It's a big initial investment, but I'm thinking about switching to rinseless car wash (from Griots garage). It's supposed to be the best of both worlds between waterless and traditional bucket and hose.
Rinseless Wash
Waterless Car Wash research
- Thread starter Billccm
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Rinseless Wash
That might work better for me since I live on a gravel road, I could spray it off then use this stuff.
Frank Mopar
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Little behind on the comments but I can tell you one thing. Ultraluster will never streak unless it’s pulling up old polish or wax. This can be true with automatic car washes that apply polish or waxes. IMHO as always
Have you tried the rinseless method? I watched a couple videos, apparently you need to buy a sprayer to apply it, let it soak, then dip a sponge in the bucket to wash, then dry the whole car with a towel. Maybe using distilled water there would be no need to towel it off?
Still using the waterless method. I'm down to a precious few ounces of DriWash and using it sparingly on the road runner. The Ranger, Grand Marquis, and Mustang are being maintained with Dual Polymer waterless and it's growing on me as a acceptable product.
Griot's rinse less wash recommends a diluted spray bottle as a pretreatment in soiled areas, or as a booster on glass. Otherwise the partition bucket is all you need.
Not to hijack the thread, but I've discovered the cheap, disposable roll of microfiber towels to be fantastic. I keep the used buffing towels for under hood and floor wipe ups. Then they get thrown out. No more washing and folding and the towels have no little embedded debris that some pick up from the wash and dry.
Thanks, yeah the two bucket or partition bucket thing , what is that for? Dip in one side and wring it out in the other? I did buy a roll of microfiber towels at wally world.
I think there are several ways to use rinseless wash. One is soak and ring out, the other is soak, ring out, apply, and rinse in the plain water partition. I need to go back and watch the Griot's video on rinseless.
Friend of mine that also used DriWash for many years on his classic BMWs has switched to this product from a YouTuber here in Tucson:
Quickie | Quick Detailer & Waterless Wash (16oz)
He believes this is really close to the original DriWash product. I'm going to try it
Friend of mine that also used DriWash for many years on his classic BMWs has switched to this product from a YouTuber here in Tucson:
Quickie | Quick Detailer & Waterless Wash (16oz)
He believes this is really close to the original DriWash product. I'm going to try it
Tried this Mckee’s product today and was pretty happy with the result. Can be used as a rinseless or a drywash. Takes only 1/2 oz per gallon of water so I can wash my car over 30 times with this bottle. I made 2 gallons, put half in a garden sprayer to pre-soak the bugs off and soaked 5 microfiber towels in the rest. Fold the towels in half, wash the car off turning the dirty side over frequently, and dont put the dirty ones back in the clean solution.
Then dry/buff with a dry microfiber.
I live on a gravel road so my car is always getting dusty. The bugs wiped right off after presoaking.
Then dry/buff with a dry microfiber.
I live on a gravel road so my car is always getting dusty. The bugs wiped right off after presoaking.
Thanks. What was the cost?
It was about 30 bucks.
I just used my hard well water too, no need to buy distilled
I just used my hard well water too, no need to buy distilled
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Coelacanth
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I tried Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax All on my GN for the first time a week ago. The car was only a little dusty so I did the "dry wash" method; spray on, wipe off with a dry microfiber towel. I believe this is the same product as UltraLuster but sold in this name on Amazon Canada; I bought this full kit:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00X04JRMU
Favorable impressions:
-No need for water, as my T-top weatherstripping is dried up and aging and spraying water towards the side windows lets some water trickle inside the car.
-Minimal chance for rust to appear.
-It was nice to be able to wash the car in my rather small 24' x 24' garage space and not have to wait for appropriate weather and back it out onto the driveway to spray-bomb it like I usually did.
-The method of spraying and wiping seemed to motivate me to do a better job of detailing the nooks and crannies that I might skim over with a soapy wet cloth.
-Since there's no water for wash or rinse, there's no water spots or dirty little runs in certain spots. I would always struggle to dry the black car quick enough to beat the water drying on it, especially on a nice day.
I used about 1/3 of the 16-oz spray bottle for one car wash.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00X04JRMU
Favorable impressions:
-No need for water, as my T-top weatherstripping is dried up and aging and spraying water towards the side windows lets some water trickle inside the car.
