I tried cleaning the entire car with Meguiar's detail spray but it doesn't work as well and uses too much product. I agree that the car can't be too dirty using the detail spray.

[LMM]

A couple weeks ago there was an article about a town in Oregon that is proposing to ban washing one's car in his/her driveway due to wastewater getting into the environment. Someone came up with a dry washing method. I don't remember the product he was using since I was astonished that a town would think about proposing such a thing. I'm sure you can look it up online. Then again, I live in NJ and we keep on electing idiots to run our government.

Less Government Please,
LMM

[cerven]

Here's another "dry" method. I've not tried it but would be interested in a comparison - mine's pretty simple actually.

http://elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37467

[SweetDaddyD]

We have a watering ban currently and can be fined a huge amount if caught washing a car.

There is a product called Dri-wash N Guard (or maybe Dry-wash and Guard) that actually works pretty good. It's sold pyramid scheme (MLM) style but has been around for years. I sold some when I was a teenager and did some mobile detailing with it about 13 years ago. I used to use it on a black truck when I lived on a dirt road, and amazingly it never appeared to scratch it. Also kinds of puts down a layer of glaze or "wax" as you are using it.

[jasond]

I can see it now...

Officer: Sir, mind explaining to me why you ran your car into the side of your house?
Man: Well, you see officer, I didn't want to get wastewater in the environment, so I thought I'd wash my car in the bath tub... Was a little hard getting it up the porch steps though...
Officer: Uh-huh...

Originally Posted by LMM

A couple weeks ago there was an article about a town in Oregon that is proposing to ban washing one's car in his/her driveway due to wastewater getting into the environment. Someone came up with a dry washing method. I don't remember the product he was using since I was astonished that a town would think about proposing such a thing. I'm sure you can look it up online. Then again, I live in NJ and we keep on electing idiots to run our government.

Less Government Please,
LMM

[JWA]

The guys on Autopia rave about a product that is marketed towards the RV market that is used with the two-bucket method and no rinsing. I don't remember the name, but I tried it and it did work awesome. It did a great job of moving the salt and dirt off smoothly without scratching the paint. Now that I think about it, I think that the process involved diluting some in a spray bottle and misting down each panel as you went.

Ok, I just did the search and the product is called Quick Easy Wash by a brand named ProtectAll. The Autopia guys refer to is as QEW, and here's a complete overview: http://www.autopia.org/forum/hall-fa...-part-1-a.html

[dododge]

Originally Posted by jasond

I just use Griot's speed shine with a microfiber cloth, and wipe down the entire car (I'd imagine this stuff is similar to the Meguiars Quik Detailer). It works Ok as long as the car doesn't get too dirty.

Ditto except I do use Quik Detailer. I haven't used a hose or bucket to wash the car in well over a year I think, except for one time to blast a bunch of caked mud (from road construction) out of the wheel wells.

[IronMountain]

Hi, I just lurk here but have an interesting tid bit to add to this thread.

When I was in the Navy back in the late 70's I took a Motor cycle safty course require by the command of North Island San Diego before I could drive a Motor cycle on base. It was taught by a retire CHIP motor cycle cop.

He said "have you ever noticed that you never see a dirty CHP motor cycle regardless of the weather?" even out on the desert where the is no water. We have a special way of cleaning our bikes.

Here is what he did. He keeped a hard plastic cup in his saddle bags. This he filled up half way with water. Then he took a cotton hankerchief/shop towel and opened the tank lower it into the gasoline just enough to wet the tip of the cloth about an inch on one tip. He rung out the excess back into the tank and then dipped the gas dampened corner into the half cup of water and starting from the tank wash his bike in small swurls all the way down to the crome exaust. It remove all dirt, tar and anything else that the tires threw up on the bike. Looked as if he had wash and waxed it for hours. Every once in a while using a new corner he would replenish the gas on a different corner.

He explained the method requires almost no effort looks great and if in the middle of doing it he gets a call they just dump the half cup of water goes take care of business, then gets another half cup and finishes the job.

It really works.

Carl Ward

[Ronbol]

The gas and water method sounds kind of harsh. I imagine it removes any wax that may be on the finish. Sounds good for getting tar spots off though.

[sjlotus]

living it Toronto canada, I too know what winter is..

by far the best product we use here is optimum no rinse wash..

[IronMountain]

Maybe it does remove the wax but it does not seem to harm the finish. Even looks waxed afterwards, and I am sure the paint job on bikes is not any weaker or more durable than car paints. But I am not saying you should use the method either. Just information. Never know when it may come in handy.

[Bane]

Originally Posted by IronMountain

Hi, I just lurk here but have an interesting tid bit to add to this thread.

When I was in the Navy back in the late 70's I took a Motor cycle safty course require by the command of North Island San Diego before I could drive a Motor cycle on base. It was taught by a retire CHIP motor cycle cop.

He said "have you ever noticed that you never see a dirty CHP motor cycle regardless of the weather?" even out on the desert where the is no water. We have a special way of cleaning our bikes.

Here is what he did. He keeped a hard plastic cup in his saddle bags. This he filled up half way with water. Then he took a cotton hankerchief/shop towel and opened the tank lower it into the gasoline just enough to wet the tip of the cloth about an inch on one tip. He rung out the excess back into the tank and then dipped the gas dampened corner into the half cup of water and starting from the tank wash his bike in small swurls all the way down to the crome exaust. It remove all dirt, tar and anything else that the tires threw up on the bike. Looked as if he had wash and waxed it for hours. Every once in a while using a new corner he would replenish the gas on a different corner.

He explained the method requires almost no effort looks great and if in the middle of doing it he gets a call they just dump the half cup of water goes take care of business, then gets another half cup and finishes the job.

It really works.

Carl Ward

I don't think anyone is willing to dip a towel in gasoline, get it wet, and then swirl it all over their Lotus

[buzzy]

Originally Posted by sjlotus

living it Toronto canada, I too know what winter is..

by far the best product we use here is optimum no rinse wash..

+1 for optimum no-rinse. I was dubious at first, but it's fantastic stuff.

[Wuffo]

I do not sell this product BUT I have used it for years on my dark green Morgan and Triumph when I drove them to car shows. I was very impressed with the stuff.

http://www.nowet.com/carwash.htm

Bill
St Louis