Waterless Wash and Wax

[gaurav_aidasani]

I own a black Mk6 GTI and as I live in London, the car is a magnet to dirt. Plus the filthy motorways around the outskirts of London aren't helping either and I've started to notice some bad stonechips 

I live in an apartment block so don't have access to a hose, and spending £20 every other week for someone else to do the job is going to ruin me. In an effort to keep the car regularly clean, I need some expert advice on Waterless Wash and Wax products.

I've been reading on DW about all the rave and it seems to be the way forward for me. Anybody recommend any particular one? The one with most information seems to be Optimum No Rinse and they have a wash and wax version which looks interesting.

How do you use these products without being worried about scratches and swirls? Does this method seem safe?

1. Have two buckets, one with ONR diluted and one with clean water..
2. Soak MF towel, remove excess liquid and fold four way.
3. Gently apply damp MF towel to a panel and buff/dry with dry MF towel.
4. Place the damp MF towel in clean water to rinse off dirt, then back into ONR solution bucket and repeat process for all panels.

Also, does a grit guard really help?

Thanks!!!

[Ginge 35Edition]

Without sounding rude you're all over the place with what you are looking at. Waterless cleaners are exactly that, no need for buckets, grit guards or water.

Personally I'd do the following if you have some logistic/physical complications:-

By a pre-wash treatment
Drive to the local jet wash
Cover the car in said pre-wash
Pressure wash ya car off, this will get rid of harmful surface contaminants
Then use your waterless to 'clean' ya car
If you get one with some carnauba content then it will offer some protection
Some can be applied whilst car is wet

Use plenty of clean MF cloths, one per panel for application and one per panel for buffing.

Not sure of this helps?

Personally I'd be paying the £20 every couple of weeks if that's the only option but straight afterwards give ya car some protection. Black cars are an issue and any of the prescribed methods will most probably create swirl marks unless you go the whole hog and do a complete detail at home.

Might also be worth paying a proper detailing £150 two e a year to give ya car a proper going over.

[Daz_G6R]

Waterless I would recommend for road grime, anything more gritty, I would deffinatly get to someone with snow foam.

[Richie.27]

I use meguiars waterless and wax anywhere. It's fantastic stuff. These products are really used to keep on top of your car. If your car is bogging then get a Detailer to get the snow foam on it. I use a clean mf for a each panel and buff with a separate mf. No swirls on mine.

[gaurav_aidasani]

I use meguiars too, very handy! Came with a plush mitt which I use and turn a few times for each panel and then buff. It then goes in a clean water bucket with a grit guard to give it a proper wash. No swirls yet either although with winter here I'll probably take it to a jet wash first to get rid of the grime.

[dubber36]

I saw this on the Meguires stand at GTI International a couple of years ago. They were demonstrating it on a dull day on a black A5. It looked good, until later in the day when the sun came out. 

[mcmaddy]

I can't see how any waterless wash can work effectively without leaving scratches. You're essentially rubbing whatever is stuck to the paint over the car. I fail to see how this can work. I've got a rechargeable mobi pressure washer in the shed that I use to get rid of salt and winter road grime. Currently for sale if anyone is interested 

[Booth11]

I saw this on the Meguires stand at GTI International a couple of years ago. They were demonstrating it on a dull day on a black A5. It looked good, until later in the day when the sun came out. 

Do you mean it was still dirty or full of scratches, or both perhaps.

I can't see how any waterless wash can work effectively without leaving scratches. You're essentially rubbing whatever is stuck to the paint over the car. I fail to see how this can work. I've got a rechargeable mobi pressure washer in the shed that I use to get rid of salt and winter road grime. Currently for sale if anyone is interested 

Me neither.  There must be huge potential for inflicting scratches, the mere thought of it makes me cringe.  It's not a product I can ever see me using.  If I didn't have access to water supply at my home, I'd go use a jet wash at a car wash place instead or come to an arrangement with a mate/family to wash it at their place.

[dubber36]

I saw this on the Meguires stand at GTI International a couple of years ago. They were demonstrating it on a dull day on a black A5. It looked good, until later in the day when the sun came out. 

Do you mean it was still dirty or full of scratches, or both perhaps.

Swirled like a car washed in a supermarket car park.

[Organisys]

OP: Optimum No Rinse is better suited to Less-Water washes rather than water less.

I've used it during a summer hosepipe ban and it is a remarkable product. Totaly different way of washing a car and using it is all in the technique. You will find the majority of the dirst released from the paint is trapped by the polymers in ONR in the wash media. For this reason it is easier to use a sponge or a microfibre noodle mitt or simmilar. You need to do regular rinses of the mit, spending much more time and effort than just dunking a regular mitt in the rinse water as this will not cut it.

I personaly wouldn't do waterless if I could absolutely avoid it. If I did it would be fine dust on the car only and I'd use near on neat ONR or a QD with very high lubricity and loads of microfibres I guess.