-Minimal chance for rust to appear.
-It was nice to be able to wash the car in my rather small 24' x 24' garage space and not have to wait for appropriate weather and back it out onto the driveway to spray-bomb it like I usually did.
-The method of spraying and wiping seemed to motivate me to do a better job of detailing the nooks and crannies that I might skim over with a soapy wet cloth.
-Since there's no water for wash or rinse, there's no water spots or dirty little runs in certain spots. I would always struggle to dry the black car quick enough to beat the water drying on it, especially on a nice day.
I used about 1/3 of the 16-oz spray bottle for one car wash.
Thanks for the information. Aero was a competitor of DriWash back in the day. They won over the motorhome and Cessna owners back in the 1990s.
Im sure it's a great product, but us DriWash distributors were told it didn't have the UV protection. It looks like ultra luster, so you may be correct they are the same product.
Water and classic cars don't mix, but I am still leaning towards switching to rinseless wash.
Coelacanth
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Yep, that's what motivated me to try this product. No water needed. The McKee's product linked a few posts ago is concentrated and mixed with water, so...it's not really waterless.
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2002 back when I 1st bought my WS6 'Firehawk' SLP Perf. TransAm GT
it was black, I wanted to save the OE paint
not do (dry wash associated) swirls or (dry wash stuff) scratches in if I could
I tried a bunch of them
the car never seen rain or snow ever, I was down in Rancho Murieta Sac. Co. still
lots of construction of new home on the 'south side' (mostly younger crowd)
of Murieta back then
it was really growing, it was like the final last phase of the buildout...
It got dusty even sitting in the garage, if I left the garage door open for any time
to work on one of my classics or 4x4s
Meguires, Ultimate Waterless, back then was the best
(used the same stuff on my racecars between rounds)
tried a few others, were way worse, cheap junk, not worth it
even then still got the dreaded dry wash swirls
especially see them on the hood & behind the T-tops roof sides, of the paint
& the wings maybe because of a different paint used on the fiber reinforced plastics
FRP used to build the bumper covers, wing & spoilers, it's flexible paint was really soft
most would buff out with the wax/polishes, but if you've ever owned
a Onyx/Black clearcoat pearl car
had like a pearl in the clearcoat too, it really showed swirls
you know how quick they can get dirty, look like sh*t
I switched back to using water just not soaking the car,
& a Meguires heated blower, great PSI of air too (a gift from my nephew)
to get any water left out of the cracks, I used water sparingly too
another all in 1 wash & wax product by Meguires too...
after;
I did the last polish/buff after the waterless fiasco, waste of time & $$$
it sparkled, she gleamed like crazy, reflections like a mirror, with absolutely no swirls
not much water left ever either, or minimal if any
Dry wash stuff, it may be better today (?), but I think it's a risk to a paint job
all that dry rub/wiping down stuff
I used a Meguire detailer 'spritz spay' in between washes, like 2 times a year,
a California Duster, kept it clean, the dust off
never had the swirls again after, even with the duster use
different folk, may have different results
that's mine
old school still works,
& I just use of water sparingly,
all I know use 'new mirco fiber cloths (no sponges, that hold grit)
& a clean real deer hide Shammie
this was what it was on the showroom
it looked even better after I owned it
my RR has been painted OE style acrylic lacquer base clearcoat LL1 Surf Turquoise Poly,
(garage paint job), since Nov 2017, all I do is dust it off, it hasn't seen any water yet
I have used water on the wheels & tires or underside of the car
after I went down a gravel road, up here...
California Duster works great
each of my vehicles has their own dedicated duster too
it gets dusty, but never driven in rain or snow
the B_I_T_C_H is pampered, never really left out side
unless driven, so is my 1999 Dakota SLT 4x4, same treatment
these Dakota/Dodges were suspect to show clear fading, flaking,
dark emerald green pearl & sliver
especially on the roof & hood when exposed to harsh sun or cold weather
& after 25+ years, my process & taking care of it, driven in all condition
& I have none still...
It stays in the garage when not used too, but lived outside
in Rancho Murieta for a couple years, 'seemed to weather it well'
when I had too many drivers & too many cars for my garage
no rust no swirls really, except for using a sponge at one time
I have since quit using the sponges, need to do a good polish again
Results may vary
it was black, I wanted to save the OE paint
not do (dry wash associated) swirls or (dry wash stuff) scratches in if I could
I tried a bunch of them
the car never seen rain or snow ever, I was down in Rancho Murieta Sac. Co. still
lots of construction of new home on the 'south side' (mostly younger crowd)
of Murieta back then
it was really growing, it was like the final last phase of the buildout...
It got dusty even sitting in the garage, if I left the garage door open for any time
to work on one of my classics or 4x4s
Meguires, Ultimate Waterless, back then was the best
(used the same stuff on my racecars between rounds)
tried a few others, were way worse, cheap junk, not worth it
even then still got the dreaded dry wash swirls
especially see them on the hood & behind the T-tops roof sides, of the paint
& the wings maybe because of a different paint used on the fiber reinforced plastics
FRP used to build the bumper covers, wing & spoilers, it's flexible paint was really soft
most would buff out with the wax/polishes, but if you've ever owned
a Onyx/Black clearcoat pearl car
had like a pearl in the clearcoat too, it really showed swirls
you know how quick they can get dirty, look like sh*t
I switched back to using water just not soaking the car,
& a Meguires heated blower, great PSI of air too (a gift from my nephew)
to get any water left out of the cracks, I used water sparingly too
another all in 1 wash & wax product by Meguires too...
after;
I did the last polish/buff after the waterless fiasco, waste of time & $$$
it sparkled, she gleamed like crazy, reflections like a mirror, with absolutely no swirls
not much water left ever either, or minimal if any
Dry wash stuff, it may be better today (?), but I think it's a risk to a paint job
all that dry rub/wiping down stuff
I used a Meguire detailer 'spritz spay' in between washes, like 2 times a year,
a California Duster, kept it clean, the dust off
never had the swirls again after, even with the duster use
different folk, may have different results
that's mine
old school still works,
& I just use of water sparingly,
all I know use 'new mirco fiber cloths (no sponges, that hold grit)
& a clean real deer hide Shammie
this was what it was on the showroom
it looked even better after I owned it
my RR has been painted OE style acrylic lacquer base clearcoat LL1 Surf Turquoise Poly,
(garage paint job), since Nov 2017, all I do is dust it off, it hasn't seen any water yet
I have used water on the wheels & tires or underside of the car
after I went down a gravel road, up here...
California Duster works great
each of my vehicles has their own dedicated duster too
it gets dusty, but never driven in rain or snow
the B_I_T_C_H is pampered, never really left out side
unless driven, so is my 1999 Dakota SLT 4x4, same treatment
these Dakota/Dodges were suspect to show clear fading, flaking,
dark emerald green pearl & sliver
especially on the roof & hood when exposed to harsh sun or cold weather
& after 25+ years, my process & taking care of it, driven in all condition
& I have none still...
It stays in the garage when not used too, but lived outside
in Rancho Murieta for a couple years, 'seemed to weather it well'
when I had too many drivers & too many cars for my garage
no rust no swirls really, except for using a sponge at one time
I have since quit using the sponges, need to do a good polish again
Results may vary
Last edited:
DriWash products only work well with proper towels, and towel care. Only 100% cotton terry cloth towels washed by themselves and lightly dried without softeners. Same for the microfiber towels.
My point is the towels are the source of the scratches and not the product. Using a wornout sponge with the most expensive best performing car wash soap will also scratch.
My point is the towels are the source of the scratches and not the product. Using a wornout sponge with the most expensive best performing car wash soap will also scratch.
Coelacanth
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Agreed, whether you wash wet or dry, proper towel use is important. Water and soap help to flush away dirt particles as do the fibers of good towels or microfiber cloths. That said, I need to buy another California Duster. Using that on a dusty car before dry-washing it would be an ideal process.
I have never heard of the California Duster, that is the missing piece of the puzzle for me. I have to drive 3/4 mile each way on gravel to get to a paved road so dust is unavoidable. This will definately help a lot, ordering one now!
If you follow the directions and take care not to let the mop head contact mud or grit they work well and last a long time.
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